Why Choosing the Right Caregiver Is So Important

As the number of seniors in the U.S. continues to grow-indeed, the first "Baby Boomers" will turn 65 in 2011-so does the market for non-medical senior homecare. Chances are, you will at some point be looking for a caregiver for an elderly family member. Today's seniors wish to maintain their independence and quality of life as long as possible. At the same time, their adult children are often sandwiched between taking care of their own offspring and helping their elderly parent, who may live hours away.

Although it may take some time, a great amount of attention should be given to hiring a caregiver. Before you hire a caregiver for your loved one, make sure you determine that they provide these imperative qualifications.

What to Look For / What to Look Out For:

Look for an agency that lets you choose your caregiver, matching your needs to the best possible caregiver. They should bring the caregiver to your home and ask you to participate in the selection process.
Look out for an Agency that just assigns you a caregiver. You need to be able to choose the person that your loved one will be spending time with, not just stuck with the one an agency has available.
Look for an agency that hires only experienced caregivers. They should recruit experienced caregivers who are seasoned in attending to the needs of care recipients.
Look out for an agency that hires and "trains" their caregivers. A quick company-training program can never take the place of an experienced caregiver. What you learn in a book can never take the place of years of experience.
Look for an agency that will provide you references (and check them!). Do the caregivers provide references from sources you can trust (other homecare agencies, hospitals, nursing facilities, churches, hospices, assisted living communities, etc.)?
Look out for agencies that have caregivers without references. Or look out for agencies that say they have references but do not offer them to you to check. Make sure that these are references you can trust.
Look for an agency that screens their caregivers on personality traits. The intangible traits of the caregiver (such as a caring personality) will mean so much in your day-to-day experience in working with them.
Look out for an agency that has no screening process to determine their caregiver's personality traits. Make sure that their caregivers are not just in it for the money.
Look for an agency that does extensive background checks.
Look out for an agency that does not do an extensive background check. Make sure that the agency does not just take the information off a caregiver's application and not verify it.
Look for an agency that is licensed bonded and insured.
Look out for an agency that is not licensed, bonded and insured. This is a definite signal to look elsewhere. If an agency is not, your security is greatly reduced.
Look for an agency that continuously monitors their home caregivers. It is paramount to have a system of continued personalized contacts through telephone check-in and home visits.
Look out for an agency that doesn't have a system to monitor their caregivers. Look out for agencies that don't have surprise in-home visits. If a caregiver is not monitored, you may be in danger of a caregiver becoming lax of assuming too much liberty in their decisions.
Look for an agency that adjusts to your schedule. To adjust to your schedule and to see to it that you remain comfortable in your own home.
Look out for an agency that tells you when they are available. You need to be assured that a caregiver is there when you have the need, not when it is convenient for them.
Look for an agency that offers line-in services, live-out and sleep-over services. You may not need many of these services now, but as your needs change you can have comfort knowing that is available without having to change agencies.
Look out for an agency that doesn't offer live-in service or has limited services. As your needs change or if an emergency arises, if an agency does not offer you line-in, sleep-over or other more extensive services, it can become very stressful.
Look for an agency that provides care in an assisted living facility. People sometimes discover that the assistance provided in an assisted living facility is not enough to enable them to remain independent.
Look out for an agency that limits their care to only in home. If your needs change and it is determined that your loved one needs to go to an assisted living facility, make sure that the agency you choose can provide this service.
Look for an agency that works with your schedule. The agency should work in conjunction with the family and develop an individualized program to manage your daily needs. You are in charge of everything. They should not dictate to you what your schedule is to be (i.e., what time to get up, when to bathe, meal schedules, etc.)
Look out for an agency that tells you what their schedule is. It is very important that you or your loved one remains on the schedule that has become familiar and comfortable. Do not choose an agency that determines or changes this schedule. This can be very uncomfortable and confusing.
Look for an agency that is flexible and willing to change schedules.
Look out for an agency that is unwilling to change schedules once they are set. Look out for an agency that tells you "what is best for your loved one". Only you know that and you, only you, should be able to dictate that, not an agency. Make sure that the agency is flexible and determine how long it will take if changes need to be made.
Look for an agency that quickly responds to your needs.
Look out for an agency that cannot respond to your needs immediately. Don't let them make up excuses to buy time. If they do that when you are looking to hire someone, it may give you a good indication of how they will respond to your other changing needs and requests.
Look for an agency that offers a full line of services. Some examples of the services offered are:
– Hygiene Assistance
– Meal preparation
– Diet monitoring
– Light housekeeping
– Errands and shopping
– Joyful companionship
– Live-in, live-out, sleep-over
– Mornings, mid-day, evenings
– Temporary or long-term
– Weekends and holidays
Look out for agencies that limit their services. This can cause you many frustrating situations.