Every month at Assisting Hands, we celebrate a Caregiver Champion for going above and beyond. Don’t think we don’t appreciate ALL our caregivers, though! This is not a job for just anyone, it takes a certain set of skills to really succeed. So what do we look for when we are hiring someone? And what should YOU ask if you are interviewing a potential caregiver or agency?

Experience
We want to make sure that our employees know they are a good fit for this challenging profession before we hire them. Caring for a number of different clients is a plus, because that provides exposure to multiple health conditions and personality types. Does this person or agency have experience with clients in similar situations to yours?

Training and Education
I’ve written recently (https://assistinghands.com/93/colorado/broomfield/blog/new-year-new-training/) about some of the training that Assisting Hands requires for all our caregivers. We love to see additional certifications or credentials that employees have accumulated during their careers or through outside education.

Compassion and Empathy
It takes a big heart to be a successful caregiver! We always ask potential employees why they chose this profession. Their stories tell us a lot about who they are and what they care about. Does your potential caregiver have any shared interests that would make your time with them more enjoyable?

Patience
Clients’ health issues can be challenging, especially conditions like dementia or incontinence. How has the caregiver handled similar situations in the past? At Assisting Hands, we ask any potential employee about their most challenging clients to help us understand where they would be a good fit.

Communication Skills
While important for any job, communication is essential for caregivers. They aren’t directly or constantly supervised at all times like in other professions, so they must use their knowledge and experience to solve problems as they arise. Communicating effectively with their clients can help make this process more effective. Communicating with family members and office staff is also critical so that everyone is kept up to date.

Check Their References
Even if someone seems like a great fit, it’s important to get an idea of how a caregiver has performed in other roles. At Assisting Hands we always check with a candidate’s former employer or other professional contact before we complete the onboarding process.

We only want the best caregivers at Assisting Hands! It takes a great deal of trust to invite someone into your home to care for you or your loved one, so make sure that trust is properly deserved.