When the time comes to bring a caregiver into a home, it can bring on anxiety, plus more. There are personality and trust issues since the caregiver is a stranger. Everyone wants the best, but figuring it out is overwhelming. In addition, finding the right caregiver can feel paralyzing since you need to figure out which questions to ask or what to look for. Critical caregiving attributes are positive, engaging, motivated, honest, reliable, flexible, patient, and kind. Before you ask a caregiver any questions, you must know which type of caregiver you want.

SELF-EMPLOYED CAREGIVER VERSUS AGENCY CAREGIVER?

There are two types of caregivers out there. The first is a self-employed caregiver, an independent contractor who does not work for an agency. The positive is that you don’t have to deal with an agency or multiple caregivers. Plus, you know all the money goes to them. The downside of dealing with a self-employed caregiver is possible liability exposure since they could sue if a caregiver gets injured during their duties. Furthermore, there is no backup available if that caregiver is unavailable.

Your second option is an agency caregiver. Agency caregivers work for a company. The company pays the caregiver and provides the necessary insurance, reducing the liability exposure to the client. Plus, if the caregiver is unavailable, they can pull from their resources to find a backup caregiver. The downside is that people may have multiple caregivers and have to deal with a third party. Plus, the agency keeps a portion of the payment to cover administrative expenses, taxes, and insurance, which might be more expensive. Weighing the costs and understanding your liability exposure help determine which type of caregiver you will use.

AFTER FIGURING OUT WHICH TYPE OF CAREGIVER, WHAT QUESTIONS SHOULD I ASK CAREGIVERS?

Here is a guide to help you through the interview process.

• Are the caregivers employees of the agency or independent contractors?
• What is your availability?
  • How many days per week?  
  • How many hours per day?  
  • Is there a minimum set of hours?
• What is your rate? Do you charge a higher rate for holidays? Is there an overtime rate, and when does that kick in, and what is that rate?
• What happens if a person needs 24-hour care? How would you handle the shifts? What is the rate?
• What types of clients do you specialize in?
  • Do you have experience dealing with dementia, Parkinson’s’, diabetes, cancer, or whatever condition the person has?
  • Do you have experience with individuals who use wheelchairs or are bed-bound?
  • What is your experience with medical equipment (i.e., can they take a patient’s blood pressure, use a Hoyer lift, etc.?)

How do your services compare to other caregivers?

• What will your daily activities include?
  • Housekeeping: Will they do the dishes or laundry? What do they define as light housekeeping?
  • Meal preparation: Can they cook? What can they make?
  • Shopping: Do they shop, or will they pick up prescriptions? Will they shop alone, or must the person be with them? If the caregiver shops alone, how will the caregiver pay for things? 
  • Driving: Can they take a person to their appointments? Who’s car will they use? If they use their vehicle, will they get reimbursed for the mileage, and at what rate?
• Do you keep a journal documenting how the person is doing and what you and they did?  
• What is your communication policy?
  • How would you notify someone of any concerns observed?
  • How and when would you communicate with a patient’s family?
  • How and when would you communicate with a medical professional?
• How do you handle clients who have a Long-Term Care policy?
  • Will you deal directly with the long-term care carrier?
  • Do I have to pay the company and then get reimbursed by the long-term care company?

ARE THERE QUESTIONS FOR SELF-EMPLOYED CAREGIVERS? – YES

• Why did you become a caregiver?
• What is your experience?
• Do you have expertise in transferring someone out of bed or chair?
• Who is your favorite type of client to care for?
• What do you see as being a difficult client, and how do you respond to them?
• How do you deal with a stressful situation?
• If a patient has an emergency, but you have another appointment, how would you handle it?
• If you have a pet, how do you feel about animals?
• Are you quiet or talkative?
• What are your hobbies?
• Can you give me three references?
• Will you do a background check with Goodhire?

ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR A CAREGIVING AGENCY? – YES

• What is the company policy if a caregiver’s shift is about to come up, but their replacement has yet to arrive?
• What is your company policy if a caregiver shows up but the patient does not answer the door?

There may be more questions depending on your specific situation, but this is a starting point. Remember, it may take a few caregivers before your aging loved one finds the right one for them.

Take your time with the process; let STAGES be your resource.