Private caregivers can earn far more and set their own hours, but the trade-off is real: no guaranteed work, no benefits, and the constant question of where the next client is coming from. This episode breaks down the honest pros and cons of going private versus working for an agency or facility, with two caregivers who have lived both sides of it.

Host Lindsay of Finding Home Care and caregiver Caro talk through why private pay wins on wages and flexibility, why agencies still offer the security and training new caregivers need, and where the money actually goes when a family pays $50 an hour. Lindsay also shares the six-year Parkinson's case that shaped how she sees the work, plus practical advice for anyone wondering how to break into caregiving without getting in over their head.

00:00 Intro: Private Pay vs Agency Work00:53 The Security Trade-Off of Going Private02:48 Pros and Cons, Side by Side03:21 Advice for New Caregivers04:29 Caro's Path from Agency to Private Care05:35 Lindsay's Six-Year Parkinson's Journey06:31 Getting Started: Care.com, CNAs, and Wages08:11 Wrap-Up and Finding Home Care

• Private care pays more and gives caregivers control over their own schedule, but comes with no guaranteed hours, no PTO or benefits, and the stress of always lining up the next client.
• Agencies handle payroll, taxes, training, and backup coverage, which is why many caregivers value the security, but the overhead means a big cut. A family might pay $50 an hour while the caregiver takes home $16 on a W2.
• New caregivers are better off starting as a companion or inside a facility, where the hands-on training is built in, before taking on complex private clients.
• A CNA license mainly matters if you plan to pursue LVN or RN. Skilled caregivers can earn wages comparable to a CNA based on knowledge and skill alone.
• Finding Home Care advocates for caregiver wages of $25 to $30 an hour and focuses on consistent, long-term placements between caregivers and families.
• Client needs evolve over time. Lindsay's longest case started as light companion care and shifted over six years into full non-mobile dementia care.

• "Honestly, I prefer private. The pay is so much better. I get to be in charge of my schedule, especially as a mother." — Caro
• "If someone's going to come into that caregiving realm, I would say be a companion first, or go into a facility, because you're going to have training right there." — Lindsay
• "Taking a risk on being private means you need to be a hustler." — Lindsay
• "You can be an incredible caregiver and get paid just as much as a CNA for your knowledge and skill set." — Lindsay
• "Every client is new experiences, every family. It's just been years of experience." — Caro

If this episode helped, follow Unfilter Caregiver so you never miss a new one, leave a rating and review, and share it with a caregiver or family who needs to hear it.

Have a question about going private, choosing an agency, or breaking into caregiving? Send us your questions, reactions, and future topic ideas. We want to hear what you're dealing with and what you want covered next.

caregiving, private caregiver, home health care, caregiver pay, in home care, senior care, CNA, agency vs private pay, caregiver advice, becoming a caregiver, elder care, Parkinsons care, dementia care, companion care, caregiver wages, home care jobs, caregiver tips, Finding Home Care, Unfilter Caregiver

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Caregiving can become overwhelming fast, especially when families wait until a medical crisis to talk about care, finances, and responsibilities. In this episode of Unfiltered Caregiver, Lindsey Polis is joined by her sister-in-law Cindy, a registered nurse, for a personal and practical conversation about caregiver burnout, guilt, and the importance of building support before things fall apart.

Lindsey and Cindy discuss what they have seen across home care, nursing homes, chronic illness, kidney disease, dementia, cancer, and family caregiving. They also talk about why caregivers often feel guilty asking for help, how long-distance family members can become overwhelmed, and why open communication can make caregiving more manageable for everyone involved.

• 00:00 Introduction to Unfiltered Caregiver and Today’s Topic
• 00:30 Meet Cindy: Nursing Background and Caregiving Experience
• 02:52 The Toll of Chronic Illness on Family Caregivers
• 03:58 Burnout, Long-Distance Care, and Knowing Where to Start
• 07:42 Lindsey’s Personal Story of Family Caregiving and Loss
• 09:39 Why Families Need Open Communication Before a Crisis
• 12:54 Caregiving Is Not Meant to Be Done Alone
• 14:04 Closing Thoughts and Next Episode Preview

• Caregivers often put their own health and emotional needs last, which can lead to serious burnout.
• Guilt is one of the biggest reasons caregivers wait too long to ask for help.
• Families should talk early about responsibilities, finances, care options, and boundaries before a crisis happens.
• Support can come from churches, synagogues, gyms, social groups, family members, friends, and caregiver communities.
• Hiring outside help or taking a break does not mean someone is failing their loved one.
• Caregiving works best when it is shared, planned, and supported.

“How can you take care of somebody if you can’t take care of yourself?”

“You don’t need to feel guilty for taking a break.”

“That communication, that dialog needs to be there.”

“Knowing when to ask for help is the main thing.”

“Caregiving is not meant to be done alone.”

Subscribe to the show, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who may be carrying the weight of caregiving alone. Post your thoughts on social media using #GeekFreaksPodcast and help continue the conversation around caregiver support, family planning, and asking for help before burnout takes over.

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Have a caregiving story, question, or topic you want covered in a future episode? Send in your reactions, questions, or ideas for upcoming conversations.

caregiving, caregiver burnout, family caregiving, home health care, senior care, dementia care, chronic illness, kidney disease, caregiver support, elder care, family communication, caregiver guilt, respite care, home care, Unfiltered Caregiver

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When a loved one is discharged from a hospital, families are often forced to make major care decisions fast. In this episode of Unfiltered Caregiver, Lindsay and Caro break down what really happens when someone is sent to a skilled nursing facility, why a “five-star” rating does not always mean one-on-one attention, and what families should understand before choosing the next step.

Using the story of a client named “Nancy,” Lindsay shares the gap between expectations and reality inside a senior nursing facility. The conversation also covers overworked CNAs, caregiver pay, the value of private care, and why getting a loved one back home safely should often be the ultimate goal.

• 00:00 Introduction to Unfiltered Caregiver
• 00:29 What Happens After Hospital Discharge
• 00:52 Choosing a Skilled Nursing Facility
• 01:38 Why Five-Star Care May Still Feel Understaffed
• 03:47 Caro on Providing One-on-One Care in Facilities
• 05:12 Why Families Should Value and Support Caregivers
• 07:57 The Goal of Getting Loved Ones Back Home
• 09:00 Closing Thoughts from Lindsay

• Families usually face a quick choice after hospital discharge: a skilled nursing facility, assisted living, or going home with family or caregiver support.
• A highly rated facility can still feel overwhelming if CNAs are responsible for too many patients at once.
• Lindsay and Caro emphasize that CNAs are often doing intense hands-on work while being underpaid and stretched thin.
• Private one-on-one caregiving can help families fill the gap when a loved one needs companionship, safety monitoring, updates, and personal attention.
• Caregiver retention is tied directly to pay, respect, and how agencies treat their workers.
• The episode’s central message is that many seniors recover and live better when they can return to a familiar home environment with the right care plan.

“Even if you want a five-star skilled nursing facility, you need to understand what that really means.”

“They’re not just employees. They are people keeping your loved one alive, happy, and healthy.”

“Sometimes that’s all they need, just somebody to keep them company.”

“The goal is to get them out and go home.”

“When they’re paid well and treated well, your loved ones are going to be taken care of.”

Subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who is trying to understand care options after a hospital discharge.

Visit FindingHomecare.net to learn more about Lindsay’s home care work.