If you have a senior loved one who requires more care and companionship than you can provide on your own, hiring a professional caregiver can be a big help. However, it’s important to find a person who is a good fit for your loved one and their needs. To determine who is the best candidate, here are some questions to consider.

What to Ask Before Hiring a Senior Caregiver

What types of services do you provide?

Different seniors have different care needs. Your loved one may only need someone to spend time with them periodically, or they may need help with cleaning or making medical appointments. Some may even require overnight or live-in care.

Make a list of the specific services you need a helper to perform and then compare them with their service list to determine who will best conduct the tasks. For example, if your loved one needs to take medication at certain times each day, hire someone with an excellent record of administering simple medications. 

What do you enjoy doing?

Aside from official services, you want to find someone who your loved one is going to enjoy being around. This question is a good way to simply get them talking and find out about their caregiving style.

If they have common interests with your loved one, such as jigsaw puzzles or word games, that could indicate that they’ll be a good fit.

What languages do you speak?

If your loved one speaks languages other than English, you need to find a caregiver who they can easily communicate with. Even if they also speak English, finding a caregiver who can speak Polish or Russian may help them to feel more comfortable and eliminate any communication gaps.

What are your qualifications?

If you are hiring an agency who provides services in your home the caregiver should be screened, bonded, and insured. This proves that they have the skills and training necessary to provide quality services. It also means they’re covered if there are any accidents or issues that cause damage in your loved one’s home.

If you’re looking for a caregiver for your senior loved one, contact Polish Helping Hands in Hartford County, CT. The elderly care agency helps families find in-home care providers who are the best fit for their specific needs. Caregivers can provide cooking, cleaning, errands, and personal care assistance. Many are also multi-lingual, speaking English, Polish, and Russian. Visit the company’s website to see a full selection of services. To request a consultation, call (860) 404-0499.