Finding the right in-home non-medical care is vital for your loved one’s care. You’ll want to check their qualifications, experience, and references. And the extent of their insurance and liability coverage. They must also be compatible with your loved one and can be available when needed. This article will guide you through the essential factors to consider during hiring.
In today’s fast-paced world, many people find themselves in the challenging position of seeking in-home care services for their aging parents. This was the case for Emily, a devoted daughter who found herself searching for in-home care after her mother, Martha, became ill.
Emily began her search by exploring various avenues, from online research to phone calls and in-person visits to different agencies. It seemed that every place she called presented obstacles: Some agencies had long waiting lists, limited availability, or couldn’t provide the specialized care Martha needed. Others were simply unaffordable, straining Emily’s budget.
Emily’s story is not unique. Finding good in-home healthcare can be extremely challenging. But knowing what to look for and the right questions to ask can help with the process.
Finding the right in-home care
Finding the right in-home care service is crucial when seeking non-medical care and support outside of traditional healthcare settings. One of the advantages of in-home care is that it allows your loved one to stay in the comfort of their own residence, surrounded by family while receiving necessary healthcare and support. This familiarity positively impacts their psychosocial well-being and provides some level of oversight to ensure high-quality care.
However, it’s important to be aware of potential risks and challenges that come with choosing the wrong in-home care worker. Lack of knowledge in this area can disrupt your routine, and lead to unexpected medical expenses, financial burdens, trust issues, and stress.
When searching for the best service, several factors should be considered. First, ensure that the caregiver has the necessary qualifications and experience, especially if your loved one requires specialized medical care or assistance beyond basic activities of daily living (ADL). Conducting background checks and contacting references can provide further insights into the caregiver’s suitability.
While compassion and the ability to provide personalized care are essential, ensuring your loved one’s health and safety are not compromised is paramount1. This includes avoiding medication errors, incorrect dosages, or overlooking vital sign recordings.
Compatibility between the caregiver and your loved one is also crucial for building a positive and trusting relationship. Mutual understanding and rapport contribute to a sense of companionship and a healing environment.
Consider the availability and flexibility of the in-home care service. Your loved one may require assistance at different times throughout the day or night, so having a caregiver who can accommodate their schedule ensures consistent and reliable care.
Additionally, it’s important to verify the caregiver’s insurance and liability coverage, as working with elderly, ill, or frail adults carries physical liability risks. Asking relevant insurance-related questions will protect both you and your loved one from potential risks and unexpected expenses.
7 Things To Look For When Hiring In-Home Care For A Loved One
Knowing that your loved one is in capable hands brings peace of mind and reduces anxiety for everyone involved. It ensures their safety and provides the support they need to regain independence and normalcy in their lives.
Check Credentials and Qualifications
The first thing you’ll want to do is to make sure the applicant has the relevant education, training, or credentials that effectively demonstrate their ability to care for your loved one[1]. For instance, nursing degrees, certified nursing assistant (CNA) certifications, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), first aid training, or other healthcare-related certifications required by local regulations[2]. These are indicators of sound theoretical knowledge and practical skills to perform non-medical care in a home setting.
Specialized qualifications, which come with increased focus and knowledge in a particular area of care, may be essential depending on your loved one’s specific needs. For example, if your loved one has Alzheimer’s, you might want to prioritize hiring only qualified in-home care workers with dementia care training. If they have a chronic condition or require complex wound management, the applicant specializing in managing it is vital.
Prior Experience Helps with Preparedness
Beyond the formal training and certifications, the applicant’s prior experience of providing care, particularly in a similar in-home setting, is likely to give them a higher preparedness and confidence should a medical emergency arises at home. They may have encountered similar situations and challenges before and, therefore are more attuned to think on their feet, anticipate needs, and provide appropriate care with less room for error. Plus, they are more likely to apply evidence-based practices, familiar with preventative measures, and strategies to enhance the safety and well-being of your loved one.
When checking their experience, you can ask the applicant to describe managing symptoms or challenges related to a specific condition or situation, how they approached the care, and provide some examples of how they have supported their previous clients with similar conditions.
Verify with Reference Checks
A reference check is a way to check if the applicant is actually who they say they are. It is a great way to get more information about the applicant and verify the information they have provided to you, such as their qualifications, training, experience, and competencies. Entrusting your loved ones to another person for care is an important decision and not be taken lightly. Ask for a few references from the applicant but to learn more about their demeanor, experience, and the care they have provided in the past.
When speaking to the references, ask about their experience with the in-home caregiver. Was it positive or negative? Why? Was the caregiver proactive, or did they wait to be told what to do? Did they receive criticism well? Learning more about the caregiver’s past experiences will help with your decision process.
Look for Compatibility
Compatibility establishes a trusting relationship between the in-home care worker and your loved one. When they connect, it becomes easier for your loved one to communicate their needs and concerns, fostering a sense of trust and comfort. It also reduces the chance of misunderstandings and establishes clear communication between them.
At the same time, it allows the in-home care worker to effectively understand and thus able to convey information or your loved ones’ emotional needs back to you or their physician.
A positive relationship with an in-home care worker promotes holistic care[3] to your loved ones. It goes beyond providing medications and assistance to recognizing and respecting your loved one’s thoughts, opinions, and attitudes, resulting in a nurturing environment with shared interests. Whether engaging in hobbies, cultural activities, or stimulating conversations, an in-home care worker who shares similar interests with your loved ones can provide meaningful companionship and better recovery.
When evaluating compatibility, consider the applicant’s personality traits, such as compassion and attitude, which contribute to a harmonious relationship, communication style, and cultural sensitivity.
