Home Care for Older Adults: Costs and Employer Duties

When might a family look for home care?

Families look for care for older adults at home when they want to arrange assistance in an older person's home. The amount of help needed is not the same for everyone: it may relate to daily routines, the presence needed at home or tasks that family members find difficult to do themselves. So the starting point is not the job title or a fixed number of hours, but a practical discussion of the person's needs and the family's expectations.

It is worth talking with the older person, where appropriate, and with the family members involved in their care. You can prepare a list of the activities that need assistance, the times when someone needs to be present, and the things the family would prefer to do themselves. This helps distinguish an ongoing need from a one-off task, and explain to the service provider what is expected of them. This does not imply a medical diagnosis or mean that every older adult needs the same level of care.

It is also worth considering how care fits into home life: who will be the contact person, how instructions will be shared, and how communication about changes to the routine will be coordinated. If the family is experiencing emotional strain around caring for a parent, you can also read the article Emotional burnout while caring for parents: the solution. Further reading may help the family put its needs into words, but decisions about tasks and the care arrangement should be based on the circumstances and the agreements of those involved.

Clearly describing the need makes it easier to compare service providers and have a practical conversation about working terms. It is best to come to the conversation with an organized description rather than a general request for help. If needs change, the family can review the arrangements with the service provider instead of assuming the original agreement will suit every situation.

What does a caregiver's work include?

A caregiver's work at home is determined by the tasks agreed between the family and the service provider. Do not assume that every caregiver performs the same activities, or that every household task is automatically included in the care arrangement. It is worth distinguishing assistance for the older person from other household tasks, and clarifying in advance which of them are included in the arrangement and which are not.

During the conversation, you can describe a typical day at home and explain when assistance is needed, the family's priorities, and what the caregiver should know about coordinating with household members. It is worth asking what a regular shift will look like, which tasks may vary from day to day, and what will happen if the agreement needs to be updated. There is no need to prepare a long list that does not reflect reality; a clear list that matches the actual need is better.

• List the requested tasks, and note which are primary and which are secondary.
• Clarify which activities are not part of the agreed role.
• Decide which family member will coordinate instructions and day-to-day communication.
• Clarify how changes to tasks or agreed hours will be discussed.

If family members also want help with tasks that are not part of care, it is important to define them separately and ask whether the service provider agrees to do them. This coordination reduces misunderstandings and helps everyone understand what is included in the working hours. It is a good idea to record the agreements somewhere accessible so that family members and the service provider can refer to them if a question arises.

Families looking to arrange additional support at home can also read the article Housekeeper task list: a complete checklist and responsibilities, but it is important not to confuse cleaning tasks with the tasks agreed as part of caring for an older adult.

How do you choose a suitable care arrangement?

The choice between hourly care, a night shift and an arrangement with overnight stays depends on when assistance is needed and which tasks the family wants to arrange. Hourly care may suit situations where clear time slots can be defined. A night shift may be relevant when the family is looking for someone to be present at night, but it is important to clarify what the shift includes and agree on its terms with the service provider.

An arrangement with overnight stays is a separate type of care, and its price cannot be inferred from an hourly rate or the price of a night shift. The market estimates provided here do not include a rate for an arrangement with overnight stays, so the terms and price should be discussed directly with the service provider. Nor should the figures be used to infer a price for a foreign caregiver, round-the-clock care or care for someone with a particular medical need.

To choose an arrangement, the family can start by mapping out the need during the day and night, and checking when someone needs to be present and when assistance is not needed. Next, it is worth asking the service provider which hours they can offer, which tasks they are willing to do, and how changes to the amount of work will be agreed. Pay and rest arrangements should be clarified separately; do not assume they are automatically included in a particular arrangement.

1. Describe the hours when assistance is needed and the main tasks.
2. Compare hourly work periods with a night shift, according to the need.
3. If an arrangement with overnight stays is being considered, clarify its terms and price directly; no rate for it is provided here.
4. Record what was agreed so the family's and the service provider's expectations are clear.

Families looking for more local information can also read the article Care for older adults in Bat Yam: how to find suitable help. This article covers general principles for families in Israel, not prices or conditions specific to a particular city.

How much does care for older adults cost?

The 2026 market estimate for an Israeli caregiver is 50–80 ₪ per hour, and a night shift is estimated at 600–1,000 ₪. These ranges are market estimates, not a binding price list or a quote. The price is set by the family and the service provider according to their agreement. Do not use the hourly rate to calculate the price of an arrangement with overnight stays or another arrangement for which no rate has been provided.

The table shows market estimates for different services. The rows on cleaning, childcare, pet care and gardening are provided for comparison only and are not prices for care for older adults. Even within the same field, it is worth checking what the service includes, the pricing unit, and the terms agreed with the service provider. The ranges are not a promise of a particular price or a commitment by a platform.

Comparing different services is not a substitute for clarifying the employment terms in each case. When comparing offers for care, make sure they refer to the same arrangement, hours and tasks. If an offer gives a price per shift, do not compare it directly with an hourly rate without checking what each option includes. Other household services in the table are not a basis for setting the price of care for an older adult.

What should you clarify before reaching an agreement with a caregiver?

Before work begins, it is a good idea to have a conversation in which the family explains the older person's needs and the requested tasks, and the service provider describes the arrangement they can offer. Discuss the days and hours, pay and rest arrangements explicitly, rather than relying on general understandings. Make sure everyone involved knows who will coordinate communication and how changes to the agreement will be shared.

A brief record of the agreement can help the family and the service provider refer back to the details they discussed. There is no need to present it as a contract template or legal guidance; the aim is to make the working terms and tasks clear. If the family wants to change the amount of work or add a task, it is worth discussing this in advance and clarifying whether there is agreement and how it will affect pay and working hours.

