Hiring an aide to perform any homecare services is a very important part of the caregiving process, and it's worth taking the time to do it right. Don't just hire the first person that comes along.
Your aide needs to be a good personality match with your elder. After all, they will be spending countless hours together. In the best-case scenario, an aide could become like a new member of your family. Be clear on what homecare services you will be expecting from an aide. Before you interview anyone, know when he or she will start the job, how many hours they will need to work, and the specific work they'll be doing. Also pre-determine any additional requirements you may have. Does the aide have to be a non-smoker? Does the aide have any allergies that may interfere with their work? Does the aide understand your elder's dietary needs?
Ask about their educational background, training, and former jobs. Inquire about their strengths and weaknesses. I always check at least three references. Also, if they are coming from a homecare services agency, I interview their supervisor since they might enter the home as well. I suggest hiring someone who has experience with the elderly, someone who really understands how to keep your elder's sense of dignity and pride intact as time passes. Your elder is an individual who still needs kindness, and she still needs to be spoken to as an adult.
It's also important that an aide knows how to cook, and I don't mean warming a can on the stove or popping something in the microwave. Fresh food is higher in nutrition, and cooking it in your elder's home can create smells and a sense of comfort that can trigger positive memories. Before hiring anyone for homecare services, be sure to consider your elder's opinion to determine if the aide is the right fit. Once you've hired the aide, include a day's pay for orientation. Try to determine a daily and weekly schedule right away so everyone can get started on the right foot, with consistency and a routine.
Marion Somers, Ph.D. (Dr. Marion) knows the elder care arena and provides a bridge for the generational gap with resolve, results, and respect. Dr. Marion's vision provides seniors and their caregivers timely, relevant, and valuable education, resources, products, and services for a better life. Her mission's universal approach to engage and promote elder care needs worldwide creates a positive difference in the lives of caregivers and their elders.
To learn more about drmarion.com/method/hiring_help homecare services and other issues, visit Dr. Marion's website, drmarion.com drmarion.com
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