Selecting a good caregiver for your elderly folks is quite a task. You have to take care of so many details to ensure that you choose the right person. If your selection turns out to be wrong then it can have serious consequences for your loved ones. Therefore, the utmost attention should be paid while selecting a caregiver.
You can hire one on your own or you can choose in-home caregiver San Antonio who will find a good caregiver for you. In this article, we will try to explain to you how to select a good caregiver. So, let’s get started.
How to select a caregiver?
You can hire a caregiver in a number of ways.
- Through agencies
- Through family and friends
- Through apps
Through agencies:
There are specialized agencies that provide caregivers to whoever needs them. There is two kinds of agencies. One that provides you just the list of the caregivers. You will have to select the one and do his background check. He is not employed by the agency and you have to take care of his insurance too.
The other type has caregivers employed by the agencies and they vet them thoroughly before having them on board. They are also insured against injuries and accidents.
Through family and friends:
You can ask your friends or family members about the caregivers if anyone of them have hired a caregiver before. You will have to vet the individuals yourself and they won’t be covered by insurance either.
Through apps:
There are mobile apps which work the same way as the agency. You choose the caregiver and they will send one your way. You can ask for help anytime, depending on the availability of the caregiver they will send him immediately.
When to go for caregivers?
You can hire the services of a professional caregiver in the following cases:
Your loved ones need them:
If your parents are injured due to accident, or have been diagnosed with diseases which require special care and attention, you should consider getting a caregiver for them. They might require it for assistance in domestic chores; from cooking to laundry or for their personal grooming, going to the restroom or maybe even getting up.
When you can’t afford nursing homes:
Having a caregiver at home is cheaper than admitting your loved ones to a nursing facility. If the caregiver is charging you on the time-based pricing model and you are paying him on the number of hours, he spends giving care, you will save yourself a lot of money.
When your loved ones prefer to stay home:
It is often the case that the old folks like to stay in their home and refuse to leave it. They find their abode comforting and peaceful. But since their condition demands care so it is better that you provide them a caregiver right in their home who will take care of them in the privacy of their home. They will be happy about this arrangement.
What to look out for in a caregiver?
Hiring a caregiver can be a risky proposition, especially when you have to do the background checks yourself. There have been unfortunate incidents of old people being at the receiving end of the caregivers’ harsh treatment. So, before you finalize a caregiver you should be doing the following;
Required certifications:
You must make sure that you are hiring a trained professional. You should look for their medical certificates. All home-based caregivers are required to have certain certifications by law. You should know of your own local legal requirement and ask for it from the potential candidates.
Experience:
This is particularly important for the kind of care that you need for your loved one. Every person has his or own unique caring needs. You should look for the caregiver that can fulfil yours. Ask for proof of their experience by way of a letter of recommendation or contact information of their previous employers to verify their credentials.
Reputation:
Make sure that the person you are hiring has an impeccable reputation. You must conduct a thorough investigation in this regard. Get all his information, call his previous employers, check for any criminal record. Do whatever you can in your capacity to check the character of your potential caregiver before you hire him.
Matching natures:
You know your loved ones, their nature and personality. You should hire such a caregiver that matches their personality. Your loved ones should be comfortable with the caregiver. There has to be a bonding and a mutual companionship. So, hire somebody who will get along well with your dear ones.
Develop a job description:
This will save you a lot of headache. The potential caregiver will also know what is expected of him. Write his job description in clear and unambiguous words and provide it to him. All the tasks and duties should be mentioned therein. Later, develop a job contract based on that description and get it signed by the caregiver.
Arrange trials
Before you finalize your caregiver, ask for a trial for the short-listed candidates. This will give you a reasonable idea about the quality of services they will provide to your loved ones. Choose the one which is most caring and diligent towards his duties.
Take your time
The decision to hire a caregiver should not be taken in a haste. You must take your time. Involve all the stakeholders. Do research and then decide for the right candidate. Your loved ones’ quality of life would depend on your decision. Choose wisely and carefully.
Conclusion
Having a home-based caregiver is a good option. It will be economical and your old folks will be more comfortable with this arrangement. You must conduct a thorough investigation before you finalize a caregiver and see to it that it fulfills all your required criteria.
Featured image source: Freepik
