As difficult as it can be to see a loved one grow older and less able to do all the things they did in their younger years, it is equally difficult to acknowledge you are unable to take care of their needs yourself.
Your loved one may want desperately to remain at home. If you can help make this possible, it will be a blessing. Depending on their level of physical and emotional health, it may not be safe to them to be alone all of the time. Having the right caregiver can make all the difference. But, how do you know who to choose?
- Ask for, and check, references. Sometimes people don’t do this. They assume an applicant wouldn’t list anyone who would give a bad reference. Don’t take chances. Confirm all past employment and if the employers would rehire.
- Interview the applicants with your loved one present. During the interview you will be asking questions to obtain answers to important questions. You will also gain a sense of the type of person as far as personality. Your loved one may have questions you wouldn’t think of. Since they are the one who will have the most interaction with the caregiver, they need to see if they are comfortable with them.
- Don’t rush into making a decision. Don’t take too long either. You have many things going on in your life and, of course, you need to get on with those things. But, this is such an important matter; you need to be sure of your choice.
- Learn about your responsibilities as far as taxes are concerned. When you are hiring an individual privately there are tax and accounting responsibilities. The IRS has booklets and forms you can find online at irs.gov. Also, check with your homeowners insurance to see if there is any additional coverage you might need.
- Arrange for back-up ahead of time so you will be prepared in the event that your caregiver is unable to come to work. Make sure you have several people on your list.
- Develop a written job description. Don’t assume anything. Cover every area in detail. Review it with your loved one and the nurse. Have a notebook for your nurse to use for daily notes.
- You can do all of the above, but you will save time by getting help from experts.
The Nurses’ Guild http://thenursesguild.com/ is owned and operated by nurses and a former hospital administrator. They have a proven track record of excellence in care and the utmost of dependability.
The Nurses’ Guild will be able to take care of many of the tax, liability, and medical insurance details for you. By partnering with The Nurses’ Guild you can rest easy knowing the details are taken care of and you can be confident your loved one will have superb care.
Making sure your loved one can remain at home is a priceless gift and one you will never regret.