Background checks for non-professional caregivers can leave out many crucial details of an individual’s past. A recent article from the Napa Valley Register tells of prison guards advising soon-to-be released convicts that caregiving can be an easy employment opportunity for paroled felons. Even though these individuals may be genuinely honest and hardworking, ongoing reports of elder abuse from around the country are good cause to be aware of their services.

Family friends and loved ones are always the best resource for finding a verified caregiver. The only downside to this is that people with full time jobs or professional careers, college classes or other commitments may not have the time to devote to an aging parent or loved one and need additional help. How can working caregivers know that their loved one is safe with their hired caregiver?

There are several simple ways to begin a screening process for hiring someone to look after your aged loved one. For starters, you can use our checklist for interviewing a potential caregiver to ascertain his or her experience with caregiving and personal history. If you find someone you like, you should have them sign an agreement form as part of the hiring process.

Our seniors deserve the same peace of mind that we desire from knowing that good, quality care is on its way and can be expected without fail. In order to guarantee this, a professional caregiving agency, resource or in-home care provider can be used. The Facilities & Services section of our website has a nationwide directory of quality care providers than can be of assistance. When in doubt, check with your local Department of Aging, which you can also find through the Facilities and Services section.

Not everyone has time to interview caregivers one-on-one, either. In this instance, you may have to make use of an in-home care agency. While most providers can be easily checked out with certification licenses and customer feedback, it’s still important to ask questions of the staff and double check their credibility. Make sure to look for professional agencies that conduct in-depth background checks and require licensing or nursing degrees. Visiting Angels has a fantastic screening process and is nationally renowned as one of the best in-home care providers in the country.

Something to consider in choosing an agency or interviewing independent caregivers is the cost benefit and your personal time commitments. As we discussed, not everyone may have the luxury of free time to conduct interviews, but this process can save quite a bit of hourly consultation fee and agency bills for caregiver placement. A strategy for those who are busy during the weeks can be to ask for caregiver applicants at church or schedule interviews from ad replies on Saturdays. In the unforeseen event that an accident should occur, make sure to verify either your caregiver or in-home care agency has the proper bonding to protect against any potential loss.

Filed under: Care Facilities, Caregiving, Eldercare, Home Care Agencies, Working Caregivers