Hiring in-home help is an eight-step process:

1. Learn about home care services.
2. Delelop a profile of care needs.
3. Write a job description.
4. Find out about legal, financial, and tax issues.
5. Decide whether to hire privately or through an agency.
6. Screen and interview applicants.
7. Check references and background.
8. Sign an agreement.



DEVELOP A PROFILE OF CARE NEEDS

Answer Yes, No, Sometimes, Comments

understands own needs
asks for help
gets around independently
needs help to eat
needs help to bathe/shower
needs help to dress/undress
needs help to use toilet
needs help with mobility
is incontinent
is bedridden
needs supervision
needs help fixing meals
needs help with medications


Special Concerns:

visually impaired
hearing impaired
confused/disoriented
depressed/anxious
other:


Help needed with:

laundry
light housework
meal preparation
transportation


Special information about the care recipient:

favorite activities
favorite foods
favorite clothes
exercise needs
emergency safety issues
difficult behavior


Special issues related to personal habits such as smoking; biases toward religious, racial, or ethnic groups; sensitive conversation topics:


Job Description

Household tasks...........Comments/Frequency

Personal Care Tasks.......Comments/Frequency

Leisure Activities........Comments/Frequency

Other:


Interview questions:

What are your current and past homecare experiences? What experience have you had caring for frail elderly?

What is your experience in providing care for a person with (describe the illness or impairments of your relative)?

What are the reasons you chose this type of work?

What do you like about home care? Can you give me an example?

What do you find is the most difficult part of working in home care?

What would you do in case of an emergency, such as_______?

Is there anything in the job description you would not or could not do?

What classes and training have you taken to prepare for this work?

What are your expectiations of the family?

Do you have concern about the job descripton or agreement?

What were the reasons you left your last job?

Do you have references from past employers? (Request at least three references and require at least two.)

How reliable is your transportation?

When would you be available to start work?

It can be insightful to ask applicants how they would handle hypothetical situations that relate to your family member. For example:

Sometimes my mother doesn't remember where she put her things and she accuses other of stealing. What would you say and do if my mother accused you of stealing her purse?

Sometimes my grandmother "fires" people that come to help her. What would you do or say if she fired you?

What would you do if my wife wandered away from the house?

My husband has been retired for 25 years, but he often talks about "going to work." What would you say to him if he told you, "It's time for me to go to work"?


Be prepared to discuss the following with applicants:

Responsibilities and duties (including whether lifting is needed)

Wages/salary

work schedule, flexibility, days off

house rules (e.g. no smoking)

your family member's current health, needs, limitations, and special problems such as mental confusion or incontinence

how your family member feels about someone being in the home

emergency back-up arrangements

notice needed incase worker quits

notice given if the worker's service is no longer needed.

when you will notify the applicant of your decision.

It is critical to contact references and conduct a criminal background check regardless of how impressed you are with someone in an interview.



IN-HOME CARE PROVIDER AGREEMENT (SAMPLE)

This agreement between.....(referred to as family) and ......(referred to as care provider) is intended to clarify specific working conditions and terms of employment, and to set guidelines for the care provider to follow at all times.

SALARY: $....per hour. To be paid by check by the (week or month). The family will withhold and remit to the proper agencies the taxes legally required. The family will provide a W-2 statement by January 31, for the previous calendar year. The care provider has received a job description. If the family seeks additional services the care provider will be paid at a rate to be determined on a job-by-job bbasis.

HOURS: From....to.....

ON (days of the week)

paid vacation yes...no...number of days...

paid sick time yes...no...number of days

paid holidays yes...no...list of holidays

CAR USE: Family agrees to pay gasoline mileage at a rate of $... per mile. Care provider agrees to keep an accurate log of these miles and to abide by the laws of the State of >>>>

MEALS: The family will...will not...pay for care provider's meals during working hours.

PERSONAL LOCAL OR LONG DISTANCE PHONE CALLS are...are not...permitted.

WORK RULES: Grounds for immediate dismissal include abuse, alcohol or drug use, smoking on the job. Coming to work late without due cause is grounds for dismissal.

Number of tardy arrivals to result in dismissal....

Number of absences to result in dismissal.....

GIFTS: The giving of and taking of gifts or money between the care provider and the family member is not allowed.

NOTICE REQUIRED by family or care provider before leaving position (number of weeks):....

WE AGREE TO THESE TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT.

Care provider (signature).....Date.....

Social Security #.....

Family/employer (signature).....Date...

Really kind of you to put this on the forum.
I think this will help a lot of people. Do you work for the Alz Assoc?? You seem to know quite a bit, on a lot of different topics? Speaking of home care, my sister and I are trying to decide what to do in that arena right now. Mom lives in ALF, but desperately wants to go home, but at this point, we know that she can not be there by herself. She really will need 24/7, not just someone who checks in a few days a week. That being the case, I thinkt he cost for 24/7 in home care, may very well be much more than ALF monthly rent....
Again - though, thanks for the nice outline of things to think about!

Renee....

No, I do not work for the Alz Assoc.!

The only reason I have knowledge of the "few" things, is because of this forum and reading!

The many times that I have fallen, and then having to work through the "loops", has taught me what I share with you!

Twice Blessed has posted many excellent posts on different issues. I have always appreciated her posts.

some old topics for the new people asking...ttt