Questions to Ask When Hiring a Caregiver
- What type of care can they provide?
- What type of experience do they have?
- What previous clients can you call that they have cared for?
- What hours are they available?
- Can they be available for emergencies?
- How much do they charge an hour?
- Do they charge more for night care?
- Do they charge less if it is 24 hour care?
- Have they ever been arrested? If yes for what?
- Have they ever been fired from a job?
- Will they agree to a background check and a DMV check?
- Are they capable of driving the older adult to appointments?
- What hobbies and interests do they have?
- Do they speak a second language?
- Do they cook? What kind of food?
- Do they do house cleaning?
- Do they like older adults?
- Do they have any experience or knowledge regarding the aging process?
- What would they do if the older adult fell?
- What would they do if the older adult choked on food?
- What would they do if the older adult stopped breathing?
- What would they do if the older adult became difficult to manage?
Advantages of Hiring a Caregiver on Your Own
- Cost less
- More flexibility with hours
Disadvantages of Hiring a Caregiver on Your Own
- Time consuming to interview each person
- Risks for no back up coverage if caregiver is sick or wants to change scheduled work time
- You need to hire a security firm or lawyer to do a background, DMV (driving records) and drug test
- Tax forms, workers compensation insurance, unemployment and medicare need to be completed and paid for the employee.
- Employess will not be bonded.
- No supervision/care plan management is provided which could effect extended work performance.
