How to Choose the Right Caregiving Services for You

You’ll soon return home after receiving treatment for an illness or injury, and you can’t wait to sleep on your own mattress again. There’s just one problem: You’re in no position to go about your day on your own—not yet. You’ll need to choose a caregiving service to help you to transition to life after your medical event.

The good news? Plenty of caregivers are available to provide you with the comprehensive care you’ll need. The trick, though, is choosing the right one—one you can fully trust with your health, your home, your life.

Here’s a rundown on how to choose the right home caregiving services for you this year.

Evaluate Your Needs

One of the most important steps in choosing caregiving services that are tailored to meet your needs is to consider what all of your requirements are in the first place.

For instance, perhaps you need physical therapy or help with medication management. Or, maybe you need non-medical care, like help with meal preparation, toileting, dressing, and bathing—particularly if you are at risk of falling. You might also require assistance in shopping, housekeeping, errands, and bill paying. And if you still need to go to the doctor during your recovery period, your caregiver may need to transport you to your appointments.

Write down your requirements for potential candidates so they know their responsibilities. If you are seeking a caregiver with medical training, such as a nursing license or nursing assistant certification, be sure to specify this. In addition, disclose if you need assistance operating special equipment or being lifted. It is important to provide potential employees with an idea of what is expected of them. It’s best to be as detailed as possible to ensure you’re getting the right people. If you are seeking a caregiver with medical training, such as a nursing license or nursing assistant certification, be sure to specify this. In addition, disclose if you need assistance operating special equipment or being lifted.

Once you’ve solidified and written down your in-home care needs (your job description), you can begin to contact reputable caregivers near you and set up times to interview them. Family members, friends, and even your pastor at church may also be able to point you toward dependable caregivers. Be prepared to show your chosen candidates your job description during the interviews. 

Be Detail Oriented

As you interview caregiving services, be sure to ask the various candidates about their backgrounds and credentials. You’ll want to find out why they believe they’re qualified to serve you, as well as how long they’ve been caregiving.

In addition, don’t be leery of asking your candidates how they’ve handled tough situations in past years, as well as what they would do in future difficult situations. For instance, ask them, “How would you respond if my family member expresses dissatisfaction with your care,” or “How would you handle a health care emergency?” Your caregivers should also be able to tell you how they would handle a sudden personality clash, for instance. 

If you have strict dietary requirements, be sure to ask your caregiving candidates if they’re experienced in preparing the types of meals you’ll be required to eat while under their care. These candidates should also be comfortable with dealing with any food allergies you might have. If you have any food allergies, you should ask all candidates if they have ever dealt with food allergies in the past. Ask them to describe any instances where they encountered someone with a food allergy and how they dealt with it. This will show you if they’re attentive to detail and aware if they’re comfortable dealing with situations like this. Don’t forget to ask candidates if they have any food allergies themselves. You’ll want to be sure they’re not allergic to any of the recipes you plan to cook!

Consider the Cost

The cost of caregiving services is yet another important factor to consider in your search for the right caregiver. To make sure that you choose a caregiving service you can afford, check your candidates’ costs for various services, and ask about payment options.

Involve Your Family

Although the information you gather directly from your caregiving candidates can help you choose a caregiver, don’t try to make this decision on your own. Ask your close friends and family members for their opinions about your top choices. You ideally want to choose an in-home caregiving service that your loved ones will be glad to support or interact with, especially if your loved ones are active in your everyday life.

Check the Caregiver’s Background

Before you sign a contract with a caregiving service, be sure to run background checks on your top two finalists. Avoid caregivers who have been convicted of disqualifying crimes, such as burglary, fraud, identity theft, or criminal impersonation. Likewise, steer clear of any caregiver who has been convicted of any offense that poses a major safety risk, like drugs, driving with no insurance or license, or driving under the influence.

Create a Comprehensive Contract

After you’ve decided on a certain caregiver, create a care contract that protects your best interests. Your caregiving job contract should include the following specifics:

• Job description
• Caregiver’s Social Security Number or Employer Identification Number
• Work hours
• Wages, including the amount and the payment details
• Unacceptable behaviors (for instance, tardiness, abusive language, or even smoking)
• Termination process (amount of notice required for termination, legitimate reasons for terminating contract without notice)

Both you and the caregiver should sign and date the contract. If the caregiver isn’t willing to sign the contract, don’t hire him or her; instead, seek another caregiver who will meet your needs and expectations.

Choose the Perfect Caregiver for Your Needs Today

Choosing a high-quality in-home caregiver service can understandably be intimidating, especially when you already don’t feel your best physically. However, planning ahead by determining in advance what you need from a caregiver is extremely crucial. Planning what questions you should ask your candidates can help you to confidently make a decision.

Consider the above-listed tips for choosing your ideal caregiving service provider today. In no time, you can be back on your feet and feeling better than ever.