10 Questions To Ask Before Hiring A Caregiver
What to Know Before You Hire a Caregiver
There are many ways to go about hiring a caregiver or home care agency to assist your senior loved one. You could search online ads, such as Craig’s List or consult the yellow pages, but it’s always best to search the listings on a professional senior living alternatives website such as alternativesforseniors.com or go through a well-known agency (that doesn’t necessarily mean a large franchise, but be sure to get references).
No matter how you find the caregiver options available to you, you’ll naturally want to first select those that are qualified and are able to ensure your senior loved one is safely taken care of. But you’ll also want to focus on your senior’s particular needs to ensure they’ll be met. If your family member has Diabetes for example, find out which caregivers have experience assisting those with Diabetes. How can you be sure your caregiver is the right fit? Simply ask a lot of questions.
10 Questions To Ask Before Hiring A Caregiver
The following is a list of questions to ask before you hire a caregiver from a home health care agency. These are suggestions to get you started, but be sure to think through all the issues that might apply to your particular situation, and never be afraid to ask.
- What recruiting methods does the agency use? How are they finding job candidates? Newspaper ads? Staff agencies? Craig’s List?
- What are their hiring requirements for prospective employees?
- What screenings are performed on caregivers before they are hired? Criminal background check — federal or state? Drug screening?
- How does the agency assess what the caregiver is capable of doing?
- Can the caregiver perform the specific duties my loved one requires?
- Does the agency train caregivers? What does that training entail? Are they knowledgeable about elderly health conditions and certified in CPR?
- Are the caregivers insured and bonded through the agency?
- Is the agency diligent about sending the same caregiver to the home, rather than a revolving door of strangers who parents don’t know or trust?
- If you are not satisfied with a particular caregiver, will the agency provide a different person?
- Does the agency provide a supervisor to evaluate the quality of home care on a regular basis? How frequently?
It’s never easy to entrust another person, a stranger at that, with a loved one. By asking a great number of pertinent questions, you can be put at ease and help ensure that your loved one is properly cared for.
BLOG Date: Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Writer: Ryan Allen