Whether you’re hiring a full-time or part-time caregiver for your elderly parent, it’s important to choose the right person. Hiring the wrong person can result in your loved one getting subpar care, or worse, being mistreated and abused. Here are some things to consider when you’re looking for an elderly home care provider:
Make a List of Needs
Before starting your search, make a list of the services your loved one needs. This will help you narrow your options and avoid spending too much time interviewing caregivers who don’t meet your loved one’s specific needs. You should also note if your relative has any special care needs, such as dementia or Parkinson’s disease. If so, you might want to look for a home caregiver with additional training or experience.
Ask Your Friends and Family for Recommendations
It can be helpful to ask your friends, neighbors, and other senior care experts who have had a good experience with home caregivers. They can tell you what types of people they’ve worked with and how well the staff members they’ve hired have performed.
You can also use the services of a caregiver agency, which often screens and hires workers. They will do background checks, fill out the tax and legal paperwork, and provide you with a list of available workers. You may have more control over who comes to your house if you choose an agency, but you’ll likely pay more than if you hired a private caregiver.
Find a Caregivers with Qualifications
Once you’ve compiled your list of potential candidates, set up an interview for each candidate. This should include questions about your loved one’s health, personality, and preferences, as well as your family’s goals and budget.
Be sure to bring your aging relative to the interview, too. This will help the caregiver understand how they can best serve your loved one and give you both a chance to get to know each other.
Prepare a Job Description
It’s essential to have a clear understanding of what you need from an aide and the skills they should have. You should be able to describe the tasks your loved one is looking for, such as bathing and dressing, transporting them to appointments or events, and helping them to prepare meals.
You should also include the frequency of those tasks, such as once a week or twice a day. If your loved one is unable to drive, you may want a caregiver who can pick them up and take them to doctor’s appointments, or drop them off at the library or a store for shopping.
The caregiver should be able to provide you with a copy of their state license and proof of liability insurance. These documents can be obtained from the state’s health department or through an agency that helps screen and vet home care workers.
Have a Written Contract
It’s best to have a written contract when you hire a personal caregiver, particularly if they are a close relative, because this can help prove that the money you paid them wasn’t a gift. This can be especially important if you’re seeking Medicaid eligibility. in home care toronto
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