Check references. Focus on what you need and regardless of how well the references check out, make sure you know what you need vs what the reference needed. If a person is primarily a " sitter" and your mom is active and you don't need a sitter, don't hire a sitter. Also some aids have worked for agencies where they had very specific tasks to perform and will say for instance that they don't do housecleaning because that wasn't required at the agency. While you can appreciate that the agency didn't require housekeeping you might. If you expect your aid to keep your mothers space clean, be sure to go over that. Be very specific and don't assume that what you think of as appropriate is the same as what they think. If they have a problem with cleaning the kitchen after making a meal find out beforehand. I have a list of things I want done everyday. Them I have "busy" work for if the aid has time. My busy work never gets done. But the must do list is always done so I let the other slide. I had to work on accepting that. Also I think it is good to know why someone left their previous jobs. Did the patient die, go into a nursing home, go with an agency? It might not have anything to do with the aid but rather the progression of the patients disease. But you will learn something about the aid just asking about previous jobs. Have your very specific list of things you want done and ask if there is a problem with them doing any of them. For instance I want my aunts thyroid med given and then her taken on a walk them I want her breakfast made and the remainder of her meds given. I want her breakfast made at her home, not take out brought in. I want her to eat at her breakfast table and not in front of the tv. She takes three bp meds. I don't want her to eat salty foods. Also ask the aid how often she has missed work in the past. Does she have children and how does she manage them. Does she herself have health issues that might interfere? Does she have a person who might back her up if she can't come? Then I intervirw that person etc. Does she want off on specific days? Also if you gave a salary range in mind don't start out at the top without letting the aid know that you are because of her experience and your expectations. You might decide to go with a lower salary and give her a raise in 90 days. I also invite another family member or friend in for the interview and ask for feedback. Ask if they have cell phones, accept texts can stay off the phones during their shifts, etc. Be prepared to explain how you want them to sign in. How you will pay them and how frequently. Make sure the applicant knows that she is working for you and if you ask that moms lunch be warned and placed on a thermos that she doesn't let mom tell her different, etcetera. The best applicants come though personal referrals.
Good luck and know that the first person might not be a fit and that while there are people out there who are truly preying on the weak snd vulnerable, there are also great helpers who truly enjoy working with elders.
You could list the activities you think are the most important and ask how she would handle them. What you would want to find out is her thought process and how she approaches problems and creates solutions.
Your profile indicates dementia is involved. Think of the reasons you want an aide, the specific issues you might be having with care, and raise those as potential issues to get an idea what her solutions might be.
E.g., you could ask how she would handle sundowning, aggressive behavior, repetitive questions, etc.
Get her drivers license and SS card and PROOF of any certifications she claims she has. Have her sign a release allowing you to do a background check and credit check.
Focus on what you need and regardless of how well the references check out, make sure you know what you need vs what the reference needed. If a person is primarily a " sitter" and your mom is active and you don't need a sitter, don't hire a sitter. Also some aids have worked for agencies where they had very specific tasks to perform and will say for instance that they don't do housecleaning because that wasn't required at the agency. While you can appreciate that the agency didn't require housekeeping you might. If you expect your aid to keep your mothers space clean, be sure to go over that.
Be very specific and don't assume that what you think of as appropriate is the same as what they think. If they have a problem with cleaning the kitchen after making a meal find out beforehand. I have a list of things I want done everyday. Them I have "busy" work for if the aid has time. My busy work never gets done. But the must do list is always done so I let the other slide. I had to work on accepting that.
Also I think it is good to know why someone left their previous jobs. Did the patient die, go into a nursing home, go with an agency? It might not have anything to do with the aid but rather the progression of the patients disease. But you will learn something about the aid just asking about previous jobs.
Have your very specific list of things you want done and ask if there is a problem with them doing any of them. For instance I want my aunts thyroid med given and then her taken on a walk them I want her breakfast made and the remainder of her meds given. I want her breakfast made at her home, not take out brought in. I want her to eat at her breakfast table and not in front of the tv. She takes three bp meds. I don't want her to eat salty foods.
Also ask the aid how often she has missed work in the past. Does she have children and how does she manage them. Does she herself have health issues that might interfere? Does she have a person who might back her up if she can't come? Then I intervirw that person etc.
Does she want off on specific days? Also if you gave a salary range in mind don't start out at the top without letting the aid know that you are because of her experience and your expectations. You might decide to go with a lower salary and give her a raise in 90 days. I also invite another family member or friend in for the interview and ask for feedback. Ask if they have cell phones, accept texts can stay off the phones during their shifts, etc. Be prepared to explain how you want them to sign in. How you will pay them and how frequently.
Make sure the applicant knows that she is working for you and if you ask that moms lunch be warned and placed on a thermos that she doesn't let mom tell her different, etcetera. The best applicants come though personal referrals.
Good luck and know that the first person might not be a fit and that while there are people out there who are truly preying on the weak snd vulnerable, there are also great helpers who truly enjoy working with elders.
Your profile indicates dementia is involved. Think of the reasons you want an aide, the specific issues you might be having with care, and raise those as potential issues to get an idea what her solutions might be.
E.g., you could ask how she would handle sundowning, aggressive behavior, repetitive questions, etc.