CESU, Agreement, Agent: Which Status to Choose for Home Assistance?

The status of individual employer: being the captain of the ship

Choosing direct employment means choosing control and personalization. You are the sole master on board for everything concerning the help provided to your loved one. This freedom comes at a price: that of full and complete responsibility.

The advantages: a tailor-made relationship and controlled costs

The main asset of this status is undoubtedly the freedom of choice.

• The choice of the person: You conduct the recruitment yourself. You can take the time to find the rare gem, the person whose personality, skills, and values perfectly match the needs and character of your loved one. This direct relationship, without intermediaries, is often stronger and more stable.
• Flexibility of hours: You directly define with your employee the hours, tasks, and organization of work, in accordance with the national collective agreement for individual employers.
• The cost: In the absence of management fees from a third-party organization, the direct hourly cost is generally the lowest. You only pay the net salary of your employee and the related social contributions.

The disadvantages: a significant administrative and legal burden

This autonomy comes with duties that should not be underestimated. As an employer, you must bear all the responsibilities that come with this role.

• Administrative management: You must draft a proper employment contract, calculate and declare the salary each month via the CESU website, manage paid leave, sick leave, and potentially end-of-contract procedures (dismissal, mutual termination), which can be complex and a source of disputes.
• Management of unforeseen events: If your home help is sick or takes vacation, it is up to you to find a replacement solution. There is no safety net to ensure continuity of care, which can be very stressful.
• Legal responsibility: In the event of a conflict with your employee, you are on the front lines. A dispute can be settled before the labor court, with all the implications that entails.

The CESU: your best administrative ally

It is crucial to understand that the CESU is a system and not an employment contract. It is a system that simplifies the life of the individual employer by centralizing declarations. Thanks to the site cesu.urssaf.fr, in just a few clicks, you declare the hours worked and the remuneration. The CESU center then takes care of calculating the social contributions (which it will deduct from your bank account) and sending an employment certificate to the employee, which serves as a pay slip. Moreover, using the CESU makes you eligible for a tax credit of 50% on incurred expenses (salaries + contributions), within an annual limit.

The mandataire mode: valuable support without losing control

The mandataire mode is an excellent compromise for those who wish to maintain control of the relationship with the caregiver while relieving themselves of administrative complexity. It is the middle path, offering a balance between autonomy and security.

The advantages: the best of both worlds?

The mandataire organization acts as a facilitator.

• Recruitment assistance: The organization pre-selects candidates for you whose skills and references it has verified. This saves you valuable time and secures your final choice, which remains yours.
• No paperwork: This is the major advantage. The mandataire takes care of all administrative procedures: drafting the contract, hiring declarations, pay slips, Pôle Emploi certificates, etc. You no longer have to worry about deadlines and complex calculations.
• Maintaining a direct link: You remain the employer. Therefore, you keep a privileged relationship with the home help. You set the guidelines and organize the daily work, which is essential for personalized support.
• Advice and mediation: In case of questions or disagreements with your employee, the organization can play a role of advisor and mediator, which can help defuse potentially conflictual situations.

The disadvantages: shared but persistent responsibility

The hybrid status of the mandataire mode also has its limits.

• The cost: In addition to the salary and charges of the employee, you must pay management fees to the mandataire organization. The total cost is therefore higher than that of direct employment.
• Legal responsibility remains: This is the most important point to understand. Even if the organization manages the administrative tasks, it is indeed you, as the employer, who bears the legal responsibility in case of a major dispute (unjust dismissal, work accident...). The organization advises you but does not replace you before the law.
• Management of absences: In case of your employee's absence, the organization will help you find a replacement, but it cannot always guarantee an immediate solution. The continuity of service is not as solidly assured as in provider mode.

To find a mandataire organization, you can turn to specialized platforms or the home help services in your municipality. The Federation of Individual Employers of France (FEPEM) is also a valuable source of information.

The provider mode: peace of mind above all

If your absolute priority is simplicity and serenity, the provider mode is undoubtedly the most suitable solution. You completely delegate the management of home help to a professional structure, freeing yourself from all the constraints of being an employer.

