Steps to Finding a Good Caregiver for the Elderly
When finding a caregiver who is just right for you, it is a ‘big’ job. You can do this job on your own by placing ads in the local newspaper; ask others in the community if they know someone to care for your elderly loved one in your home or to provide additional support in a care facility; or look for help through an agency specializing in care for the elderly.
No matter what your decision, the steps for finding a good caregiver are the same.
1. Know what you want:
Often these relationships break down because expectations have not been clearly defined. Talk with your parent or loved one and ask them what it is they want from the caregiver? If the elderly cannot provide you with this answer, determine what you need from the caregiver?
Outlining these expectations prior to interview and placement will certainly assist in a positive outcome. When outlining expectations you are building a job description with established responsibilities.
- What kind of activities do you want the caregiver to complete? Remember a caregiver’s first priority is the health, safety and well being of the elder person. This can include assistance in completion of personal hygiene tasks; completing bedtime routines; changing the person and laundry…No matter what it is remember to ask for what you need.
- Based upon your family’s needs and the level of support required you will need to decide how many hours/ week you will want the caregiver to work. What will the work hours be? How much flexibility will you need to accommodate schedules? Can the caregiver accommodate some change in her work schedule? How much notice will be required for changes to respect the caregiver’s personal time?
Another question always forefront in people’s minds is, how can we pay for this?
If family members are having financial struggles, there are funds available to assist with support for family members requiring care by a caregiver. Contact your local government or Public Health Care Nurse and ask for assistance with possible funding.
What are your resources to get what you want:
- Ask others in the community, other family members, friends and people in the workplace if they have any information on finding care for their loved ones.
- Place ads in your local newspaper or community newspaper. Response from placing ads can be overwhelming so find ways to limit this by having respondents send resumes to an email address or fax machine. It is best not to give out personal phone numbers and names for purposes of contact.
- Post advertisements on bulletin boards at reputable colleges who may have new graduates from personal care attendant programs,; nursing assistants or other related fields.
- Go to the professionals. Home care agencies screen candidates, complete references, get medical reports, determine their matching requirements, provide education and certification and can save families a lot of time.
- Go online. Websites can assist with lists of agencies and independent caregivers to assist in your search.CARE FINDER
Interview for what you want:
- An interview is important as it is an opportunity to ‘get to know’ one another. Set an interview time; ask the potential caregiver to bring all credentials such as diplomas, first aid certificates, medical report and completed security clearance; have your questions written out as a list and address each one.
- An interview is a time to determine if the potential caregiver’s values match your family values. Have an interview guideline with specific questions reflecting your needs and wants. Listen carefully to responses and ask for examples to support answers. Past behavior is a good indicator of present behavior.
Important questions to consider include:
- Educational qualifications and supporting documentation.
- What were the caregiver’s past work experiences and why were they terminated? Are there gaps? If so, why?
- Care philosophies: do they match yours?
- Availability and anticipated holiday time off?
- Ask questions about experiences with adults? Ask for examples supporting statements.
- How will the caregiver communicate what they are doing on a daily basis? Examples.
- Interview in two phases, first to find out about the individual. Second phase is to determine the caregiver’s interaction with elderly. Is the caregiver responsive? Does your elderly family member appear to like the caregiver? Does the caregiver ask the elderly their needs or what your needs are? Does the caregiver talk with you and the elderly and involve you in the decision making or does the caregiver tell you what will be done?
- Ask for references. Contact each reference personally. Written references with glowing reports are great, but they can be forged, duplicated and fraudulently created. REFERENCE CHECKS ARE ESSENTIAL.
- Last but not least, use your personal discernment: Your GUT. If all the answers were great but it does not feel right, then do not hire the caregiver. Trust your instincts and pay attention to small details, it is usually accurate.
- Have a trial run. Ask the potential caregiver to come to your home or the facility to observe the interaction with your loved one. Pay the caregiver for this time and complete this step several times before actual contracting.
It is a challenge for the elderly to find someone they can trust. They are vulnerable and need protection. To complete the interview and ensure that all security checks and references are completed is one more step to personal safety and security.
Contracting to create understanding:
A trusting relationship can be forged through expectations being developed right from the start and maintaining them in a consistent way. A contract will spell it out. The contract will outline responsibilities for both parties fairly.
Contracts can be negotiated by an outside service or available through our Store
If you have decided to use an agency negotiating a contract may be part of their serve to you.
Home | About Us | Find Care | Caregivers | Membership | Your Store
Site designed, maintained and hosted by Sunergon Information Services
