How To Find The Right Caregiver

Thriving at Home (April 2015)

by Sarah Lane

An at home caregiver is an important companion and can support you with everything from bathing and light housekeeping, to meal preparation, prescription pick-ups and transportation to and from doctor’s appointments. If you have decided to have additional support to help you with your daily activities, you might struggle with where to start to find an outside service. How do you find someone you can trust?

Following are some important considerations to get the process started:

• Caregivers can be found through personal referrals, but oftentimes it is easier to go through a reliable referring servi
  ce that handles the background checks to ensure that the caregiver you hire has been carefully vetted.

• The Lewis-Mason-Thurston Area Agency on Aging has a Senior Resource Directory (www.lmtaaa.org).

• Ask your Doctor. Most medical professionals have had long term relationships with in home caregivers and can provide recommendations on senior care companies or individuals that would best serve your needs.

• If you hire a caregiver directly, you will want to be certain you understand the liability associated with employing a caregiver, particularly if this person will be driving you to appointments.

• You will want to hire a company that has caregivers that are bonded, insured and professionally trained. In the State of Washington, all caregivers must be a licensed Home Care Aide (HCA) or Certified Nurse Aide (CNA).

• If you find someone you think you want to work with, ask for recommendations. Check them out online. Call actual clients that have used their services to see what their experience was like.

Finding the right caregiver can seem like a daunting task, but with these tips, hopefully you will find it easier!

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“Thriving at Home” is a monthly column by Sarah Lane, a certified Home Care Aide and owner of FirstLight Home Care — South Sound.  To learn more about home care, respite care, dementia care, or any of the non-medical home care services offered by FirstLight Home Care, give Sarah a call at 360-489-1621 or go to www.southsound.firstlighthomecare.com.