When you’re looking for a caregiver, you need the right interview questions to drive to the heart of their skills. Some caregivers may be excellent at their job, but they may not be a good match for your loved one. If you want to prepare the questions to ask a caregiver for the elderly, consider the following.
1. What Is Your Experience?
A caregiver who has mainly worked for clients with dementia may only be so helpful to someone with a degenerative nerve disorder. However, it’s important not to rule people out on the basis of their experience alone. Personality matches may count for more than direct expertise in the art of caregiving.
2. What Happened at Your Last Job / Why Did You Leave?
This question can catch people off-guard, even when they’ve practiced it at home. A caregiver’s job can get messy, so the answer shouldn’t gloss over the truth. Look for people who can admit when they made a mistake in taking on a client that they weren’t prepared for (and what they learned from it).
3. What Would You Do If Your Charge Didn’t Take Their Medication?
Of all the caregiver interview questions, hypothetical problems are some of the best ways to understand the person in front of you. There is no right answer here, only the thought process behind a person’s actions. A caregiver who initially wants to push back isn’t necessarily wrong to do so, but if that’s their first instinct, they may not be a good fit for your loved one if this is the case.
4. What Type of Emergency Training Do You Have?
From CPR to fire safety courses, caregivers will need to feel comfortable reacting under pressure. Each state sets its own requirements for caregivers, and some demand more than others. You’re looking for someone who has ideally gone above and beyond to maintain their emergency training.
5. Describe an Ethical Dilemma You Faced and How You Handled It
When you’re deciding on caregiver interview questions and answers, this one is similar to the hypothetical situation. It’s designed to give you insight into the caregiver’s mind. What do they consider an ethical dilemma? How much thought did they give the situation? What was the resolution, and would the person choose a different path if they had to do all over again?
6. What Are Your Career Goals?
Similar to asking someone where they’ll be in 10 years, this question will help you gauge a person’s ambition and dedication to their job. Some people may want to use this job as a stepping stone into the medical field while others may want to become the director of a caregiving agency in the future.
Looking for Caregiver
Searching for a caregiver can be difficult, especially if you don’t have an unlimited budget to work with.
However, while it may take a little extra time and effort to weed through the candidates, you can almost certainly find someone who can meet your expectations without sacrificing your life savings.
Part of your quest should be doing the legwork and really evaluating each candidate’s responses. Contact us today for more information on caregiving services.
