Consider hiring a licensed professional caregiver. Ask for references and check them.

When hiring an in-home caregiver, you have to consider many factors, and there is a list of things you should know. Home care can be a rewarding experience for seniors mainly because it allows them to keep living in their own homes.

When hiring an in-home caregiver, some crucial questions need to be asked to ensure that your loved one is always taken care of. The following are some essential tips you should know before hiring.

First, what is an In-Home Caregiver?

For those of you who aren’t familiar with it, in-home caregivers assist older adults with a wide array of daily tasks. By hiring such caregivers, older adults can receive high-quality care in the comfort of their homes instead of relocating to an assisted living facility.

In-home caregivers are professionally trained and certified to carry out various tasks to assist in the living of seniors who are unable to carry out their daily activities without assistance.

Some of the assistance that an in-house caregiver provides includes dressing, grooming, meal preparations, medications, and light housekeeping. They can also act as a mediator between the senior in their care and the physician.

While in-home caregivers are trained to assist seniors, they are not required to perform complex medical-related activities. Some in-home caregiver services are charged by the hour, while others charge by shift or duties.

Tips for Hiring an In-Home Caregiver

Hiring an in-home caregiver can be a tough nut to crack, so you need to be extra cautious when making a decision. The following are some of the tips that you can use to ensure you hire a well-trained in-home caregiver.

1. Be Clear in the Description

First, you need to write a clear and concise job description informing the in-home caregiver about their job duties and responsibilities. Creating a clear job description of the specific tasks the in-home caregiver will need to carry out will determine the required hours of care. This description includes any daily tasks your aging loved one needs help with, such as cooking, bathing, or light housekeeping.

Having the agreement in writing will also prevent misunderstandings between you and the in-home caregiver you hire. If you hire an in-home caregiver from an agency, you will need to inform them of the specific tasks that the caregiver will be required to carry out while assisting the senior in their care.

2. Always Ask for References

Whether the interview went well or not, it is always best to ask for references. Both independent in-home caregivers and the ones working with an agency should provide details of some of their past clients so that you can obtain feedback about their services.

Asking for references is especially important if there are specific requirements for the senior in their care. Also, since seniors are at a greater risk of abuse or fraud, you should double-check if the caregiver you are about to hire does not have a criminal record.

3. Ask Lots of Questions

During the interview, it is important not to shy away from asking questions that will give you a better idea of how responsible, compassionate, and trustworthy the caregiver is. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about their training, experience, certifications, and what they would do in certain situations to help the senior they’re looking after.

Also, interviewing a potential candidate for the job isn’t enough to get you the information you need. A more thorough approach would be to conduct three interviews: the first would be a brief interview by phone, an in-person interview, and another in-person interview of the top three candidates you have selected for the job.

4. Get it in Writing

Before the in-home caregiver starts work, you should get your agreement in writing by signing an employment contract. Creating an employment contract will be essential to hiring an in-home caregiver.

The contract you create does not have to be complex or complicated. It should clearly outline the agreed-upon duties of the in-home caregiver, including important information such as job details, hours, pay rate, and any other relevant details.

Both the caregiver and you are required to sign the agreement to show that they agree to the terms mentioned in it. Getting an employment contract in writing is a smart way to avoid any misunderstandings in the future.

5. Insurance Woes

Insurance is not the first thing that comes to mind when most homeowners hire an in-home caregiver. It is important to note that most homeowners' insurance policies do not carry liability or worker’s compensation coverage. Even those with these included might not have the right level of compensation.

Since you will be the employer of the in-home caregiver, their safety will be your responsibility. In other words, you will be responsible if the caregiver hurts themselves while on the job.

This is why it is recommended that you contact your insurance provider to find out what needs to be included in your policy before you hire an in-home caregiver. If you are hiring a caregiver from an agency, ask them whether their employees are covered under an insurance policy.

5. Hire an Accountant (If Needed)

Just like hiring any other service, you must keep all transactions legal. You can quickly fill out your W-2 and tax forms, but if you can’t, you should hire the services of an accountant to make sure all of the transactions between you and the caregiver are legal.

It would help if you were also fair with the amount you pay the caregiver. You should offer the going rate in your area to attract more applicants and give yourself a better chance of hiring the right in-home caregiver for your loved one.