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When hiring a senior caregiver, there are many important factors to consider. Not only does a caregiver have to be a good fit for you or your senior loved one, but he or she needs to have the proper training, be background-checked, and know the protocol of what to do in the event of an emergency.
Therefore, when considering hiring a senior caregiver by yourself through Craigslist or a private referral of an independent individual, here are five key questions you must ask yourself:
- Do you want the responsibility of vetting a caregiver for your loved one?
It is recommended that if you hire a caregiver, you should ask for three references, and then actually follow up on contacting those three references. If you are interviewing, say, five potential candidates, then that means there are fifteen follow up calls you need to make. Who has the time for that? It is better to hire a great senior caregiver agency that already has its own superb vetting process in place, so you can rest assured that the legwork has been done for you.
- Will you have the time to check up on your senior and continue to supervise the care?
Many of us with aging, needy parents have flown the coop and moved out of the city, and even out of the state. This doesn’t make it easy for us to do follow-up checks on our senior loved ones. Sometimes life gets in the way, and we need to shuffle our kids off to soccer practice, or attend PTA budget meetings. If you hire a professional caregiver agency, they can do attend to all of the follow-up doctor’s visits and keep you and your senior abreast of any medication changes and dietary recommendations, etc.
- Will you continue to train the caregiver when necessary?
There are always new advancements that improve the quality of caring for elders. Whether it’s new methods in dealing with dementia, or the proper protocol for an accidental pill overdose, caregivers should be fully trained in all of the latest procedures for your senior’s care. You cannot possibly be expected to keep up with every medical development, but a good caregiver continues to be educated in all senior care issues.
- Do you have a backup caregiver if your primary caretaker isn’t available?
If your friend or neighbor doesn’t show up to look after your senior for whatever reason (illness, work responsibilities, a death in the family, etc.), you’ll most likely have to leave work, possibly giving up pay, to take care of your elderly loved one. This can be an inconvenience and even a strain for your senior, who is used to consistency. A good caretaker agency will have backup professionals available should this problem arise.
- Do you have liability and workman’s comp coverage?
If you hire a caretaker, you are responsible for that person’s well-being. Should he or she get injured while working for you, you are financially liable for any costs incurred. This is an important factor when selecting a caregiver, as you especially want someone trained in the proper methods of lifting/maneuvering another adult with ambulatory issues. Setting up the proper coverage is time consuming and mind-boggling. But you can find a caretaker agency that has their own coverage of their employees, freeing up another burden for you.
Love 2 Live ensures your loved one’s caregiver is ethical, caring, energetic and more!
Love 2 Live Care Services Enforces the Highest Standards in Caregiving
Love 2 Live Care Services makes sure that our caretakers are educated on the latest trends in senior care, and all of our staff undergoes a thorough background check. We even have checks and balances to supervise the work our caretakers are providing, and keep you informed on how your loved one is doing. We take care of the liability/workman’s compensation concerns, and we even conduct annual reviews of our caretakers, including direct feedback from the clients. Plus, we always have a backup caretaker for your loved one in the event of an emergency and/or illnesses with the regular caretaker. Call us at 619-291-4663, and we will provide a no-obligation in-home assessment, free of charge. If you are a concerned relative residing in another city, or even in another state, no we will still be able to help you!