BEACON HILL FINANCIAL

Transcription

2 Tips for Seniors to Find and Hire an In-home Caregiver There are many reasons why elder companions / elder caregivers are hired to support an elderly person and his/her family. A brief list of the main reasons follows. * The elderly person does not have any family member nearby. * The elderly person has a family member nearby, but that family member does not have the time to commit to caregiving. * The elderly person has a family member nearby, but that family member doesn't have the necessary skills, training, or emotional capability. * The elderly person may have family nearby that meets many of his/her needs, but the elderly person prefers to also have an elder companion for an additional interpersonal connection. (This is particularly true for home-bound elders who may feel like they don't see many people anymore.) * The elderly person may ask a companion to be a set of eyes for them,because they need a "friend" outside of relatives. * The primary elder caregiver may need respite (a temporary break to regroup from the stressful work of caregiving for the elders that you love.) As we get older there are many things that we cannot do by ourselves. During this time a helping hand is needed to make life more comfortable if not just

3 bearable. For some seniors in-home caregivers or caretakers are needed to make their lives bearable. When looking for a helping hand in the form of an in-home caretaker a senior needs to get a reliable trust-worthy and certainly experienced individual. To get an individual with these qualities is not easy given the kind of values that people seem to uphold today. Hiring a caretaker who is capable of doing what is expected of him or her is a daunting responsibility by all standards. So where does one start? A clear understanding of what in-home care entails would help to guide the entire process of hiring the right caretaker. What is In-Home Care? In-home care describes a non-medical service that is offered by caretakers to seniors in the comfort of their homes. This service is also known as domiciliary care. The caregiver s purpose in a senior s home is to assist a senior who wants to live in his/her home but finds it difficult to manage the household or personal care. Caregivers who provide this service are trained professionals who help seniors with almost all activities of daily living. In-home care is an excellent option that takes of the pressure of having to look after an elderly family member from the family. Among the things that in-home caregivers can do for the elderly in the comfort of their homes include; Bathing the seniors, Keeping the seniors safe in the home, Giving the seniors company in the home, Cooking and cleaning for the seniors, Driving the seniors for their doctors appointments and Feeding and giving the seniors their medication.

4 Categories of Caregivers Caregivers fall into three main categories but their roles seem to overlap given the kind of expectations that come with the title. The three categories are: 1. Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) Certified nursing assistants are professionally trained personnel. Their training includes some medical training and completion of an exam before they get the certificate which allows them to practice. CNAs are capable of handling various medical issues such as taking care of wounds, and checking the seniors vital signs. In addition to the medically related tasks certified nursing assistants are also able to assist the seniors in doing their daily living activities. In addition to the medically related tasks certified nursing assistants are also able to assist the seniors in doing their daily living activities. Home Health Aides Home health aides offer seniors with personal care. The aides are often required to take care of seniors with medical problems, cognitive problems and disability. Home health aides can help in personal care tasks such as moving, bathing, traveling with the seniors and doing shopping for groceries. These kind of caregivers do not undergo any formal training. They normally learn on the job as they work with medical professionals such as nurses and doctors. 2. Personal Care Attendants (PCAs) Personal care attendants are sometimes also known as personal companions. The main tasks performed by PCAs include assisting in general household chores such as cooking, shopping, and cleaning.

5 All in all the caregiver s job descriptions tend to overlap and they are often referred to using any of the three names interchangeably. Preparing to Hire an In-home Caretaker Preparation is key for success in everything that you do. You need to write a detailed job description to help guide the entire hiring process. The job description needs to include all the things that are important to you. This is the document that is going to help you in short-listing applicants for the position. In interviewing the applicants this same document will be important. Ensure all the things that are important to you are covered in the interview. Agency Verses Independent Caregivers Your first decision in the hiring process would be to decide on whether to go for agency caregivers or to simply hire independent caregivers. An independent caregiver would be the least expensive option. You can hire an independent caregiver based on personal connections or referrals from friends and family. But when working with independent caregivers you need to be prepared for a high rate of turnover. Long term commitment is a rare thing with independent providers. On the other hand with agency caregivers you will part with more dollars. However you will not have to bare some of the discomforts associated with independent providers. You can be sure of having a long term solution with

