In my experience, the "best" caregivers want the best work hours, and enough of them. I'd same a minimum of 30 hrs a week. Right now my family has 1 caregiver who comes for 4 hours every morning at the same time 5 days a week, but she cares for 2 ladies so she makes double. She's excellent and we've had her for 6+ years.
The answer is based on what you need the caregiver to do and for how long of a time. I was able to care for my Husband by myself if I needed to do so. I had 2 caregivers from 9 to 4. I would get my Husband up and shower him, dress him and get his breakfast. I would get lunch ready so all the caregiver had to do was heat it up and monitor him while he ate. Later they had to feed him. They would change him and when he became confined to bed they would change him in bed, reposition him as I requested. But he was very easy to care for, not combative always compliant. They really had it pretty easy. For someone else that was combative or non compliant it would have been much more difficult for them Because I hired privately I could instruct the caregivers to administer medication if it was needed. (Not controlled substances though, for safety I kept that locked up. (Morphine was administered as needed and I would give that)) If I had gone through an agency a Nurse would have had to have been assigned so that medications could be administered. That would have increased the cost quite a bit. So the basic questions are.. What do you need them to do How long do they need to be there How "easy" of a job is it? How to keep them is pretty simple. Pay them well. As the patient declines and the job becomes more difficult increase their pay if you feel it is necessary. When their services are no longer needed and you are satisfied with their work supply them with a letter of recommendation and if you feel it is appropriate be willing to be listed as a reference when they fill out other applications.
I was able to care for my Husband by myself if I needed to do so.
I had 2 caregivers from 9 to 4. I would get my Husband up and shower him, dress him and get his breakfast. I would get lunch ready so all the caregiver had to do was heat it up and monitor him while he ate. Later they had to feed him.
They would change him and when he became confined to bed they would change him in bed, reposition him as I requested.
But he was very easy to care for, not combative always compliant.
They really had it pretty easy.
For someone else that was combative or non compliant it would have been much more difficult for them
Because I hired privately I could instruct the caregivers to administer medication if it was needed. (Not controlled substances though, for safety I kept that locked up. (Morphine was administered as needed and I would give that))
If I had gone through an agency a Nurse would have had to have been assigned so that medications could be administered. That would have increased the cost quite a bit.
So the basic questions are..
What do you need them to do
How long do they need to be there
How "easy" of a job is it?
How to keep them is pretty simple.
Pay them well.
As the patient declines and the job becomes more difficult increase their pay if you feel it is necessary.
When their services are no longer needed and you are satisfied with their work supply them with a letter of recommendation and if you feel it is appropriate be willing to be listed as a reference when they fill out other applications.
Are you looking for part time or full time? You will need more than one caregiver for full time.
What do you mean by ‘keep’ a caregiver? Live in?
An agency often rotates staff according to who is available to work on that particular schedule?
You can request to have the same caregiver. They may be able to accommodate your needs if that is what you desire.
Best of luck to you finding a caregiver.