Compare Grandma Joan
To Home Care Models
24-Hour Agency vs Grandma Joan
A local home care agency is often the best option for securing quality care at home. They can provide a trained employee, 24/7 field assistance, and a simple, all-inclusive hourly rate. This is usually the best choice for part-time coverage of up to 10 hours daily.
However, when full-time custodial care or memory care is needed, the challenges become more pronounced. The need for intermittent coverage throughout the day and some overnight help can be particularly difficult. If using hourly shifts, the frequent shift rotation of 4-7 different caregivers each month can be overwhelming for memory-care recipients, especially if a caregiver doesn’t show up and the agency struggles to find a replacement.
Additionally, the cost of maintaining this coverage is daunting. With an average rate of $34 per hour, 24-hour, agency-delivered home care costs $816 per day, $24,820 per month, and a staggering $297,840 per year.
Grandma Joan’s direct-hire model uses a single, reliable live-in caregiver for most hours, with family or agency support for weekly respite. Fewer workers = fewer staffing headaches.
Our model offers a considerably more affordable option for reliable 24/7 support at home, often at HALF of the cost.

Agencies often rotate 4-7 caregivers weekly for 24-hour cases, which can overwhelm care recipients. Our direct-hire model uses a single, reliable live-in caregiver covering most hours, with family or agency support for weekly respite. Less workers = less staffing headaches.
Home care agencies can provide the best option for part-time coverage, but for 24-hour care, the cost is astronomical. Our model offers a considerably more affordable option for reliable 24/7 support at home. Direct-hire costs include payroll taxes and workers’ compensation insurance for liability protection.

Families Pay Less While Caregivers Earn More
One major benefit of our direct-hire model—compared to “renting” a caregiver through an agency—is that it eliminates the costly middleman. This approach allows professional live-in caregivers to earn over $100,000 per year—often 2 to 3 times more than agency-employed caregivers doing the same work. As a result, we’re able to attract the most experienced and dedicated talent in the home care field. Meanwhile, families save 30% to 50% each month on care costs. It’s a true win-win.
Caregiver Registry vs Grandma Joan
In more densely populated areas, caregiver registries may seem like a convenient option for finding a live-in caregiver. They typically provide a list of available candidates for clients to interview and hire as household employees.
But when it comes to quality, consistency, and cost, there are two major differences between a caregiver registry and Grandma Joan:
1. Candidate Pool
Most registries have a very limited selection of professional live-in caregivers. That’s because very few caregivers are both qualified and willing to commit to a full-time, live-in role—and even fewer are actively registered and local to your area.
Ask yourself: What are the chances that the best live-in caregiver in the entire country just happens to live in the same county as your loved one?
Possible? Yes.
Probable? No.
At Grandma Joan, we’re not restricted by local availability. Our headhunting process is nationwide and case-specific. We search coast-to-coast to bring you the top candidates in the country—those best suited to your family’s specific needs.
Rather than casting a small net in one town, we search the whole ocean to find the right fit.
2. Service Fees
Here’s where the difference really adds up.
Registries typically charge a recurring 20% service fee on top of your caregiver’s wages.
If you pay your caregiver $400 per day, that’s an extra $80 per day—$560 per week, or approximately $2,426 per month.
These fees continue for as long as the caregiver is with you, often adding up to $30,000 per year or more in service charges.
Grandma Joan does things differently.
We charge a one-time recruiter fee to cover the entire headhunting and placement process. You can:
-
Pay monthly in installments that automatically stop once you are no longer employing them, or 18 installments, whichever occurs first, OR
-
Pay upfront in a discounted lump sum.
No “forever” fees. No percentage cuts of the caregiver’s pay. No surprises.
Just expert recruiting, a custom caregiver search, and a clear path to long-term support.
In Summary:
Feature | Caregiver Registry | Grandma Joan |
---|---|---|
Candidate Pool | Local, limited | Nationwide, top-tier candidates |
Service Fee | 20% ongoing | One-time only / or limited duration of installments. |
Monthly Cost | $2K–$3K/month in fees | $2K month, $0 after recruiter fee is paid. |
Fee Duration | Indefinite | Fixed and transparent |
Why Families Choose Grandma Joan
Choosing the right live-in caregiver is a deeply personal decision—and a long-term one. With Grandma Joan, you’re not limited by location or locked into endless fees. You get access to the best live-in caregivers available, and the peace of mind that comes with fair, transparent pricing. That’s Grandma Joan’s promise.

Grandma Joan’s one-time fee model can save households thousands compared to registry models with recurring fees. The savings increase the longer a live-in caregiver is needed.
With both models, clients can interview the best available live-ins. With Grandma Joan’s model client’s get to chose from the best candidates in the country.
Sound Interesting?
Call us now at 888-250-2631
OR
Click on the below button to get a payroll estimate now.