I ask the following: Q:Please tell me your experience caring for elderly men (or women). have follow up questions ready Example: how many hours a day, how many days a week, were they incontinent-how did you manage their toileting schedule. Q: Please describe a normal day with your client. Q: Describe your methods to help bathe/toilet. Q: Fluids and snacks are part of this job; are you willing to get the snacks and give drinks? Q: Are you able and willing to work schedule (give schedule)? Q: How flexible are you to work additional days/hours? Q: Do they have a backup person who helps if they are unable to work? (I found that private carers have a community of other helpers they call on; it has been a blessing for my mom to have more than one person who is willing for fill in. Q: Exercise is important for flexibility-how do they incorporate movement into the shift? I didn’t add the questions of the others who have responded but I think they are good to ask as well. It has been a blessing to get help for my mom. She actually responds really well to one particular person who is 5 days a week /4 hours a day. The other lady is good too. Mom ran off 3 people in the beginning by just being snippy and stubborn. The ones we have now are perfect for her.
Many agencies do background checks, and I'm not sure how an individual does this, but it might be something to consider. A friend of mine had indoor surveillance cameras, so she could keep an eye on things on the home front, when she was at work, (and she told everyone who entered about this, so it was out in the open, so to speak). It's sad to be so suspicious and wary of things these days, but peace of mind is worth a lot. I'd also get references and check on them.
Rather than a caregiver are there Adult Day programs in your area? Most will pick up in the morning, provide a light breakfast or snack, a lunch another snack in the afternoon and return them home in the afternoon. He would be engaged with other people, many programs have outings or activities that come in. While many in programs like this have dementia not all do. Another option would be checking the schedule at the local Senior Center and see if he would be interested in programs they have there. These options would be great if he does not "need" a lot of care and the caregiver is there of companionship rather than doing caregiving duties.
Your answer to this question is "RIGHT ON". Most of the time a companion is needed more than an alternate caregiver. I discovered this myself. The caregiver wanted to do things for my mom that she was capable of doing for herself (with assistance). After 3 weeks, Mom became more agitated when I mentioned the caregiver was coming. She finally said to me, "You provide me all the care I need; I just get lonesome and would like someone to visit and talk to on occasion." I cancelled the caregiver and sought out a companion. It was GREAT, she (the companion) engaged Mom. They visited, worked puzzles, watched TV shows that they had in common, and even colored in Adult Coloring Books while they chatted. Mom is doing fantastic now with more smiles and laughter. Caregiver vs. Companion is a decision that needs to be carefully looked at. BRAVO for your suggestion GRANDMA1954.
Your Dad has hearing and vision problems. Does he wear hearing aids? If not, you will need to ask the candidate how they've ever dealt with a senior with poor hearing, and vision. - Ask what types of enriching activities they think would be appropriate to do with your Dad. - Ask if they are first-aid certified and know what to do in case he falls, or has a health crisis. - Have them provide references for the last 2 caregiving jobs. Make sure you call them. - A background check would be essential: this isn't something you "ask" the candidate about, you will need to figure out how to get one done. Then make sure all valuables and sensitive information and devices are secured, locked up and password protected before anyone starts to work for you. - Is this person willing to drive your father places? Do they know how to safely get someone into and out of a vehicle? - Are they licensed, bonded and insured? - discuss expectations about their phone usage during work time.
What is your expectation for them calling in sick and there's no sub for a private hire? Agencies can provide a sub. They also do background checks and take care of the employer tax withholding and reporting, which you may need to also do depending on what rules your state has about caregivers. In my state no caregiver is ever a "contract" worker -- they are always an employee.
I ask if they will do his laundry, make a sandwich for his lunch, what snacks and drinks they like to have on hand. Sometimes clothing needed to be changed and he needed help in bathroom. Determine if they will engage in conversation or just sit and watch; interaction was so important to my husband. I found it best when the person had experience in caring for someone with dementia whether a client or a family member. I had help from a mix of a medical student in the neighborhood, friends from church, and an agency. Most were good for different reasons. A few from the agency were not good for different reasons, mostly reliability. (They get paid so little in this area) Hard of hearing, my husband needed the person to be clearly, understandably heard. Good luck! The right person will help you to take care of yourself!!