6 agency caregivers. Agency caregivers are covered by insurance (workers liability) and the agency takes care of any taxes that need to be paid. Because the agency has a steady supply of caregivers you can get to try different people to get one who offers a perfect fit to your requirements. Basically an agency offers more reliable service. In case your primary caregiver is unable to make it to your home a substitute can be provided in good time. This is something that you wouldn t be able to get with an independent caregiver. Agency Caregivers Dealing with agencies can be tricky. If you can get the following questions answered conclusively then you will be on your way to hiring a caregiver from a reputable agency. Is there a business license for the agency? Are the caregivers employed by the agency adequately covered what insurance policies cover them? What care giving skills are possessed by the caregivers? Are background checks done on the caregivers before they are employed? Is there a number that you can call in case of an emergency which is manned 24/7? Is there a supervisor who regularly visits the client at home to see how the caregiver is doing his/her work? If you need transport assistance what kind of transport can be offered? Independent Caretaker When you opt for an independent caregiver several issues must be ironed out first. Understand the legal implications of your actions. If you decide to hire an independent caregiver decide on whether you are going to treat him as a

7 contractor or as an employee. You may want to consult an accountant and a lawyer for professional advice. Basically if you are going to treat him as an employee you are going to take more legal responsibilities over the employee. You will be expected to pay all taxes due from him, give him benefits such as Social Security and others. If he works for you as a contractor then you will have less responsibilities over the contractor, he will take care of his tax obligations. The Interview The interview is one of the processes that will help to shade more light on the qualities and qualifications of all the potential workers. Take this process seriously. Make sure you get to ask all the right questions to all the people who come before you. Personal prejudices should not be allowed to take precedence. You may want to spell out the contents of the job description to the applicants as you interview them. Find out from them if any part of the job description seems to be hard or next to impossible for them to carry out. More probing questions such as how they would handle some of the most common problems can give you an impression of how vast the individuals are in the provision of in-home care service.

8 Here are a few interview questions you may want to ask: Do you have a driver's license and clean driving record? Do you have reliable transportation and insurance? How far from here do you live? What are your responsibilities outside of work? Do you have to account for the schedules or needs of others in your workday, or are you flexible? Will you be working other jobs that might be affected if I'm delayed getting home? Would you be available for respite care, or to stay over for a long weekend? Do you smoke? (Many people say they don't smoke but they do - offer an outside smoking area and insist it be used). What caregiving certification training do you have, if any? Do you have any CPR or first-aid training? If I pay for it, would you be willing to add to your skills? Here is a list of expected caregiving related duties-is there anything on the list that poses a problem or concern? Are you comfortable with pets? Are you comfortable with my (parent/spouse) having guests or other family members stopping by? Are you able to work the hours needed? When are you available to start working? After a 30-day trial period, would you be willing to commit to a (fill in a time frame/6 months, a year is common) long-term? Have you ever cared for someone with (conditions relatable to your loved one's care: memory problems, elderly, wheelchair bound, etc.) before? If so, please elaborate. Are you willing to sign a contract stating you will not accept money or gifts from my (parent/grandparent/spouse, etc) without clearing it with me? Are you willing to sign that you will not have guests come into our home unless I have given prior approval? Will you be comfortable driving my mother's car if need be, or using your own car to run errands if we request it?

9 What are your expectations for vacation time, and are you willing to help find coverage for the days that you need to take off? We will require a background check are you okay with that? The interview would also be the best opportunity for you to find out how much it will cost you to hire the caregiver. Inform the interviewees of the house rules and allow them to ask any questions that they have. The questions asked by the interviewees can tell you something more about the individuals that you would otherwise not have gotten to know. References Unless a caregiver is known to you personally demand for at least two references. References are very important. Check all the references provided by the caregiver. Through the references you will be able to detect whether a person is genuinely seeking for the job or is just a fraud. NB: If you suspect fraud contact your local police department and make a report. It would also be wise to report to the department of health as well. Conclusion Once you have found the right caregiver it would be in your best interest to read the contract carefully. If you have any questions that are related to the contract ask before signing the document. You can consult someone whom you trust before signing the contract. After hiring the caregiver monitor the worker closely in the first few days or weeks to see if s/he can actually provide what you re looking for. Beacon Hill Financial William Bill Otto 409 North Broadway Lebanon, OH or billotto@ beaconhill-financial.com