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Convincing Your Elder of The Need for a Caregiver
Tips for when you've already made the decision that a nursing home or Alzheimer's care center is not the right fit for your elder.
Regardless of whether your elder has Alzheimer's or dementia, keep in mind that any kind of change is frightening for elders and the fear of the unknown can be intensified. Have the doctor write a "prescription" to get a caregiver and ask the doctor to sternly advise the elder that they must have help in their home or legal action may have to be taken.
You can have a caregiver agency send an administrator to help convince your elder how much easier things would be if someone came in to help them. Assure your loved one that you will monitor this person to make sure they do things properly.
If that doesn’t work, and your elder is in danger of hurting himself or someone else, and cannot be left alone, contact Adult Protective Services who will send a social worker to talk to your elder. Their report automatically goes to the police department, so an officer will visit them soon. A uniformed police officer may be just enough to help convince your elder of the seriousness of the situation.
Caregiving Agency or Individual Hire
Decide if you want to hire through a caregiving agency (which is more expensive, but the workers are usually supervised and bonded) or if you want to find someone on your own (which will require a lot more on-going supervision). Ask if the agency is bonded and if it is a member of any state or national home care organization. Call to check them out.
How to Handle References and Interviewing Caregiver Candidates
Ask for references of families who have a caregiver supplied by the agency right now. Call to see how happy the clients are with the service. Some agencies will do extensive background checks, drug screenings, others will not. Inquire as to exactly what background checks have been done on the caregiver you are thinking of hiring from an agency and get everything in writing. If they will not put this information in writing, they probably have not done the background checks. If you have Long-Term Care Insurance, be sure that the agency will take direct payment from the LTCi company. In any case, it’s extremely advisable to pack up valuables and remove temptations from caregivers who come into the home.
As you begin interviewing caregivers, involve your elder in the process. Obtain an Application For Employment form from your local stationery store, which will list the questions you can legally ask. Together, make a list of the non-negotiable qualities you want in your caregiver. Don’t waste time interviewing applicants in person who do not meet your minimum requirements over the phone. For example: Do they have a valid driver’s license? Will they give out their social security number so you can pay taxes properly? Do they live close by? Do they have adequate elder care experience? Will they give you checkable references? Do they speak, read and write your language at a reasonable level? Do they have any objection to being fingerprinted? Have they ever been arrested and/or convicted? Will they sign a waiver to have a background check run on them? If you get a lot of hesitancy or refusal, save yourself the time of interviewing in person.
Tips for when you've already made the decision that a nursing home or Alzheimer's care center is not the right fit for your elder.
Regardless of whether your elder has Alzheimer's or dementia, keep in mind that any kind of change is frightening for elders and the fear of the unknown can be intensified. Have the doctor write a "prescription" to get a caregiver and ask the doctor to sternly advise the elder that they must have help in their home or legal action may have to be taken.
You can have a caregiver agency send an administrator to help convince your elder how much easier things would be if someone came in to help them. Assure your loved one that you will monitor this person to make sure they do things properly.
If that doesn’t work, and your elder is in danger of hurting himself or someone else, and cannot be left alone, contact Adult Protective Services who will send a social worker to talk to your elder. Their report automatically goes to the police department, so an officer will visit them soon. A uniformed police officer may be just enough to help convince your elder of the seriousness of the situation.
Caregiving Agency or Individual Hire
Decide if you want to hire through a caregiving agency (which is more expensive, but the workers are usually supervised and bonded) or if you want to find someone on your own (which will require a lot more on-going supervision). Ask if the agency is bonded and if it is a member of any state or national home care organization. Call to check them out.
How to Handle References and Interviewing Caregiver Candidates
Ask for references of families who have a caregiver supplied by the agency right now. Call to see how happy the clients are with the service. Some agencies will do extensive background checks, drug screenings, others will not. Inquire as to exactly what background checks have been done on the caregiver you are thinking of hiring from an agency and get everything in writing. If they will not put this information in writing, they probably have not done the background checks. If you have Long-Term Care Insurance, be sure that the agency will take direct payment from the LTCi company. In any case, it’s extremely advisable to pack up valuables and remove temptations from caregivers who come into the home.
As you begin interviewing caregivers, involve your elder in the process. Obtain an Application For Employment form from your local stationery store, which will list the questions you can legally ask. Together, make a list of the non-negotiable qualities you want in your caregiver. Don’t waste time interviewing applicants in person who do not meet your minimum requirements over the phone. For example: Do they have a valid driver’s license? Will they give out their social security number so you can pay taxes properly? Do they live close by? Do they have adequate elder care experience? Will they give you checkable references? Do they speak, read and write your language at a reasonable level? Do they have any objection to being fingerprinted? Have they ever been arrested and/or convicted? Will they sign a waiver to have a background check run on them? If you get a lot of hesitancy or refusal, save yourself the time of interviewing in person.