• A description of the tasks the service provider is responsible for under the agreement, and what is not included.
• Agreement on working hours and the care arrangement.
• A clear agreement on pay and how changes to the terms will be coordinated.
• Clarification of rest arrangements, including work on the weekly rest day or a holiday.
• Clarification of who the family's contact person is and how updates will be shared.

It is also worth clarifying what happens when either party wants to change the arrangement, and avoiding the assumption that a temporary change automatically becomes a permanent part of the role. This conversation helps confirm that everyone understands the agreement and identify gaps before work begins. If family members disagree about what is needed, it is better to set out their expectations together before presenting them to the service provider.

An organized list is also useful when several family members are involved in coordination. It helps keep the message consistent and avoids situations where different instructions are given about the same tasks. If a question arises about employment rights or duties, check with the appropriate authority rather than relying on assumptions that are not part of the information in this guide.

What are an employer's duties toward a household employee?

Household employees, including caregivers, have employee rights, and employers have duties toward them. A family employing a caregiver should therefore clarify the employment terms and manage them in an organized way. The minimum wage as of April 1, 2026 is 35.40 ₪ per hour or 6,443.85 ₪ per month. Keep these figures in mind when agreeing on pay, and make sure the agreement is not below the applicable minimum wage.

National Insurance contributions for a household employee are 8.85% of wages: 6.05% paid by the employer and 2.8% deducted from the employee's wages. The employer reports and pays the National Insurance contributions directly. The responsibility for reporting and paying does not pass to the service provider simply because the work takes place in a private home. It is worth adding this to the list of things to clarify before employment begins and making sure the family understands what it needs to do.

This information presents the National Insurance rates and minimum wage figures provided, and does not add other calculations or terms. When calculating the actual payment, distinguish between the agreed wages and the National Insurance contributions, and keep in mind how the stated rate is divided. If anything about the terms is unclear, the family can clarify the details before employment begins instead of relying on a partial understanding of the figures.

• Check whether the agreed pay meets the hourly or monthly minimum wage, depending on the payment arrangement.
• Remember that the employer reports and pays the National Insurance contributions for a household employee.
• Keep the arrangements for pay and tasks clear.

The information about minimum wage and National Insurance does not replace an individual review of the employment terms. However, it gives the family an important starting point for discussion and planning. Combining a clear agreement about the work with clarification of the related duties helps begin the employment with a better understanding of the role and the employer's responsibilities.

How do you find a service provider and what should you check before starting?

A family can begin the search through the home care service page, where they can look for service providers in this field. Before contacting someone, it is worth preparing a brief description of the need: the requested tasks, hours of assistance, care arrangement and pay the family wants to discuss. A practical description can help focus the conversation on how well the proposed service fits the need, without assuming in advance that a particular service provider is suitable.

When speaking with a service provider, ask them to clarify which tasks they offer to do, and whether they agree to the arrangement and hours the family needs. It is also important to agree on pay and rest arrangements, and discuss the employer's duties before work begins. The family can compare the options based on the details provided, not just the service name or a general description.

EzraHome Connect is a platform that connects families with home service providers; it is not an employer and does not check service providers' identity, documents or training. The family should therefore clarify the details it needs directly with the service provider to decide whether to continue the conversation and agree on the working terms.

Before care begins, go through the following checklist:

• Have the older person's needs and the requested tasks been clearly defined?
• Have the working hours and care arrangement been agreed?
• Have the pay and working terms been clarified?
• Have rest arrangements and work on a rest day or holiday been discussed?
• Has the family checked its duty to report and pay National Insurance?
• Do family members know who will coordinate communication with the service provider?

If the answers are clear and everyone understands the agreements, the family can decide how to proceed. There is no need to commit to an arrangement that does not suit the need or to pay that has not been clarified. You can leave a request through the service page and consider the options with service providers, while independently checking the details and employment terms.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a caregiver cost in Israel?

The 2026 market estimate for an Israeli caregiver is 50–80 ₪ per hour. A night shift is estimated at 600–1,000 ₪. These are market estimates only, not a quote or a commitment to a particular payment. The price is set by the family and the service provider according to the arrangement and terms they agree on.

What is the minimum wage for a household caregiver?

As of April 1, 2026, the minimum wage is 35.40 ₪ per hour or 6,443.85 ₪ per month. These are the minimum wage figures provided. Before agreeing to employment, it is important to clarify the payment arrangement and make sure the agreed wages are not below the relevant threshold.

Who pays the National Insurance contributions?

The employer reports and pays the National Insurance contributions for a household employee directly. The total rate is 8.85% of wages: 6.05% paid by the employer and 2.8% deducted from the employee's wages. Keep these figures in mind when agreeing on the employment terms, and clarify how reporting and payment will be handled.

What applies to work on a weekly rest day or a holiday?

Work on the weekly rest day or a holiday is paid at least 150% of the regular hourly wage. Employees also have the right to refuse to work on the weekly rest day or a holiday. It is therefore a good idea to clarify in advance whether work on these days is needed and coordinate the details with the service provider.

What should you agree on in advance with a caregiver?

It is worth defining the tasks, working hours, pay and care arrangement, and recording the agreement. It is also a good idea to clarify rest arrangements and how changes will be coordinated. Household employees have employee rights, and employers have duties toward them, so it is important to take the employment terms into account as well.

Does EzraHome Connect employ or check caregivers?

No. EzraHome Connect is a platform that connects families with home service providers, and it is not an employer. It does not check service providers' identity, documents or training. The family can clarify details directly with the service provider and decide for itself whether the working terms and information provided suit its needs.