Why Families Are Hiring Private Family Caregivers in Los Angeles

For many families in Los Angeles, finding reliable home care feels like an uphill battle.

They’ve tried home care agencies. Some have even switched between several. And while the brochures promise personalized care, what they often experience is a revolving door of caregivers who come and go, last-minute cancellations, and loved ones feeling more like tasks on a schedule than people in a home.

That’s when families begin asking: why can't we do this ourselves?

This question is fueling a quiet but powerful shift. Families are taking back control and leading care on their own terms. But they can’t do it alone. They need a partner who is experienced, self-reliant, and aligned with their values.

They need a Private Family Caregiver.

A New Standard in Home Care

Private Family Caregivers aren’t agency employees assigned to a list of homes. They’re personally selected by the family to work full-time or live-in, providing consistent, one-on-one support for just them.

Much like a private nanny or au pair, a Private Family Caregiver brings familiarity, consistency, and discretion to in-home senior care. They’re a natural fit for discerning families and those seeking a more personalized and professional standard of support.

When the right caregiver is chosen thoughtfully, everything changes. They get to know daily routines, anticipate needs, and offer emotional as well as physical support. Over time, they often feel like an extension of the family.

Without agency managers as go-betweens, they take full ownership of the relationship. They work closely with the family, communicate directly, provide regular updates, track care milestones, and advocate for the client’s well-being.

Why Top Caregivers Are Leaving Agencies

Families often come to us frustrated with agency care. Caregivers are canceling, showing up late, or changing jobs too often. It’s hard to build trust when the faces keep changing.

According to Activated Insights, only 26.7% of families say their care goals have been met through an agency. That’s because traditional home care isn't built around caregivers, it's built around business models. And when caregivers feel unsupported or underpaid, families feel the impact.

It’s no surprise that top caregivers are walking away from agency work. They want consistency, purpose, and professional respect. Families want the same.

At CareFamily, we’re seeing the shift firsthand. The private caregivers in Los Angeles that we refer are among the top 5% of those we interview. Many have experience in hospitals, assisted living, or professional settings.

Most specialize in live-in care and some are even pursuing advanced degrees in nursing or gerontology. All prefer one-on-one care where they can build trust and make a lasting difference.

What Private Family Caregivers Can Do and Earn

Private Family Caregivers manage every aspect of daily life at home—not just physically, but emotionally and socially. They play an essential role in preserving quality of life, helping clients maintain independence, dignity, and a sense of purpose as they age.

When the same caregiver is in the home day after day, real relationships form. Clients feel seen and supported. Families spend less time managing care and more time being present. And caregivers thrive because they’re respected, relied on, and doing meaningful work.

From fostering daily routines to encouraging engagement and comfort, these caregivers provide both structure and heart to everyday living. Although they cannot provide any medically-related care, they can support most aspects of daily living, including:

• Personal care and hygiene

• Meal preparation and nutritional support

• Health monitoring and early alerts

• Light exercise and mental stimulation

• Companionship and emotional presence

• Maintaining a safe, calm environment

• Coordination with nurses, family, or care managers

Private Family Caregivers can earn between $80,000 and $120,000 per year, which is more than twice the average pay for most agency jobs. With better job stability and guaranteed full-time hours, they are motivated, loyal, and focused on providing exceptional care.

Why Private Caregivers Make Financial Sense

Families are also choosing private senior caregivers for a practical reason: cost.

In Los Angeles County, 24/7 agency care can top $400,000 per year. Yet the five to six caregivers working in shifts may receive less than half of that amount. The rest goes toward agency overhead, such as schedulers, recruiters, care managers, and office staff.

By hiring caregivers directly, families can pay more fairly and still save significantly. One CareFamily couple in Los Angeles is saving $255,000 per year after switching to private live-in care, with two caregivers rotating days and providing full coverage day and night.

In most cases, families can save up to 30% by removing agency markup. That money can be used to extend care so that the elderly loved one can stay home longer—sometimes for many more years.

CareFamily Makes Private Home Care Work

We often hear from families who want to go private but feel overwhelmed by the legal and financial setup. This is especially true when they’re used to being told that agencies are the only compliant route.

That’s where CareFamily comes in. While we don’t manage employment ourselves, we guide families. This includes referrals to trusted payroll providers who handle tax withholdings and paystubs, insurance options to cover workers' compensation, and legal resources to ensure all employment agreements meet California’s wage and hour laws.

Families must understand these rules upfront and have access to the right payroll and legal resources to ensure the caregiver is paid fairly and lawfully. 

For example, in California, families who hire private live-in caregivers must pay for all on-call hours, even during sleep time, if the caregiver is required to remain on the premises. While this arrangement is still more cost-effective than agency care, it’s essential to structure pay correctly to remain compliant with wage and hour laws.

Private home care, when done right, is not only legal, it’s the most stable, cost-effective, and personalized option available to keep loved ones safe and supported at home.

A Better Way Forward for Families in Los Angeles

If agency caregivers have left you feeling stuck, uncertain, or financially drained, you’re not alone. More families across Los Angeles are seeking a smarter, more personalized solution that helps them sleep better at night.

At CareFamily, we believe families deserve more choice and caregivers deserve better pay. We believe home care can be more personal and accessible again.

If hiring a Private Family Caregiver is the right fit for your family, let's talk.