Hiring a Caregiver for Someone with Dementia

Caring for a loved one who has dementia can be exhausting, both physically and mentally. In the first stages, you felt as if you could handle everything without issue. However, your loved one has started to move into the latter stages, and it's more than you can deal with alone.

Hiring an in-home caregiver who has training in working with dementia patients can be a blessing. However, finding the right caregiver that you feel comfortable with, and trust can be a daunting task. So, how do you choose an in-home caregiver that will make you confident with your choice?

Questions to ask during the interview

Below are some questions you could ask when doing an interview with a prospective home care provider. After the questions are answered, you should feel confident that you have made the right choice.

• Ask direct questions: You can ask direct questions such as how long the person has been working with dementia patients. Or, what kind of training and skills qualify the person for this type of work. Find out the caregiver’s work experience over the last five years. This will tell you if the work history shows that they have experience with caring and working with seniors. Also, ask is they can work without direct supervision.
• Inquire if the caregiver has first-aid training and is certified. You want someone who can handle a health emergency if it arises. Plus, the certification needs to be current. Are they able to do transfers? Moving your loved one from a bed to a chair to a wheelchair requires knowledge, so they don't injure themselves or your family member.
• Ask behavioral questions: If your loved one is having a bad day, and their behavior is challenging, what would be the caregiver's course of action? The potential caregiver should be able to describe how they have handled this type of situation before. They should be able to talk about how they worked with patients who were forgetful, stubborn, depressed, aggressive, or fearful. This type of question will give you an idea of the interpersonal conduct and personality of the caregiver. Caregiving is more than just being skillful, there must be a caring personality as well.
• Ask skills questions: You want to be sure that the person you are hiring is appropriately trained in dementia care. Primary care is different from dementia care and the caregiver you're considering needs to be specialized and experienced in this field. Inquire about references and then call and check them. Other families may have input on how well the caregiver handled their personal situation.
• Ask hypothetical questions: A hypothetical question looks at a possible situation in the future. These questions could be, "What would you do if my loved one doesn't want to take medication?" Or, "If my loved one became aggressive, how would you calm then down?" This will give you a good idea of how the caregiver would react to the situation. It would let you know how the caregiver dealt with that situation in the past and how it would be applied to your situation if it happened in the future.

These are vital questions which should give you a well-rounded and balanced insight into the candidate's personality and qualifications. These questions sort out the caregiver who is willing to work with you and care for your loved one.

We here at Right at Home Smithtown have qualified and caring in-home caregivers who specialize in the dementia field. They are trained to handle the day to day care that dementia patients need while developing a rapport. Give us a call today or contact us online and let us help you give your loved one the care they need.