How do You Find a Trustworthy Caregiver for Your Parent?

By Ernest Hamilton Oct 15 2020, 22:58 PM EDT

Sometimes elderly people need so much care that a nursing home seems like the only viable option. Quite a few people would rather keep their parents at home for as long as possible and look after them with the help of a trustworthy caregiver. You can't know who's going to provide reliable service in advance, allowing your loved one to stick to the routine they're accustomed to. A drastic change in personal circumstances, like being moved to a home, is likely to cause their overall well-being to deteriorate.

Screening resource UnMask reminds us a background check can reveal things about a caregiver they might not have shared with us. We understand they want to maximize their chances of getting hired and can't blame them. At the same time, we don't want to end up as a horror story on the news either.

We can help you find a reliable provider. Read on.

Questions to Ask

The process starts with finding the answers to some pertinent questions. How long can your parent remain at home for? What care do they require? Any community programs to resort to? Do you have a spouse, relative, or friend you can rely on to share the responsibility? If so, how will the responsibility be shared? Who will coordinate the care? Sometimes, even the best caregiver won't be able to help you answer these questions.

You also have to establish whether your parent can take part in decisionmaking regarding their care. Last but not least, you need a realistic grasp on any and all budget matters.

Care Provider Classification

There are different types of caregivers: crisis, primary, secondary, working, respite, family, and more. The decisions made by primary caregivers will affect your parent directly. They can also represent them in medical and legal matters apart from offering hands-on assistance.

You might opt for a so-called crisis caregiver who will only assist in the event of a medical emergency. This could be the budget-friendliest option.

If the responsibility proves too much for the primary caregiver, you might need to hire a secondary one to help them with their tasks.

Working care providers have full- or part-time positions. They give moral and physical support to those dependent on their services.

When primary caregivers go on holiday or are otherwise unavailable, respite caregivers fill in for them.

Long-distance caregivers assist relatives to a great extent. Unfortunately, they usually live an hour or more away from the care receiver's home.

An agency caregiver is a good option if you don't have time to look for candidates and screen them yourself. The agency takes care of the whole recruitment and selection process. On the downside, you'll be charged a fee.

An occasional caregiver is a suitable choice for you if you only need someone to help with chores and services now and then. These include shopping and transportation.

After You Find a Good Candidate

Even if you're hiring through an agency, it's a good idea to interview the person yourself. Give them any specific information they need to know. You really need the best person to care for your parent, so do your homework. Look at their past experience. Find out how long they have been in this line of work and how many people they have helped. The ideal candidate should have years of experience giving in-home assistance.

When it comes to references, don't hesitate. People who are happy with the care their loved ones received from someone would be ready and willing to recommend them. If the caregiver isn't willing or able to give references, it's a red flag.

Use Resources Wisely

Resources are available to those looking for caregivers for their loved ones. These include social services from the local government, Medicare, and Medicaid. Specialized services can include transport and specialized care. You'll probably need more than one provider as your parent's care needs increase. You can combine different services. In every event, the care provider should be licensed and insured properly.