How to hire a private caregiver in Kansas

1. Verify credentials yourself

A license or certification is public record in Kansas, and checking one takes a couple of minutes. Ask for the caregiver's full name and license or certificate number, then look it up at the source.

• RN and LPN: the Kansas State Board of Nursing license verification (opens in a new tab) page. The board's own online search is the primary source for Kansas nursing licenses.
• CNA, HHA, and CMA: the Kansas Nurse Aide Registry (opens in a new tab), run by the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS). You can search by name or certificate number.

Check that the status is active, that the name matches the photo ID the caregiver shows you, and whether any discipline or findings are listed. Companions do not need a license, so for them, references and a background check matter even more.

2. Run a background check, with consent

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation keeps the state's criminal history records, and anyone can request a KBI criminal history record check (opens in a new tab) through the official Kansas.gov portal. A public, name based check shows limited information, mainly adult convictions in Kansas, so it is one piece of the picture rather than the whole of it. If the caregiver has lived in other states, ask about those too.

Before you run any check, tell the caregiver what you plan to look up and get their written consent. A short signed note with their full name, date of birth, and permission is enough. It keeps things honest on both sides, and a good candidate will not object.

3. Interview and check references

Meet in person if you can, ideally with the person receiving care in the room. Talk through the actual day: what help is needed with bathing, meals, medications, mobility, or getting to appointments, and how the caregiver has handled similar situations before. Useful questions include:

• What kind of care have you provided, and for how long?
• How would you handle a fall, or a medical emergency?
• What hours and days are you available, and how do you handle time off?
• Is there anything in the care plan you are not comfortable doing?

Ask for at least two references from people they have cared for, or their families, and actually call them. Ask what the caregiver did well, what was hard, and whether they would hire them again.

4. Put the arrangement in writing

A simple written agreement prevents most misunderstandings. It does not need to be formal. One or two pages, signed by both of you, covering:

• Duties: what the caregiver will and will not do.
• Schedule: the days and hours, and how changes are agreed.
• Pay: the rate you agreed, how often you pay, and how mileage or expenses are handled.
• Notice: how much notice either of you gives to end the arrangement.

Keep a copy each, and update it when anything important changes.

5. Understand household employer taxes

Depending on how the work is arranged, the IRS may treat a caregiver you hire as your household employee. Generally, a household worker is your employee if you control not only what work is done but how it is done. If so, you may owe employment taxes.

According to the IRS, if you pay one household employee cash wages of $3,000 or more in 2026, you generally must withhold and pay Social Security and Medicare taxes, and the IRS notes this threshold can change from year to year. Federal unemployment tax can apply if you pay household employees more than $1,000 in any calendar quarter. Source: IRS Topic no. 756, Employment taxes for household employees (opens in a new tab).

Household employment taxes are usually reported on Schedule H (Form 1040) (opens in a new tab) with your own tax return. The full rules, including exceptions for family members, are in IRS Publication 926, Household Employer's Tax Guide (opens in a new tab).

Kansas has its own employer accounts. Kansas income tax withholding is handled by the Kansas Department of Revenue (see the KW-100 Kansas Withholding Tax Guide (opens in a new tab)), and state unemployment tax registration is handled by the Kansas Department of Labor (opens in a new tab). Whether you need either depends on your situation, so check with those agencies or a tax professional.

Help paying for care

If cost is a concern, the Kansas Aging and Disability Resource Center (opens in a new tab) offers free information and options counseling at 855-200-2372. Some Kansans qualify for KanCare home and community based services (opens in a new tab), Medicaid waivers that support care at home.