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Posts Tagged ‘Nursing Aide’

Even with the increase in unemployment during the last year, jobs in senior caregiving are plentiful for both companion caregivers and certified nursing aides and home health aides.

Senior caregiving provides fulfilling work for individuals who are compassionate and dependable. Many opportunities exist as seniors often need just part-time care when family members are not able to check in during the week or when recovering from an illness or surgery. Some caregiving positions require certification as a nursing aide or home health aide and other positions simply require a caring personality. Senior home care agencies typically train caregivers for each assignment. Nursing homes and assisted living communities offer positions as activities director and nursing aides.

What questions should you ask to make sure the individual will be trustworthy and caring? Here is a list of suggested questions which are typically used by professional senior home care agencies when interviewing caregivers to join their care team.

What attracted you to entering the profession of senior caregiver? Please share a story about an interaction you have had with a senior in your life, as a relative, friend, or caregiver. Please walk me through your employment history and tell me what you liked the most and the least about each job. What are your short-term and long-term goals for employment? Based on your experiences with the elderly, what do you like most about spending time with seniors? What do you think are a seniors greatest fears and concerns? What do you think are the characteristics of a good caregiver? Which of those characteristics do you feel you posses? What skills do you feel you would need to improve upon or develop as a senior caregiver? Do you have experience in providing personal assistance (bathing, toileting, feeding)? How would you handle a situation where the senior does not want to cooperate? Example: the senior does not want to take their medications at the scheduled time. How would you handle or behave in an emergency situation? How would you begin to develop a friendly relationship with a new client on your first day? Please let me know what medical conditions you have personal or professional experience in working with: Alzheimer’s Disease/Memory Loss, Parkinson’s disease, hip replacement, stroke, diabetes, cancer, M.S., others?

These questions have been developed by human resource professionals with years of experience and will achieve the goal of finding out the caregiver applicant’s interest in performing care as an employee and their skills and dependability.

It is also important to perform background checks on potential caregivers.

Beware of any background check service that is offered for free or in tandem with a subscription service as a good background check will cost at least $15.00 for a one-time purchase by an individual.

This is because courts do require an entry fee, similar to how a nightclub charges, and it is important to also have computer records verified by a person in counties that do not keep their criminal databases updated daily.

Most background checks that are given for “free” are simply a name and social security number match. When hiring a caregiver, you may want to learn about the background check laws in your state. The best way to make sure you have all the necessary insurance protections and active management for a caregiver is to hire a professional senior home care agency which will provide worker’s compensation insurance, professional liability insurance and a training and performance reviews for the caregiver.

If you are in the process of finding a home care services agency or if you are considering hiring a home care nursing aide or a home health care physical therapist or occupational therapist, it is critical to find out their qualifications.

We assembled a list of 8 questions you can ask the home care agency to ensure that you are choosing the right provider for your needs.

1) What is the background of the home care company & how long have they been in business?

You want to find a reputable in home nursing agency that has been in business for a number of years and has a successful track record. Most newer home nursing care agencies haven’t been around long enough to build a proven track record or a list of red flags.

So, it’s important to find out as much information about the company as possible. You can do this by finding information on who owns the company and what role the ownership plays in the type and levels of service.

2) What are the home nursing care agencies qualifications, certifications, experience and training of their home care aides and nurses?

It’s extremely important to find out about the credentials of the home health aides and nurses that the home care company sends to your home.

Make sure their home health aides and nurses are certified and have received adequate training.

3) How does the home nursing care agency monitor care and can the family provide feedback?

Find out if there are any quality assurance measures in place. Many home health care agencies periodically visit the home of the client or make regular calls to gather client feedback.

If this is not the case, find out how a family member can provide feedback on the quality of care or who they may contact in the home care agency to have any questions answered.

4) Are there any home visits or assessments that take place prior to home health care services beginning?

Find out if there are any options available that allow the family members, client and the home care agency representative to meet prior to the start of services. Most reputable home nursing care agencies offer free consultations.

5) Does the agency have a current operating license in their respective state or city?

It is important to find out if the home health care agency has a current and valid license to operate in their respective city or state. This often overlooked aspect is the most important factor in choosing a home health care agency.

6) How does the home nursing care company work with your doctor in developing a plan of care?

Most agencies work directly with your doctor in planning for your care, especially if the client requires care that is beyond the scope of activities related to activities of daily living.

7) Can the home care company provide references or testimonials?

Most reputable home health care companies can provide references from doctors, nurses, social workers and even clients if requested. They may even have a page on their website that is dedicated to providing this type of information to potential clients.

What happens if a home health aide or nurse is absent from the agency on a particular day?

If the home health care provider is required to take a day off for illness or another emergency, what type of protocol is put in place by the home health care company to cover the absence?

There are usually plans put in place to ensure that the client receives that continuity of care in the event of an absence by their home care provider or nurse.