Questions to Ask a Potential Caregiver

June 10, 2015

If you have yet to go through the process of finding aging options for yourself or your loved ones, there are a few thing you want to avoid. That’s why we have put together the must ask questions you should prepare when going to meet with a caregiver or home care company. This will ensure you only get the best care for yourself or your aging family member.

1) Tell me about your work experience in the last five years. May I contact your employers as references? Getting a broad sense of what types of work the person has been doing can give you a good idea of whether she’ll be a good fit for this opportunity.

2) What is your education background/current certifications you have? This will give you a good feeling for their training in different areas and a picture of some of their strengths and/or weaknesses.

3) Would you be able to drive my loved one? Make sure your potential caregiver has a current driver’s license, reliable transportation, and is comfortable driving your loved one to appointments and visits.

4) Tell me about your availability. It’s best to find someone who can be flexible and accommodate your vacations and holidays.

5) How do you handle people who are behaviourally challenging? Dementia, loneliness, and loss can bring with it behaviours that require sensitivity and resourcefulness. Your caregiver should be able to describe in detail how s/he has worked with someone who is depressed, forgetful, aggressive, stubborn, or fearful.

6) Can you prepare meals? If this is something your loved one needs, it’s a good idea to see how the caregiver will handle the task.

7) I will be completing a criminal background check. Have you ever been convicted of a felony or misdemeanour? You should always do a background check on potential caregivers. This is a good way to find out if your caregiver is forthcoming and honest, and if there’s anything in her past that raises a red flag.

In addition to the above questions to find a caregiver, be sure to ask your caregiver about any other issues that are specific to your loved one’s care. Make sure you find only the best care for your loved one by taking the extra step to prepare.

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