| Over 41 million Americans have a chronic condition | | | | what questions to ask, call a caregiver agency. |
| that limits their daily activities in one way or | | | | The agency should be helpful enough get get an |
| another, this is according to the Department of | | | | idea of what types of questions to ask, don't |
| Health and Aging at the University of California | | | | forget that you are a prospective customer. |
| and 12 million are unable to live independently. One | | | | Sixth step, now it's time for an in-person |
| in five seniors who have attained the age of 85, | | | | interview with the applicants. After you have |
| over half are in need long-term care - where the | | | | carefully filtered through the applicants on the |
| receive personal assistance to enable them to | | | | phone, you should interview the ones that made |
| perform everyday tasks such as eating, washing | | | | the cut, in person. It's always a good idea to invite |
| and dressing. Most people still want to live in their | | | | a friend or family member to sit in on the |
| own homes as long as possible and for those who | | | | interview to provide a second opinion or sense of |
| are elderly or disabled this may be possible with | | | | security. Always observe interactions between |
| outside help. | | | | the worker and the person who will be receiving |
| Most people who need help with their daily | | | | care, after all that is what it is all about. |
| activities are dependent on unpaid care for family | | | | If you are interviewing a caregiver agency, ask to |
| members and friends. Increasingly, however, the | | | | interview the in-home caregivers yourself. Many |
| elderly and their families recognize the benefits of | | | | agency employees look good on paper, but will |
| using caregivers to help them stay in their homes | | | | not be a good fit for you, for cultural, religious, |
| longer, with more comfort and security and peace | | | | social, or any number of reasons. You may just |
| of mind. Similarly, many states (including MI) and | | | | not like the person the agency has assigned to |
| the federal government, set aside some funds to | | | | you. |
| allow people who otherwise could not afford to | | | | Number seven: always check their references. |
| pay for outside help. | | | | One of the most important things to check in this |
| Here are 10 tips for choosing a caregiver: | | | | process are the provided references from each |
| First, test your home care needs. Evaluate the | | | | applicant. Be sure you talk to everyone who is |
| need for assistance in health care, personal care | | | | given as a reference. If you are looking for |
| and housekeeping. Do you need home health care, | | | | someone who is dependable and reliable as well as |
| like physical therapy or medication management? | | | | someone who is qualified to do the work, their |
| If you need non-medical personal care such as | | | | references should reflect those qualities. |
| help with bathing, dressing, grooming, and | | | | Eighth on the list: Get a criminal background check. |
| preparing meals, or are you looking primarily for a | | | | Let's get some things straight, people who are |
| companion or sitter? Decide whether you need | | | | paid by state funds usually must always pass a |
| help with cleaning, shopping, home maintenance | | | | criminal background check, but that doesn't mean |
| and running errands or paying bills and managing | | | | you shouldn't check. Even if someone does not |
| your money? | | | | have a conviction for a disqualifying crime (which |
| Secondly, write a job description based on the | | | | would be identified through the background |
| assistance that is needed. Remember to include: | | | | check), he or she may have convictions for |
| health care training required (level and type: | | | | offenses that would concern you or present a |
| Certified Nursing Assistant, Licensed Practical | | | | safety risk (using drugs; driving under the |
| Nurse, nurse) to drive (car or a license necessary | | | | influence of alcohol or drugs; driving without a |
| to conduct valid) Ability to lift care recipient and / | | | | driver's license or insurance). |
| or operate specialized equipment. | | | | If you are hiring an agency, make sure that the |
| Third, develop a contract. The contract is based | | | | agency does criminal background checks. Many |
| on job description and should include the following: | | | | states' laws require a background check, but that |
| payroll, when and how payment will be made for | | | | doesn't mean it has been done. |
| hours worked. Record the employee's social | | | | Number 9: Be sure you hire thoughtfully. We all |
| security number (because you must report | | | | want to hire a caregiver who has experience in |
| wages paid to the Internal Revenue Service). | | | | the specific areas in which you need help, so |
| Please include unacceptable behavior job | | | | make sure you recognize who that is from the |
| description (like smoking, abusive language, delays, | | | | interviews you held. People who have Alzheimer's |
| etc.) Notify them of your termination policy (how | | | | disease often need help with toileting and bathing, |
| much notice, reasons for dismissal, etc.) Have the | | | | for example, so look for someone who has |
| dated signature of both the employee and the | | | | experience in working with elders with this illness |
| employer (that's you). | | | | and can complete the needed tasks. |
| Fourth, knowing where to look for a care | | | | Last but not least, be sure to monitor the |
| provider. Identify the pool from which you can | | | | caregiver's activities. Set up a schedule to monitor |
| find a babysitter. You can ask neighbors or friends | | | | the quality, quantity and effectiveness of the |
| who are good prospective families. If you belong | | | | services the caregiver provides. This is especially |
| to a church, ask your pastor or minister of | | | | important for family members, who may not |
| perspective members, your family is OK but first | | | | have as much experience as professional |
| and foremost, the management and the dismissal | | | | caregivers. Do this by making personal contact |
| of a support person are all business decisions and | | | | with the caregiver and regular home visits with |
| family members who are not well paid may not | | | | the elder, and getting periodic reports from the |
| be your best choice. Hire a professional caregiver | | | | caregiver or the agency. Watch for signs of |
| if you can afford it (I can help you find one, so | | | | abuse, neglect, and exploitation and report |
| don't be shy). | | | | suspicious activity to the agency and state |
| Fifth on this checklist interviewing the candidates. | | | | authorities. |
| Prepare a list of questions to ask. Have a | | | | If you're worried about the time involved with |
| separate list for each applicant, care giving | | | | hiring a caregiver, consider using an independent |
| agency, referral service, or reference you may | | | | geriatric care manager to monitor if you are |
| call. You need to gather different information | | | | unable to do it yourself. |
| from each of these sources. If you don't know | | | | |