Locate caregivers directly or engage an agency? It’s one of the biggest questions facing families when mom or dad needs help. The costs of care add up, so doing it yourself is a workable option, as long as you are prepared to invest time and energy in the process.

Plan on spending at least a few hours interviewing a couple of caregivers. It’s like car buying: if you test drive one car, you might be happy with your purchase, but if you test drive ten cars, chances are you’ll be very happy with the vehicle you select. Plan on a good interview to take at least an hour. Here are some basic questions to ask:

  1. Have you ever cared for someone with [the same condition that my mom has]? Tell us about that. What do you know about [my mom’s condition} and how it affects care?
  2. What is your availability? Please specify the days and hours. If we needed more hours from you in the future, how much flexibility do you have?
  3. Do you possess a current driver’s license? Do you have current insurance? Is your driving record clean? Have you ever been pulled over for speeding? For running a red light?
  4. Do you feel comfortable with all duties we have listed for this job? Please give me examples when you have done them in the past.
  5. Please tell me about your last job; why did you leave?
  6. What formal care training have you had? First aid? CPR? CNA? Home-health aide?
  7. Will you provide us a criminal background check?
  8. May I contact your three previous employers?
  9. How would you respond to the following scenarios? (i.e. my mother becomes confused and combative and won’t let you help her, or my father wakes up and refuses to eat and get dressed for his doctor appointment)

Take your time with the process. Never settle. If you feel a candidate is not right, stick with your gut and go onto the next one. The person you hire will be an extension of you. Your loved one deserves the best.

About the Author:

Lorenzo Mejia and his wife, Mary Lynn Ryerson, are the owners of Acorn, a caregiver registry located in Chapel Hill.

They founded Acorn based on their experiences caring for his mom, who suffered with Alzheimer’s Disease. In 2013, he became a Qualified Dementia Care Specialist. In 2014, the Alzheimer’s Foundation named him the Dementia Care Professional of the Year in the United States.
Lorenzo is the founder of Dementia Friendly Orange County an effort to make local businesses more accommodating to people with dementia.

Lorenzo speaks often on dementia and the challenges associated with caring for loved ones. He has been interviewed by ABC News and National Public Radio. He is an advisor to Orange County’s OC-CARES Dementia Capable Community Project.

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