Watching your parents age and knowing you need some extra help caring for them is a daunting realization. You want to make sure they are cared for, but doing it yourself often requires more than you can provide yourself. The best option is to hire a caregiver to be there for you and your family member. There are some things to keep in mind, however, when it comes to hiring someone to live with you and care for someone you love.

1. Know the Needs

Before hiring someone to help you, you will want to know what needs you need to be fulfilled. The best way to figure this out is to walk through your day and think about where you need assistance and what your loved one needs. Create a very clear description of what the tasks are, when they need to be done, and if there is any flexibility in the schedule. Not only will this help you find a perfect match in a caregiver, but you will also have a good idea of how many hours you really need them.

2. Consider the Pay

There are two ways to hire a caregiver for your loved one. The first is through an agency, and the pay is generally already agreed upon and set by the agency. The second is hiring someone independently with a much more flexible pay scale. If you are using an agency, make sure you understand and agree to the rates before finding a caregiver. However, if you are planning to hire someone independently, you will want to consider what your budget is and how you scale your pay. Hiring people with a lot of experience may be worth a higher pay rate because there will be less training required. Finally, consider going through other job postings to see what others are paying or look for caregiver postings to see what caregivers are generally asking for in your area.

3. Keep Everything Legal

Anytime you are hiring someone that will be handling medication or the care of your loved one, you will want to make sure it is with a contract that is legally binding. This is easy using an agency, but when you hire privately, it may be tempting to attempt to skip taxes and pay under the table. Thankfully, there is software available to help create contracts and run payroll so it is not as stressful or confusing.  

4. Hold Thorough Interviews

Regardless of how much experience a person has in caregiving, it does not mean they will be a fit for your needs. You want to make sure you are prepared to hold thorough interviews and even a trial period to see if the caregiver is the right one for your needs. The first interview should be one-on-one with you to make sure that the basic requirements can be met and you get along with them. When you have narrowed the candidates down, you are ready to have the caregiver meet your family member. Following the final interview, let all potential candidates know there will be a trial period to make sure the caregiving will work for everyone. The biggest thing you are looking for in a caregiver is someone who can assist with the daily needs of your parent with the same care and compassion they would give their own family. Finally, as with any interview, you will want to make sure you do a criminal background check and communicate with all of their references.

With time, effort, and patience, you can hire a loving caregiver that will help your parent age in comfort. Regardless of whether you use an agency to select your caregiver or use the independent route, you will want to use these tips to find the perfect match.

Contact a resource like Mid-Hudson Managed Home Care Inc. to learn more.