You may be considering hiring an in-home caregiver to help care for yourself or a loved one, but you may not know where to begin.

That’s understandable, as there are hundreds of agencies out there vying for your business. All offer roughly the same services and charge about the same rate.

To get you started, AgeWays Nonprofit Senior Services offers a starting point for your journey:

Assess your needs

Knowing what you or your loved one needs is your first step. Is it help with basics like cleaning and meal preparation, or do you require a higher level of care such as assistance with toileting or transferring?

Gather your thoughts and jot some notes. Make a “needs list” and use your notes to create a short job description.

• What will you need the caregiver to do every day?

• Will their duties include meal preparation or light housekeeping?

• Do you or does your loved one need personal care like grooming, dressing, bathing or toileting assistance?

• Is there any equipment that the caregiver will need to use?

• Will the caregiver need specialized training or certifications?

“Getting this information ensures you and your loved one are receiving the person-centered services you need rather than a cookie-cutter service plan,” says Carie Sherwood, manager of the Senior Provider Relations Network at AgeWays Nonprofit Senior Services.

Do your research ahead of time. If you haven’t fully vetted the caregiver, you may not have peace of mind that your loved one is in truly good hands. (Photo courtesy of Metro Editorial Services)Finding the right in-home caregiver

Agencies differ in their services, policies and procedures, and their approach to care. So it’s important to ask questions to make sure they will be a good fit for you or your loved one:

• How long has the agency been in business/providing care? If the agency is part of a franchise, ask how long the particular office has been in business.

• Can you share references from clients?

• Does the agency have experience caring for people with your condition or your loved one’s condition?

• Does the staff receive ongoing training? Do they have CNA certification?

• Are staff insured and bonded?

• Does the agency provide a written plan of care for clients that it reviews regularly?

• Does the agency require a minimum number of hours per visit? (Home care agencies usually bill by the hour, but many home care agencies have a minimum block of time for which they will come out.)

• What is the cost for care and how often does the agency bill for services?

• What forms of payment does it accept? Insurance? Private pay only?

• What happens if the regular worker is sick or cannot make it? Does the agency have other staff it can send out?

• How will the agency handle problems with a worker? Is there a complaint or grievance process in place? Will you have the option of requesting someone else?

• Does the agency have different kinds of caregivers on staff, including those with medical training?

• How often will the agency communicate with me? How will I communicate with the agency after hours, if need be?

• Will a staff member be able to address my after-hours questions?

Advantages of hiring an in-home caregiver through an agency versus hiring privately

Hiring a caregiver privately — an acquaintance or someone whom a friend used, for example — comes with advantages and disadvantages. You might feel more comfortable leaving your loved one with that person, and it may be less costly than going through an agency.

But it’s not so simple. You essentially put yourself in the role of employer, which comes with its own set of obligations.

A home health agency:

• Recruits, trains, and pays staff

• Carries liability insurance that covers injury, theft and assault

• Performs background checks on caregivers and possibly screens for drug use

• May require certification in CPR

• May require active auto insurance (if the caregiver is providing transportation)

• Will send out a backup caregiver if the regular caregiver is ill or does not show up

• May provide caregiver training and more oversight of the caregiver/care recipient arrangement

• Handles all tax withholding and reporting

You should also do due diligence:

The U.S. Administration on Aging recommends that you ask a prospective caregiver for references, certifications (CPR, dementia care, e.g.), driver’s license and proof of auto insurance (if the caregiver is going to drive you or your loved one), and personal insurance/bonding proof.

You can request that the applicant go through a background check, which requires fingerprinting.

You’ll want to make sure the caregiver understands the tasks you need her/him to perform, from your loved one’s medical needs to his or her mobility issues and behavioral issues; signs of an emergency; dentures, eyeglasses or other needs; dietary requirements and likes and dislikes.

In addition to making sure the caregiver understands the tasks they need to perform, you should discuss expectations for:

• Reimbursement for things the caregiver may buy for the job

• Providing transportation for the care recipient

• Vacation and holiday time off

• Lateness and absences

• Notice of lateness/absence/termination of job

• Work environment (is food available for the caregiver?)

• Clothing (a uniform?)

• How taxes will be handled

If you haven’t fully vetted the caregiver, you may not have peace of mind that your loved one is in truly good hands.

“When searching for an in-home caregiver, it is important to find someone you feel safe and secure with providing care to you or your loved one,” Sherwood says. “You also want to make sure the caregiver has the physical capacity and willingness to provide the level of care and support you or your loved one needs.”

This content is provided by AgeWays Nonprofit Senior Services, a nonprofit that serves older adults and family caregivers in Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair and Washtenaw counties. We provide services, programs and resources that are designed to help seniors age safely and independently. Call us at 800-852-7795 to get connected.