Q. My four siblings and I had a family meeting over the holidays to discuss the needs of our parents. We agreed to hire a caregiver to assist them in their home. Excellent referrals came from friends and we thought we were on our way to reduce our worry and stress regarding their care. Unfortunately, we are now on our third caregiver and sadly, this person is not working out for us. We have worked with private caregivers as well as a caregiver from an agency. Before we have another conversation with mom and dad about another caregiver, what insights can you provide about finding the right fit with a caregiver? We are frustrated!
A. Finding the right caregiver is a process that involves diligence, skill and a little bit of intuition. I can’t say that one factor is more important than the other, as all areas of consideration are important. I highly recommend working with a reputable agency, one that has a solid track record serving in the community. They will do the background work for you in vetting qualified caregivers. If you will be considering a self-employed caregiver, however, it will be your responsibility to ask the questions that will help you make a good determination on who to work with. I must stress that price cannot be your major decision making point. I have seen families suffer because they chose a caregiver based on price. In any case, make sure you understand if your candidate passes a few basics. Can they work in this country legally? Do they carry proper insurance? What is their work background? What kind of tasks did the person perform on the job? How do they react in an emergency situation? Are they able to provide you with references? More importantly, can you do a background check on that person? If working with an agency, ask what their hiring process is and what questions they ask their candidates. Do they drug test employees? What happens if the caregiver gets sick? Your frustration will be minimized once you have a handle on questions to ask as well as having a backup plan when things don’t go as planned. On last factor that must be considered is how what the chemistry is between the client and caregiver. Keep tabs on the relationship your parents have with the caregiver you choose. A trusted caregiver will be looking out for your parents’ best interests and will be your second set of eyes when you are not there. Establish your requirements and go from there. I think you may have a better experience in the future.
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