The Caregiver's Journey

Navigating the Caregiver Hiring Process: Five Essential Tips / Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias


Listen Later

When the time comes to bring professional caregiving support into your loved one’s life, the process can feel overwhelming. Whether you’re hiring a caregiver for home care or to complement care in a community setting, understanding how to find, evaluate, and select the right person is crucial for both your peace of mind and your loved one’s well being.

We are Nancy Treaster and Sue Ryan, we’ve developed five essential tips for hiring a paid caregiver, based on real experiences and practical advice from caregiving experts. These insights will help you navigate this important transition with confidence and clarity.

Connect with us and share your tips:

  • Website: https://www.thecaregiversjourney.com
  • Donate: https://give.cornerstone.cc/thecaregiversjourney
  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecaregiversjourney/
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCaregiversJourneys/
  • Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suearmstrongryan/, https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancytreaster/
  • Email: [email protected], [email protected]


Full Show Notes

https://thecaregiversjourney.com/32-navigating-the-caregiver-hiring-process-five-essential-tips-alzheimers-and-other-dementias/


Additional Resources Mentioned


  • Episode 5: Home Alone https://thecaregiversjourney.com/leaving-your-care-receiver-alone-six-essential-tips-alzheimers-and-other-dementias/
  • Episode 28: Home and Community Living Options https://thecaregiversjourney.com/time-for-a-change-home-and-community-living-options-five-essential-tips-alzheimers-and-other-dementias/
  • Episode 30: Elder Law Attorneys https://thecaregiversjourney.com/they-know-what-we-dont-elder-law-attorneys-four-essential-tips-alzheimers-and-other-dementias/
  • Episode 33. How To Create a Care Plan: Five Essential Tips / Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias https://thecaregiversjourney.com/33-how-to-create-a-care-plan-five-essential-tips-alzheimers-and-other-dementias
  • Support the nonprofit The Caregiver's Journey: https://give.cornerstone.cc/thecaregiversjourney

Takeaways

Tip 1: Assess Your Loved One’s Needs

Before you begin searching for a caregiver, it’s important to thoroughly understand what kind of support your loved one requires. This assessment will guide all your subsequent decisions about the type of caregiver, frequency of care, and specific qualifications needed.


Consider these key areas when assessing needs:

  • Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
  • Medical Needs
  • Household Management Tasks
  • Safety Concerns
  • Transportation and Mobility
  • Companionship Needs


Tip 2: Determine the Type of Caregiver and Frequency Needed

There are three main categories of paid caregivers, each with different training levels and capabilities:

  • Companion Care
  • Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
  • Skilled Nursing

Tip 3: Understand Your Financial Resources

Review Your Financial Resources

  • Savings and investment accounts
  • Long-term care insurance policies
  • Regular income sources
  • Family financial contributions.


Explore Available Benefits

  • Medicare
  • Medicaid
  • Veterans Benefits


Consider Family Contributions


Tip 4: Decide Between Agency or Private Hire

When you work with a caregiving agency:

  • They Handle Administrative Tasks
  • They Provide Backup Coverage
  • They Offer Training and Supervision
  • They Assume Liability


Private Hire Benefits

  • It’s Usually Less Expensive
  • You Have Complete Control
  • There’s Often More Flexibility
  • You May Find Through Word-of-Mouth


Private Hire Challenges

  • You’re the Employer
  • No Backup Coverage
  • Limited Screening Resources


Tip 5: Evaluate potential caregivers thoroughly

Key Questions for Interviews

  • Scheduling and Availability
  • Qualifications and Experience
  • Approach to Care
  • Communication Style

Background Checks and References

Set Clear Expectations

Especially for private hires, establish from the beginning that the arrangement is on a trial basis.

Include Your Loved One When Appropriate


Next Steps: Care Plans and Integration

  • Develop a written plan 
  • Develop an Integration Strategy


Read More in This Blog here 

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The Caregiver's JourneyBy Sue Ryan and Nancy Treaster

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

2,921 ratings


More shows like The Caregiver's Journey

View all
Hidden Brain by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

Hidden Brain

43,337 Listeners

Untangle by Untangle

Untangle

816 Listeners

Oprah's Super Soul by Oprah

Oprah's Super Soul

31,912 Listeners

Teaching Hard History by Learning for Justice

Teaching Hard History

551 Listeners

Science of Reading: The Podcast by Amplify Education

Science of Reading: The Podcast

629 Listeners

You Are Not Broken by Kelly Casperson, MD

You Are Not Broken

942 Listeners

Chasing Life by CNN

Chasing Life

8,200 Listeners

How to Be a Better Human by TED

How to Be a Better Human

1,369 Listeners

The Mel Robbins Podcast by Mel Robbins

The Mel Robbins Podcast

19,373 Listeners

Your Mama’s Kitchen by Higher Ground

Your Mama’s Kitchen

2,299 Listeners

Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus by Lemonada Media

Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus

10,604 Listeners

The ADHD Skills Lab by Skye Waterson

The ADHD Skills Lab

71 Listeners

Try This by The Washington Post

Try This

327 Listeners

The Oprah Podcast by Harpo

The Oprah Podcast

1,364 Listeners

Things Bakers Know: The King Arthur Baking Podcast by King Arthur Baking Company

Things Bakers Know: The King Arthur Baking Podcast

469 Listeners