getting help helping your loved ones

If your elderly parent is have not difficulty completing everyday tasks, such as cooking or cleaning, it may be time to hire a home care worker. This healthcare professional will come into your parent's home and assist with various duties around the home. However, you should avoid making these common mistakes when hiring a home care worker.

Procrastinating

If it is obvious that your parent needs help, one of the worst things you can do is put off hiring a home care worker. The longer you wait to hire help, the longer you will have to tend to your parent's needs. If you have a full-time job and your own family to take care of, this can become too overwhelming.

Not Doing Your Research

It is understandable that you may want to hire a home care worker as soon as possible. However, in order to find the best possible person to take care of your parent, you have to do your research. Before making a hiring decision, conduct a criminal background check, check licenses and call references. When calling references, ask them if they would hire the home care worker again.

Not Involving Your Parent in the Process

Before you hire a home care professional, have your parent meet this person and make sure they get along. After all, your parent is the one who will be around this person the majority of the time. Your parent should feel comfortable and safe around this healthcare professional.

Not Hiring Someone Who Can Complete the Needed Tasks

Not all home care workers have the same skills and abilities. Before you hire a home care worker, determine a specific care plan and make sure the person can meet those demands. For example, if your parent is at risk of falls, you should hire someone physically strong enough to lift him or her off the ground. 

Failing to Consider Backup Care

When interviewing home care agencies, do not forget to ask about backup care. Just like everyone else, home care workers can get sick and have other emergencies. If your parent's home care worker can't provide care one day, the agency should be able to send another qualified home care professional immediately.

If you avoid making these common mistakes, you should be able to hire the right in home care worker for your parent. Contact a reputable home care agency today to schedule an interview.