Hartford HealthCare At Home Staff
Choosing a caregiver for yourself or a loved one can seem like an overwhelming task. The following are questions to ask and points to follow when choosing a private duty caregiver
1. Do you need hands-on care? Help around your home? Companionship?
- If you need hands on care you want to make sure that you find an agency which hires only Home Health Aides or Certified Nurses Aides. These people have taken specific training courses so they are able to properly and effectively care for people.
- If you need help with cleaning your home or meal preparation then you need a homemaker.
- If you would like someone to play cards with, read the newspaper out loud or take for a drive, then you may be interested in a companion.
- All of these roles can be combined and tailored to your needs.
2. Make sure the caregiver has experience. The best way is to request a caregiver who has one of more years of experience.
3. Make sure someone from the private duty caregiving company comes out to your home and interviews you to find out your interests and your needs. This ensures they will make the best match of your needs and the caregivers experience and interests.
4. Feel free to interview a few caregivers to ensure you find the right caregiver.
5. Make sure your caregiver has been drug tested, had a DMV and national background check done by their private duty company, and has gone through HIPAA training, Also, it is important if your looking for care for your loved one with dementia, that the caregiver has had specific training in dementia care.
6. Lastly, you are in the driver’s seat. If your caregiver is not the perfect match for you, request changing caregivers.
Hartford HealthCare at Home, is a community-based home health care agency across most of Connecticut, which enables individuals to achieve maximum independence, to participate in their own plan of care, and to live with dignity while receiving quality care in their own homes. Call 1.800.HOMECARE (1.800.466.3227) for more information.