Editor’s note:
This article gives some good insights and tips with regard to hiring a senior
caregiver. It includes an excellent checklist that you can follow when you are
looking for such a caregiver. A very basic rule that should always be followed
is never to hire unlicensed caregivers. It’s one thing to have a family
remember or close friend helping with your care, but when you start bringing
unlicensed, and usually unsupervised, strangers into your home, you take on
great risk to your well-being. Don’t let the temptation of seemingly lower
hourly and day rates cloud your good sense. The adage that you get what you pay
for applies here very well. TG
SAN DIEGO, September 17, 2012 – Choosing a caregiver for an aging family member may be one of the most critically important decisions you ever make. Many times family members will choose to hire an outside person to be a caregiver. This is often a need born of necessity, when a senior requires around-the-clock care or develops memory loss.
We all want someone compassionate, patient, and loving. The kind of person who can help your loved ones maintain their independence, making it possible for them to continue to live in their own homes long after mental or physical frailties have begun to take a toll. We must also trust this individual will not take advantage of the circumstances by stealing, through neglect, or worst of all by committing elder abuse.
A report released in April 2011 by the California State Senate Office of Oversight and Outcomes in April shows how seniors can be put at risk when hiring caregivers through private ads.
Investigators contacted individuals who posted ads on Craigslist for in-home care providers. According to the report, five individuals offering services had extensive criminal records including convictions for drug trafficking, major theft, burglary and prostitution. The report also found that 27 percent of caregivers in 64 recent criminal cases involving seniors had previous convictions on their criminal record. Read More.
When hiring an in-home caregiver, it is very important that take a look at their background, particularly their expertise in the field of elderly care. Be sure to hire only those who specialize in this area. Don’t take the risk of hiring someone who doesn’t have a reputable background. After all, you will be leaving the life and health of your loved ones in their hands.
ReplyDelete*Carl Brighton
That is right, Carl. It is vital for us relatives to do some background check when we are hiring an in-home caregiver. These people will be the ones who will take care of our loved ones. They will be their companions when we go out to work, and they will handle their day-to-day routines. It would be best to look for one from reputable agencies. These agencies provide background checks of their caregivers, and assure their clients that their employees are trustworthy and reliable. [Floella Mccullough]
ReplyDeleteThese are the reasons why I studied how to be a caregiver for my parents. I’m afraid that I might hire someone who is unlicensed and has various criminal records. I don’t want to put my loved ones in danger. It’s hard to trust strangers. You have to cautiously pick the right and skilled person who will take care of your elderly loved ones’ condition. ->Taneka Carl
ReplyDelete