5 Steps to Hiring the Right Caregiver

If you decide that a loved one needs help to care for him/herself, or you have become too overwhelmed to provide this care,  it is a good idea to hire a caregiver to help your loved one with activities of daily living and other things necessary for functioning.  Selecting the right caregiver is paramount to ensuring your loved one receives the best care possible.  Here are 5 steps to follow to ensure you hire the right caregiver.

1. Make a List of your Loved One's Needs

Caregivers are trained in many different areas.  In order to help your loved one, it is important to take stock of what he/she needs help with.  Walking?  Bathing?  Money management?  Write all these things down, and make sure the caregiver you hire has experience with the specific needs.

2. Identify Where to Look for a Caregiver

There are several resources that will guide you in the right direction.  Your local Area Agency on Aging can help (http://www.n4a.org/).  Also, you can call local hospitals or churches or companies that specialize in elder care, and they can recommend agencies or individual caregivers to you.

3. Conduct Phone Interviews with Potential Caregivers

Once you have established where you want to choose potential caregivers from, it is important to have a wide range of candidates.  Interviewing individuals via phone will narrow down the pool.  Important questions to ask include: Have you worked with these specific disabilities? How would you react in an emergency situation? How long have you worked as a caregiver? How do you dispense medications? and other questions that are pertinent to your loved one's unique situation.  It is important to ask for at least two professional references, as well as conduct a criminal background check.

4. In-Person Interviews and Interactions with your Loved One

After you narrow your candidate pool, it is important to conduct in-person interviews.  Make sure to make your questions to the potential caregiver more concise.  Also, it helps to have another family or friend present to provide a second opinion for you.  If the person you are hiring the caregiver for is able, it is important to have him/her present for the interview.  It is very important to watch your loved one and the caregiver interact to see if they have a good bond.  Often these things are evident at a first meeting.  Make sure your loved one has a say in the hiring process.

5.  Follow-Up and Monitoring

After you have hired a caregiver, it is important to make sure he/she is doing a good job.  Drop by unexpectedly when the caregiver is there, and, if possible, have consistent conversations with your loved one on how he/she feels about the caregiver. 

Remember, there are many caregivers out there, so you have a large pool to choose from!  Good luck, and if you have any other recommendations, please post them in the comments section below.