As someone who is fiercely independent, I never imagined myself living in an assisted living facility. For that reason, when I was diagnosed with a serious condition, my doctor recommended home health care. It was a little bit intimidating for me at first, but before I knew it, I was living at home, receiving the care I needed from the comfort of my own bed, and getting stronger each and every day. I had such a powerfully positive experience with home health care that I started this very blog. Read more about how home health care could help you or your family members.
When your loved ones reach an age where they need assistance, you'll want to make sure they are in the best hands possible. While you yourself may try to act as a caregiver, you'll undoubtedly benefit from help at some point. Luckily, there are many well-qualified healthcare professionals who provide care to seniors in need. When conducting interviews to find the perfect fit for your loved one, there are a few areas of focus that may help you narrow down your search. Here are three examples of what you can focus on during your interview for senior home care.
Prior Work Experience
The most important factor that will determine a great caregiver is how much experience they have. The more, the better. Look for candidates who have extensive experience working with seniors. Those who worked in senior-assisted living facilities, for instance, would have a broad knowledge of all the ins and outs of senior care. On the other hand, those who have worked as an in-home specialist would have more one-on-one care experience in a long-term setting. When considering a candidate you may be interested in, ask for references from previous employers to get a better idea of how they worked with seniors, their level of expertise, and their overall attitude towards working in the healthcare industry.
The Rewards of Senior Care
While experience is certainly an important factor to consider in the hiring process, get to know your candidate a little more. Ask them what it is about senior care that inspires them to do a great job and why they chose this field as their career path. In some cases, those who have worked in the healthcare industry find that the work they do with seniors is very rewarding and pursue senior care at that point. Others may have a personal reason for pursuing this career, including taking care of a relative or loved one of advancing age. The ideal candidate will find their job rewarding and something far greater than simply a paycheck.
Problem-Solving Skills
When it comes to choosing the right person to take care of your loved one, you'll want to make sure all your bases are covered. This includes preparing for unexpected events, medical emergencies, and conflict that may need to be resolved. If, for example, your loved one is suffering from dementia, you'll need to disclose this information to the candidates in question to ensure they are experienced with this type of patient. Additionally, asking how they handle difficult situations is an excellent way to get a glimpse into their problem-solving skills when it comes to caretaking. The ideal candidate will remain cool under pressure and retain a professional attitude that is still compassionate to your loved one's needs.