The Art of Finding the Right Caregiver is a guide to help you understand the process of hiring caregivers whether you choose to use an agency like Family Best Care or hire directly. Get your copy on Amazon.
Finding the right caregiver can seem like a daunting task, but once found caregivers often eliminate many of the stresses of caring for an elderly or ailing loved one. However, finding the right caregiver presents its own set of trials and can be confusing the first time around.
Here are a few steps to help you find the caregiver that right for you:
1. Determine your needs and preferences.
The first step to finding the right caregiver is assessing your home care needs and preferences. Home care can take a variety of forms – personal care, household care, health care, and emotional care. Deciding where you need help will aid you in getting the kind of caregiver you need. Are you looking for assistance with personal care like bathing, eating, and toileting or do you need someone with household care skills like cooking, cleaning, and laundry? Furthermore, what preferences does your loved one have regarding the gender, cultural background, and age of the caregiver?
The first step to finding the right caregiver is assessing your home care needs and preferences. Home care can take a variety of forms – personal care, household care, health care, and emotional care. Deciding where you need help will aid you in getting the kind of caregiver you need. Are you looking for assistance with personal care like bathing, eating, and toileting or do you need someone with household care skills like cooking, cleaning, and laundry? Furthermore, what preferences does your loved one have regarding the gender, cultural background, and age of the caregiver?
2. Know your financial obligations and forecast the care progression.
Once you’ve accessed your needs and preference, take the time to familiarize yourself with your budget and financial obligations. Hiring a caregiver often means you’re responsible for handling tax related issues as well as benefits. Be sure you’re clear on what’s expected of you before hiring help. Furthermore, determining the expected length and progression of care can help you be prepared to adjust your budget should timelines or care requirements change.
Once you’ve accessed your needs and preference, take the time to familiarize yourself with your budget and financial obligations. Hiring a caregiver often means you’re responsible for handling tax related issues as well as benefits. Be sure you’re clear on what’s expected of you before hiring help. Furthermore, determining the expected length and progression of care can help you be prepared to adjust your budget should timelines or care requirements change.
3. Craft a thorough job description and clearly communicate your needs to prospective caregivers.
Once you’ve accessed your needs and preference and made sure you’re aware for your financial obligations, take the time to write out a job description that clearly articulates the tasks you’re seeking help with. Be sure to include important factors like language skills, the ability to work specialized equipment, work hours, and expected pay rate. This way your applicants have a solid understanding of the position and you won’t need to waste time constantly answering basic questions about the job.
Once you’ve accessed your needs and preference and made sure you’re aware for your financial obligations, take the time to write out a job description that clearly articulates the tasks you’re seeking help with. Be sure to include important factors like language skills, the ability to work specialized equipment, work hours, and expected pay rate. This way your applicants have a solid understanding of the position and you won’t need to waste time constantly answering basic questions about the job.
4. Locate resources in your community
Many communities have local resources that can assist you in finding in-home care or will allow you to post your newly crafted job listing. Identify sources that you can utilize throughout your search and refer to them regularly.
Many communities have local resources that can assist you in finding in-home care or will allow you to post your newly crafted job listing. Identify sources that you can utilize throughout your search and refer to them regularly.
5. Interview your applicants
While you don’t have to hold face-to-face interviews with every person who applies for the job, you should always screen the individuals under consideration before offering them the job. Be sure to discuss expectations from both sides (the applicant and the hirer), and include questions that give you a peek into how well the caregiver is likely to fit in within your home environment. Be sure to inquire about special skills, standard work hours, holiday coverage, and anything else you believe to be important.
6. Do your due diligence
Once you’ve narrowed down your applicant pool to the top 1-3 choices, you may want to follow up with their references, check their licenses, and do a general background check. Don’t be afraid to dismiss candidates whose history raises red flags for you.
Once you’ve narrowed down your applicant pool to the top 1-3 choices, you may want to follow up with their references, check their licenses, and do a general background check. Don’t be afraid to dismiss candidates whose history raises red flags for you.
7. Hire carefully and follow up
Once you’ve hired your preferred candidate, spend the first couple of weeks monitoring their work and providing feedback. They can’t be the best caretaker for you if you don’t tell them how!
Once you’ve hired your preferred candidate, spend the first couple of weeks monitoring their work and providing feedback. They can’t be the best caretaker for you if you don’t tell them how!
Following these few simple steps will help you find a responsible home caregiver with minimal frustration. If the process still seems daunting and confusing, check out Abigael’s easy-to-understand guide, The Art of Finding the Right Caregiver (available on Amazon). Her e-book guides readers through the entire process, from determining their needs and priorities to attracting, vetting and selecting caregiver candidates. She also includes helpful questions to ask during interviews and screening, sample documents to use and much more. She lays out the entire process for you, all you have to do is follow the steps!
