10 Tips on Hiring a Home Care Assistant
In-home care for seniors is crucial for helping seniors live in their homes for as long as possible. An in-home caregiver assists the seniors with their day-to-day activities. These can range from simple tasks such as reminding them to take their medication to more specialized tasks such as managing medical equipment. This type of care ensures that seniors can live independently for longer. It is therefore important to find a home care assistant that can meet the needs of the seniors and provide them with the care and assistance they need. This can prove challenging. Below we discuss 10 tips for finding the right home care assistant for your loved one.
- Hire through an agency
You will have the option of hiring a caregiver privately or through an in-home senior care agency. Hiring privately can be an involved process. This is especially if you’ve never had to hire such a professional before. You would have to place the ads, sift through applications, shortlist candidates and carry out interviews all on your own. Agencies do most of the work for you. You will only need to approach the agency and let them know what type of professional you need for the job. They will sift through their network and find the most suitable candidates for you to interview.
- Know what you want
Whether you choose to hire a professional through an agency or privately, it is important to be clear about what you want. You should outline the daily requirements for the job would be. This will help you find an assistant that meets your requirements and can provide the care that you want for your elderly loved one. It also ensures that the professional you hire goes into the job knowing what is expected of them.
- Be flexible with your requirements
While it is important to know exactly what you want, you should know that you will probably never find a professional that will fit your requirements perfectly. You should therefore be flexible. You should be willing to let go of the little things and instead focus on the big picture. Settle on a professional that meets most of your needs and requirements.
- Be compassionate
It is important to maintain boundaries with the in-home caregiver you hire. You should treat them as a professional and be prepared to have hard conversations just as you would with any other employee. However, it is also important to have a sense of compassion. Remember that a caregiver is a person with feelings and a life outside of caring for your loved one. You will have a better professional relationship if you are friendly and flexible and try to understand them.
- Determine what your insurance will cover
This is important as in-home care for seniors can prove to be expensive, especially in the long term. You should establish right from the beginning what the insurance company will pay for and how much. Some insurance companies will limit the number of hours that they will pay for. Others limit the type of in-home care that they will cover. It is important to be aware of what the requirements of the policy are so that you are covered.
- Carry out research on different agencies
Not all agencies are created equal. You will increase your chances of finding the right hire by choosing an agency that you can trust. You should therefore take your time in researching different agencies in your area. Ask for referrals from friends and family and read reviews from previous customers and employees of the agencies. This will help you narrow down your choices.
- Interview the agency first
Just as you would with the shortlisted assistants, you should interview the agencies that you’re interested in using. You should have a detailed conversation with them about your expectations and needs. Ask them about their hiring process and the type of support you can expect from them. Narrow down your choices based on the responses you receive and which agency is able to meet your expectations.
- Develop interview questions
Whether you’re hiring through an agency or privately, you should have a set of interview questions ready. These will help you narrow down your choices for the position. The questions should help you learn more about the professional you’re interviewing and their ability to meet your expectations.
- Be clear about payments
It is important to be clear about how payments will be made and how much will be paid. This may be easier when using an agency. If you’re hiring privately, be sure to remember all aspects of hiring an employee, such as tax compliance. You may even want to have an attorney or financial advisor assist you in establishing a payment structure and ensuring that it is tax-compliant.
- Ensure that background checks are done
There’s nothing wrong with being overly cautious. Carrying out background checks is important especially when you will be leaving your loved one in the care of a stranger. Ask the agency about background checks and the method they use.
Use the tips above to find the right caregiver for