When it comes time to find a caretaker for an elderly parent, it’s important to take your time and do your research. You need to consider many factors, including the caretaker’s experience, personality, and references. Here are ten ways to find the best person to care for your elderly parent.
- Ask your loved one’s doctor or social worker
If you know of a social worker who is already working with your loved one, ask for their recommendations. And if you don’t know of any doctors or social workers in the area, call and ask the staff at health clinics and community centers if they can point you in the right direction.
- Conduct a Background Check
Using a background checker service can be a good way to find out more about a potential caretaker. This is especially helpful if you’re working with an agency, as they should already have a great deal of information on the people they offer for hire. In addition, if your loved one’s doctor or social worker has made recommendations, ask them for background checks as well.
- Ask friends and family members who have used caretakers in the past
Even though you may not think so now, it might be a good idea to talk to friends and family who have been through this situation before – maybe even recently! They likely had a list of requirements that they were looking for when finding someone to look after their elderly parent, and what works best for them might work well for you too.
- Look at a caretaker’s past employment history
It is important to find out whether a potential caretaker has experience in the field they are in now, and if not, how long it took them to get there. If a person has been doing this kind of work for many years, they should have enough experience under their belt to know what works best when caring for an elderly parent. If not, be sure that they will be able to learn from someone who knows what they’re doing!
- Ask your loved one about their ideal candidate
If you want to hear it straight from the horse’s mouth, ask your loved one exactly what they look for when hiring a caregiver. Sometimes hearing it from the person, they’re being cared for makes all the difference!
- Ask your loved one about their most challenging caretaker
Even though you might not want to hear it, it’s important to ask your loved one if there have been any difficult experiences with previous caretakers. Not only can this give you valuable information on what qualities should be avoided, but it can also help you come up with an idea of what different candidates would be like.
- Check references carefully
It’s interesting how many people forget to check a potential caretaker’s references – especially if they’re part-time or work in home healthcare! Past employers are always good places to start, but relatives and friends who have used them before will probably provide the best insight into their personality and work ethic.
- Meet with your candidate in person
At least once before deciding, meet the potential caretaker in person and see how they interact with you and your loved one. If possible, bring your loved one along for this meeting as well, as they often provide more information than you might expect!
- Find out what kind of hours a candidate works
It’s important to find out from a potential caretaker what sort of hours they are able to work. Between commuting time and breaks, most people have between six and fifteen hours available per weekday if they work outside the home – so make sure that you’re clear on exactly how much time they’ll be able to spend looking after your loved one.
- Find out what to expect as far as payment goes
You should always know ahead of time how much a caretaker will charge for their services and what you can expect them to ask for in the way of compensation beyond that (like mileage reimbursement). If you’re working with an agency, make sure to request a clear list of fees and other costs before any commitments are made.