Ascertain Their Availability and Flexibility
The availability and flexibility of the in-home care worker matter because it ensures that your loved one’s needs are consistently met, and care can be provided as and when required. It also helps with your peace of mind that there is stability of care, especially during medical emergencies and timely response.
Observe the caregiver’s responsiveness and willingness to accommodate potential scheduling changes and challenges during the interview when assessing availability and flexibility. Present hypothetical scenarios to gauge their problem-solving skills, responses, and dedication to care in different caregiving situations. When conducting reference and background checks, remember to verify their reliability and punctuality in meeting scheduling commitments.
Conduct Background Checks for Additional Insights
Even if the applicant you interviewed seemed fantastic, comprehensive background checks are necessary to protect your loved one from potential exploitation, theft, abuse, and fraud. This means checking for a criminal record in all the states where the applicant has lived or been employed. It is also essential to verify that the applicant can legally work in the United States, especially if the in-home care worker you are keen on hiring is an independent contractor.
It also helps significantly to have more insights into their character, attitude, or any red flags during their employment, and relationships with previous care recipients. You can use the following questions as a guide:
- Were there any specific challenges or difficult situations, and how did the caregiver handle them?
- Did the caregiver show empathy, compassion, and respect toward your loved one?
- Did the caregiver follow the care plan and any specific instructions effectively?
- Were there any concerns or issues during the caregiver’s employment, and how were they resolved?
- Would you rehire the care worker or recommend them to others?
Identify specified risks for insurance coverage
The risk for injury and health for in-home care workers is like healthcare professionals in hospitals. They are tasked with repetitive physical activity and are regularly exposed to illness, chemicals, and drugs.
Suppose the in-home care worker is from an agency. Then, they are likely under worker’s compensation insurance coverage should they fall sick or require rehabilitation due to an injury on the job. However, if you are hiring an independent contractor, then you, being the homeowner, will be liable for the injuries the care worker sustains while working in your home[4], which may include the workers’ medical bills and loss of wages. However, these homeowners’ coverage is limited at best.
If you wish to hire an independent in-home care contractor, the advice from an insurance provider is to secure specialty coverage for injury costs. To do this, you and the in-home care worker must identify and define hazards and associated risks, such as lifting and moving people, occupational violence, work-related stress, fatigue, trips, and falls. Consult an insurance professional to obtain the right insurance that you need before hiring.
Final thoughts
When it comes to finding the right in-home healthcare worker for your loved one, you definitely want someone knowledgeable, dependable, empathetic, and who provides honest and quality care. While it is demanding to have all these attributes in one in-home care worker, it is an uncompromised necessity, considering that the vulnerability of your loved one is in their hands. Here is a recap of key things to look for:
- Determine the caregiver’s experience, credentials, and qualifications in providing the specific care your loved one requires, such as elderly care, disability care, or specialized medical care. Check their training, certifications, and any relevant licenses.
- Request and check references from previous clients or employers. Conduct thorough background checks to ensure the caregiver has a clean and trustworthy record.
- Assess the caregiver’s compatibility with your loved one. Arrange an initial meeting to see if they can relate well. Observe and look out for a caring and empathetic attitude. Compatibility and rapport are vital for a positive caregiver-client relationship.
- Determine if the caregiver’s schedule is aligned with your loved one’s needs. Discuss their availability for day and night shifts, weekends, and holidays and their willingness to support if there’s an emergency. It’s essential to have someone who is flexible and willing to accommodate changed schedules and requirements.
- Ensure that the caregiver or agency has appropriate liability insurance coverage. Inquire about any legal or financial responsibilities you may have as the employer and homeowner, such as workers’ compensation or tax obligations.
Above all, trust your instincts. Explore other options if something feels wrong or you have doubts about a particular applicant. You want to hire someone you feel confident and comfortable with because you are entrusting the care of your loved one to them. The last thing you want is security concerns, medication risk, additional financial burdens, and emotional distress.
Questions To Ask An In-Home Caregiver
The below list of questions is a good place to start when interviewing an in-home caregiver for your loved one. Print this list off to use during your interview.
- What qualifications do you have for providing care to my loved one?
- Do you have experience caring for someone with my loved one’s condition?
- Can you provide references from past clients or employers?
- How do you ensure your care is personalized to meet my loved one’s needs?
- What kind of communication can I expect from you, and how often will we be in touch?
- How do you ensure that your staff is reliable and dependable?
- Are your staff licensed and insured?
- What is your process for selecting and matching caregivers with clients?
- Can you provide care on a flexible schedule to accommodate my loved one’s needs?
- What is your policy on employee training and continuing education?
- How do you handle emergencies or unexpected situations?
- How do you communicate with family members or other caregivers?
- How do you ensure that my loved one’s medical and personal information is confidential?
- Do you have a plan for handling conflicts or concerns between the caregiver and the client or family members?
- How do you handle billing and payment for your services?
Sources
[1] https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/home-health-aides-and-personal-care-aides.htm#tab-4
[2] https://www.caregiverlist.com/caregiver-training-requirements-by-state.aspx
[3] Zamanzadeh V, Jasemi M, Valizadeh L, Keogh B, Taleghani F. Effective factors in providing holistic care: a qualitative study. Indian J Palliat Care. 2015 May-Aug;21(2):214-24. doi: 10.4103/0973-1075.156506. PMID: 26009677; PMCID: PMC4441185. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4441185/
[4] https://pmcinsurance.com/blog/who-is-held-liable-when-an-in-home-caregiver-sustains-injury/
One Response
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