The Biggest Mistake You Can Make When Hiring a Caregiver

Your family’s decided to hire a caregiver. It may feel like the easy part lies ahead after struggling to convince your loved one. But, right from the start, it’s easy to head down the wrong path.

Hiring a Caregiver: Where to Go for Help

Before we reveal the biggest mistake you can make, let us help you avoid a few during the initial process. What’s the best way to hire a caregiver?

Consider the value of hiring a caregiver through a home care agency. Know the liabilities and risks you take if you decide to be the employer. Many families underestimate this until they run into problems. If you hire someone via a recommendation, make sure you’ve planned for liability coverage, handling taxes, and overseeing the caregiver. You’ll need to be the manager, dealing with expectations, troubleshooting, sick days, etc. When you have a solo caregiver there’s no one to fill in if she/he gets sick or needs a personal day.

Be diligent in hiring the right agency. While agencies are typically regulated by the state, there’s still wide variation in quality. How they hire, train and supervise employees could make or break your experience. Check out Five Tips for Choosing a Quality Home Care Provider. You might start with recommendations from trusted professionals or hire a geriatric care manager.

Stuck on convincing your loved one? Need top quality home caregivers in Pinellas or Pasco counties? Contact EasyLiving.

The Biggest Mistake When Hiring a Caregiver

The biggest mistake when hiring a caregiver comes from thinking you’re done once you’ve chosen someone. The hiring process shouldn’t end with the interview. Guidance makes a good caregiver great. On the other hand, the best caregiver will often be a disappointment without the right preparation.

So how do you avoid this mistake?

1. Determine what you need/want.

In home care, we call this the assessment. It provides a clear picture of the situation so you can better find the right caregiver, determine hours needed, and more. An agency will have an assessment process to make a good match and build a care plan. You may want to seek a comprehensive care management assessment, especially when starting out on your caregiving journey.

2. Create a plan.

What should the caregiver be doing and how? Many clients are nervous about having to “entertain someone” in the home. And, they shouldn’t have to. The caregiver needs a structured plan with tasks and instructions. Otherwise, you find Mom hates the caregiver because she seems to “just chat all the time”. In reality, the caregiver’s only trying to engage the client but doesn’t know she likes quiet during meals. Or, the caregiver may seem like they’re not hard working when they’re just unsure what to do next. Other times, the caregiver tries to take initiative and start a task only to realize that’s not how the client wants it done.

The care plan should be thorough and specific. It’s a working document based on the assessment of needs, as well as personal preferences and routines. Next, the care plan requires communication. The best care plan is no good if it’s just sitting in a file at the office. It needs to be put into action by the caregiver. Additionally, the agency should follow up, review and make adjustments.

3. Provide orientation.

No one wants a stranger showing up to care for them with no introduction. Imagine how uncomfortable this would be. Good caregivers have a way of making the best of all situations, but a warm start always helps.

Also, do an introduction to the home. Does the caregiver know where you keep cleaning supplies? Has she had a tour of the home? During this initial meeting, the caregiver and supervisor can also spot things that might be needed. Perhaps there are supplies missing or safety issues to address.

When hiring a caregiver, don’t make the big mistake that can ruin the experience. With a few easy steps, you can give your caregiver the chance to do her best for you.

Give us a call at 727–447–5845 for help with all your caregiving needs: assessments, finding the right caregiver, planning and more. Join our Caregivers Community on Facebook for more support and resources.