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Checklist for Hiring an In-Home Caregiver

In such uncertain times as these when hiring a caregiver, it's important to make sure you're hiring right. Nothing is more important than the health, safety, well being and happiness of your loved one.

Following this checklist will help ensure you're getting a caregiver who's responsible, compassionate, honest and has the appropriate expertise and credentials for your needs.

That said, trust your gut. Only hire someone you feel comfortable with. Start off with a trial period. After hiring your caregiver stay present with frequent visits and phone calls. Stay vigilant and monitor your loved one's well being. Make sure she or he is clean, well dressed, well fed, and her living conditions are neat and sanitary. Your loved one should seem like her normal self, or better.

 

 Download printable checklist here.

Care Management Requirements

Before hiring an in-home caregiver, make sure you understand what the client's needs are, so you can clearly articulate roles and responsibilities to prospective caregivers and evaluate their experience and expertise relative to those needs.

__ Personal care (toileting, dressing, eating, bathing)

__ Household care (cooking, cleaning, shopping, laundry)

__ Companionship (walks, talks, daily outings)

__ Health care (medication management, injections, IV, catheter, taking vitals, change dressings, etc.)

__ Transportation (driving to doctor's appointments, friends, shopping, etc.)

__ Specific ailment expertise (incontinence, dementia, diabetes, Parkinson's, psychiatric, etc.)

Screening Check

When screening new candidates make sure they have:

__ Experience caring for the elderly

__ Experience providing care for your areas of need i.e toileting, bed transfer, wound care, Alzheimer's etc.

__ The credentials required for your areas of need i.e. home health aide, licensed nursing assistant, etc.

 

Interview Questions

We recommend you do 3 interviews. The first interview is over the phone, the second is an in person interview with you, and the third interview is with yourself and your loved one to ensure they're part of the process and approve of the hire. Here are some questions you might want to consider:

 

Background Check

If your caregiving candidate satisfied you during your interview process, it's time to verify. In this stage you'll want to verify reliability, responsibility, compassion, timeliness, honesty, expertise and their professional credentials.

__ Call 3 or more reference checks of former employers:

__ Ask to see a government issued photo ID (driver's license, Green card, Immigration card, Military ID, etc.)

__ Record the caregiver's name, phone number, home address & social security number

__ Keep a photocopy of the applicants ID on hand

__ Ask the applicant to sign a waiver of confidentiality allowing you to perform a background check

__ Verify credentials (Licensed Nursing Assistant, Certified Nursing Assistant, Registered Nurses, etc.)

__ Perform a criminal background check (C3 IntelligenceBackgroundChecks.org)

__ Verify driver's license and driving record with the DMV, if driving is required

__ Verify car insurance, if they're using their car

 

Employment Checklist

__ Prepare a written Plan of Care to be followed by the caregiver

__ Determine whether caregiver is an employee or contractor (discuss with your accountant)

__ Sign an employment contract (wage, hours, days of the week, benefits, vacation days, etc...)

__ Take out extra liability insurance, workers compensation etc... (discuss with your insurance company)

__ Have your caregivers Employer Identification Number (EID)

__ Verify caregiver can legally work in the United States (check Homeland Security's E-Verify)

__ Pay a salary and all witholdings and deductions at source (discuss with your accountant)

 

What Type of Caregiver Do You Need?

Task Personal Care Assistant (PCA) Home Health Aides (HHA) Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Registered Nurse (RN)
Toileting, dressing, eating, bathing Yes Yes Yes No
Cooking, cleaning, shopping, laundry Yes Yes Yes No
Companionship Yes Yes Yes No
Check vital signs No No Yes Yes
Medication management No No Yes Yes
Set-up medical equipment No No Yes Yes
Change dressings No No Yes Yes
Clean catheters No No Yes Yes
Monitor infections No No Yes Yes
Administer IV drugs No No No Yes
Tube Feedings No No No Yes
Administer needles / shots No No No Yes
Range of Motion Exercises No No Yes Yes
Certification Requirements None Some states require a background check, certification and vocational training Must attend an accredited vocational or college program and pass a Nursing Assistant's Competency Exam Must attend an accredited program and pass the national nurses exam - NCLEX-RNtion

It should be noted that some designations allow caregivers to perform certain functions if they take a specific course. Ask to verify if the applicant is qualified and check with the licensing body governing the designation.

 

Post Hiring Safety Tips

It's imperative you stay involved and present to avoid cases of elder emotional, physical or financial abuse or neglect. Some precautions include:

__ Make unscheduled visits

__ Stay in contact with your loved one frequently

__ Monitor your loved one's living conditions to ensure their neat and sanitary

__ Monitor your loved one's mood to notice signs of depression, agitation or fear

__ Monitor your loved one's appearance for signs of neglect (poor hygiene, loss of weight, bed soars, etc.)

__ Review bank and credit card statements for unusual activity frequently

__ Keep a live video camera, with audio, (like a nanny cam) in the client's home

__ Keep significant valuables and cash out of the house

__ Take a picture of all valuables in the house prior to hiring

Author
Senior Safety Reviews Marc Felgar Seniorsafetyreviews.com 438-407-2082

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