@SusanDon, you just made a really good point when you said “Hard of hearing, my husband needed the person to be clearly, understandably heard.”
That is so true: some people speak way too quickly, or mumble, or sort of slide all their words together into one huge long indecipherable word, so a caregiver should take care to hire those who speak clearly and slowly enough that one’s brain can input each word.
Ask for references. Find an agency that you trust. I have found that it’s worth the fee, because with personal hire, many things seem to just vanish, aides are late or don’t show up, and you are just a job. You may hope for a relationship, but chances are, it’s a one way. My last personal hire stood me up when I had an important doctors appointment. I was late and had to call a cab. I have a long list of stories, so a good reliable agency is Worth it. If an agency doesn’t pay the aides well enough, they don’t get good responsible people, and the patient suffers the consequences. Here’s hoping that this helps. It would have saved me a lot of headache.
I’v seen a lot of posts about using an agency because they provide back up if someone is sick and they do background checks, etc. I just wanted to share that my experience with a nationally known agency was not the same. They say they do all of those things, but they don’t necessarily happen. There was not always a back up when someone was sick. They often just called me and my mom and told us no one would be there to help my 91 year old great aunt that just had shoulder surgery so we’d have to go stay with them (when the purpose of the agency was to have them be there 24 hours a day). The director of the agency said that some of her caregivers drive, but they don’t have a drivers license. Then my great uncle’s credit card was stolen and the agency ended up telling us that a particular caregiver had a warrant out for her arrest (so they KNEW about it!). And she was allowed to work in elderly people’s home! Not ok! And, this wasn’t cheap - over $16k a month for 24 hour care. So we weren’t going for the cheapest we could find. We THOUGHT we were going with the best!
I know our experience is (hopefully) an outlier, but I guess the point is that an agency isn’t always what they sell it to be. So, my advice is to ask lots of questions, even with an agency.
I am in same position and w/my wife recently deceased her cousin is assisting me in interviews. she is also our C.P.A. One good question is if you need to change the schedule--example I do not need the care taker or I need to changer his/her work schedule am I charged extra many say yes if less than 24/48 hrs notice...ie If I do not need the caretaker Wed can they come another time...One of the largest companies her in central Oklahoma DOES NOT charge extra they have my vote..may not sound vital but it is..For the 1st time since my wifes passing I was invited to baseball game...all tickets covered ..I only had 24 hr notice..just an FYI
Make up a scenario to see how they would handle s situation. Ask them to tell u a story about their grand parent(s) to see there reaction, facial and put on ur listening ears . Ask how do they feel about ageism.
He would be engaged with other people, many programs have outings or activities that come in. While many in programs like this have dementia not all do.
Another option would be checking the schedule at the local Senior Center and see if he would be interested in programs they have there.
These options would be great if he does not "need" a lot of care and the caregiver is there of companionship rather than doing caregiving duties.
- Ask what types of enriching activities they think would be appropriate to do with your Dad.
- Ask if they are first-aid certified and know what to do in case he falls, or has a health crisis.
- Have them provide references for the last 2 caregiving jobs. Make sure you call them.
- A background check would be essential: this isn't something you "ask" the candidate about, you will need to figure out how to get one done. Then make sure all valuables and sensitive information and devices are secured, locked up and password protected before anyone starts to work for you.
- Is this person willing to drive your father places? Do they know how to safely get someone into and out of a vehicle?
- Are they licensed, bonded and insured?
- discuss expectations about their phone usage during work time.
What is your expectation for them calling in sick and there's no sub for a private hire? Agencies can provide a sub. They also do background checks and take care of the employer tax withholding and reporting, which you may need to also do depending on what rules your state has about caregivers. In my state no caregiver is ever a "contract" worker -- they are always an employee.
That is so true: some people speak way too quickly, or mumble, or sort of slide all their words together into one huge long indecipherable word, so a caregiver should take care to hire those who speak clearly and slowly enough that one’s brain can input each word.
I know our experience is (hopefully) an outlier, but I guess the point is that an agency isn’t always what they sell it to be. So, my advice is to ask lots of questions, even with an agency.
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