Live-in aids can be helpful for seniors or disabled individuals who need assistance around the clock. These caregivers may be hired through private, independent care providers or through licensed home health agencies.
These aides are usually paid by the tenant or the agency. Their income is excluded from the household’s income when calculating rent, which helps ensure affordability.
What is a live-in aide?
A live-in aide is someone who provides full-time, around-the-clock care to an individual with a disability. They are a viable alternative to assisted living for disabled individuals and are often considered a reasonable accommodation under affordable housing programs.
A request for a live-in aide can be an overwhelming task for property owners, but having the right forms, policies, and procedures in place will help you streamline the process and ensure fair housing compliance. Leslie from Williams, Edelstein, and Tucker P.C shares her top questions that every property should ask when a tenant requests a live-in aide.
If a tenant is requesting a live-in aide to help them with their daily activities, they can choose to hire an individual who has passed a criminal background check and is certified as a live-in aide under the HUD Handbook. They can also choose a family member or friend who has a valid home health certificate and is willing to take on the role of live-in aide.
What are the qualifications for a live-in aide?
A live-in aide can be a friend, family member, or a hired healthcare worker. They must meet HUD requirements including being able to support the tenant on a full-time basis and pass a criminal background check.
The qualifications for a live-in aide can vary from property to property and should be determined by the needs of the disabled tenant. It is important to have the right forms, policies, and procedures in place to handle these requests effectively.
One of the most complicated challenges that a housing provider can face is a request from a tenant for a live-in aide. This can be especially true if the tenant is in a subsidized housing unit.
In one case, a senior disabled tenant wanted to hire his separated spouse as his live-in aide because he felt he would be less isolated with her around. Unfortunately, the property owner denied his request. Fortunately, he was able to file a Fair Housing Act claim.
What are the duties of a live-in aide?
If your elderly loved one is in need of around-the-clock care, live-in aid services can be a great option. They provide a full range of medical and non-medical assistance to clients.
Caregivers typically work in private homes, group homes, assisted living facilities, and hospitals. They offer essential health care services such as bathing, grooming, dressing, and toileting.
They also help their clients with light housekeeping, meal preparation, laundry, and errands. They may assist with ambulation or transfer their client into and out of bed with a walker, gait belt, hoyer lift, or other mobility device.
A live-in aide is not a professional healthcare worker, but can be a family member or friend. However, a live-in aide must be compensated for their services and must not receive an income that is excludable from the tenant’s household income.
What are the benefits of a live-in aide?
Live-in aides provide an excellent option for seniors who want to remain independent in their own homes. They can assist with errands, appointments, cooking and cleaning.
A live-in aide may also help a tenant manage their medications. This is especially helpful for those with memory loss or dementia.
The person providing the care is in the home 24 hours a day and can provide support with bathing, toileting and medication reminders. They will also provide assistance with shopping, errands and transportation.
Having someone live in the home helps those with Alzheimer’s and dementia stay in their own familiar surroundings. This is important for both quality of life and safety.
Property owners should verify all requests for live-in aides to ensure the safety of residents and compliance with affordable housing programs. A letter from a physician, psychiatrist or other medical practitioner certifying the need for an alive-in aide is required in most cases.