Getting Help: Part 2

Experience is a huge factor

Once you’ve made the decision to hire someone to help take care of your elder and determined what level of help is required, the next step is to interview applicants. Always consider several candidates for the job. It’s the best way to find a good match. When interviewing prospects, ask the following questions:

1. How long have you been in the field?
2. What is your educational background?
3. What professional organizations do you belong to?
4. Are you insured?
5. Are you bonded?
6. Where have you worked?
7. Do you charge hourly/daily/monthly/overall/by the shift?
8. Will you travel if required?
9. Do you charge any hidden expenses or ongoing fees?
10. Do you offer a less expensive monthly rate?
11. What are your strengths?
12. What are your weaknesses?
13. Do you understand the Medicare/Medicaid eligibility process?
14. Do you charge differently for night shifts compared to day shifts?
15. Are you reliable and honest?
16. Are you an expert in your discipline?
17. What payment is expected for vacation, holidays, sick days?

And remember to always obtain and check references. You may also want to run a background and/or credit check on all applicants, for extra peace of mind.

Experience is a huge factor. Determine if the aide has done this sort of work before, where, and for how long. Can the aide shave a man who can’t hold up his head? Has the aide ever changed an adult diaper? Ask the tough questions so you and your elder don’t find yourselves in a terrible predicament because you were afraid to approach a sensitive subject. Be up front about salary, wages, holiday pay, taxes, and legal paperwork. If the aide will be a live-in, accommodate with sleeping arrangements. It’s your responsibility to take care of all of these issues.

In addition to the general questions, I like to review the following list of activities of daily living (ADLs) with the potential aide, as a guideline for the elder’s needs. These needs may change on a daily basis, so the aide must clearly understand what’s expected of him or her, but be flexible if the situation calls for it. You also must ensure that the aide has the training, education, and expertise to carry out these ADLs.  

Note that they’re listed alphabetically, not in order of importance, and that the tasks will vary, depending on the level of care your elder requires.

Personal care

Assist with bath: in bed or in a shower or tub
Assist to bathroom and with toileting: bedpan, commode, and urinal
Assist with dressing, putting on or laying out clothes
Encourage the consumption of fluids per doctor’s recommendation
Feeding assistance, including the use of adapted equipment and self-feeding
Foot care assistance, including training in podiatry
Hair care, including beauty products, brushing, and trips to the beauty parlor/barber
Incontinence care
Nail care
Oral care/denture care
Shaving assistance
Skincare assistance

Activities

Assist with ambulation
Assist with range of motion, only with the advice of doctor or therapist
Assist with transfer in and out of chair
Attention to bed rails, which should be up at all times that elder is in bed
Commitment to providing recreation, both in the home and the community

Homemaking assignments

Clean bathrooms, bedrooms, and kitchens
Grocery shopping
Laundry
Light housekeeping such as making and changing bed
Preparing meals

The final step in the hiring process will be to introduce your elder to the potential aide. Have them spend a little time together to make sure they are comfortable with one another. This will be very important to ensure you’ve found the right person.

By Dr. Marion
Elder Care Made Easier Blog

[A version of this blog originally appeared on Dr. Marion’s Web site.]