The advantages: simplicity and continuity of service

With a provider, you are purchasing a service, not labor.

• No administrative management: You are not bound by any employment contract. You receive a monthly invoice that you pay, and that’s it. No pay slips, no declarations, no management of leave.
• Guaranteed continuity of service: This is one of the major advantages. If the usual caregiver is absent (sick, on vacation), the organization has a contractual obligation to replace them immediately. You are assured that help will always be present at the agreed times.
• Professionalism and supervision: The caregivers are employees of the organization, which is responsible for their training, supervision, and follow-up. This can be a guarantee of quality and professionalism.

The disadvantages: a higher cost and less personalization

This peace of mind comes at a cost, both financial and human.

• The highest rate: The hourly cost in provider mode is significantly higher, as it includes the caregiver's salary, social charges, management fees, training costs, supervision, and the company's margin.
• Less control over the choice of caregiver: You do not choose the person who comes to your home. The organization assigns an employee based on schedules. This can lead to significant turnover of caregivers, which can be very destabilizing for an elderly person, especially if they suffer from cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.
• A less direct relationship: The bond is created with the provider structure more than with a particular person. Daily flexibility may be less, as any changes in schedule or tasks must go through the agency manager.

How to make the right choice for your loved one?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer. The "best" status is the one that corresponds to your personal situation, the degree of autonomy of your loved one, your budget, and the time you can devote to managing this help.

A summary to help you decide

To help you weigh the pros and cons, here is a summary of the key points:

• Individual Employer (By mutual agreement)
• Your Role: Employer
• Advantages: Lowest cost, total choice of person, direct relationship.
• Disadvantages: Heavy administrative management, total legal responsibility, no guaranteed replacement solution.
• Ideal for: Those who have time, want to control their budget, and have already found a trusted person.

• Mandataire Mode
• Your Role: Employer (assisted)
• Advantages: Recruitment assistance, no paperwork, maintaining a direct link.
• Disadvantages: Intermediate cost, retained legal responsibility.
• Ideal for: Those who want to choose their caregiver and maintain control without being overwhelmed by administrative tasks.

• Provider Mode
• Your Role: Client
• Advantages: Total simplicity, guaranteed continuity of service, no employer responsibility.
• Disadvantages: Highest cost, no choice of caregiver, risk of turnover.
• Ideal for: Those who prioritize peace of mind, need great flexibility (occasional interventions), or live far from their loved one.

Beyond the status: the quality of the human link

Here, through our years of experience, we have developed a deep conviction: the legal status is the framework, but the quality of the human relationship is the masterpiece. Whatever your choice, the success of the support will rely on trust, communication, and stimulation. This is where our expertise and tools make perfect sense.

We know how much supporting a person with Alzheimer's disease requires specific skills. That is why we have developed our training session to learn how to care for Alzheimer's patients. It aims to provide caregivers, whether professionals or family members, with the keys to better understand the disease, communicate appropriately, and manage difficult situations with empathy and kindness.

Once the trust relationship is established, it needs to be nurtured. This is the mission of EDITH, our memory games program on tablet. Designed to be used together, EDITH becomes a bridge between the senior and their caregiver. It is no longer just a time of "care," but a moment of sharing, laughter, and success. These games stimulate cognitive functions in a playful way and strengthen emotional bonds, which are the best defense against isolation. To learn more about this approach, you can visit our dedicated page: Stimulate and create links with Dynseo games.

Finally, when speech becomes difficult due to cognitive disorders like aphasia, misunderstanding can become a source of immense frustration. It is to break this wall of silence that we created MY DICTIONARY. This simple tablet application allows the senior to express themselves by choosing images and pictograms to articulate their needs, desires, or emotions. It is a powerful tool that restores autonomy and dignity, allowing the person being helped to remain an actor in their own life.

The choice of a status for home help is a fundamental step. Take the time to reflect, weigh each option, and do not hesitate to seek advice. Resources like the portal pour-les-personnes-agees.gouv.fr or the official site service-public.fr offer a wealth of reliable information. But remember that behind contracts and pay slips, the essence lies in the quality of the presence and the bond you will manage to weave around your loved one. It is in this human support that we are proud to offer you our assistance.