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Interview Questions to Ask Regarding Relative Caregivers

If you must hire a caregiver for an aging relative, it's not an easy task. Your relative has probably declined a great deal in skills, abilities or memory. You want to hire someone who is mature, responsible and knowledgeable, and who will provide your relative with the care that he deserves. It can be hard to find the right person from among the many applicants -- but careful interview questions will help.

  1. Degrees

    • Ask the applicants what degrees, certificates or specializations they hold, if any, that make them qualified to care for your family member. You may be interested in an RN (Registered Nurse), LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) or CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant). Although it's not required that an applicant have these certifications to work in a private home, it is worth your while to find out. At the very least, ask if they have any emergency or first-aid training with the elderly.

    Experience

    • Ask potential caregivers what type of experience they have had working with the elderly. Ideally, the candidate should have worked with senior citizens before in their homes, completing the same types of tasks you need to be done for your relative. If not, work in a long-term care facility, such as a nursing home or assisted living, may be appropriate experience. Adult day care centers also help caregivers understand some of the special needs of the elderly.

    Special Conditions

    • If your elderly relative has a medical or mental condition that requires a more skilled caregiver, ask if the applicant has experience in this area. Examples can include caring for Alzheimer's patients or the bedridden elderly. Caring for the bedridden is a much more physically demanding role -- and asking applicants if they are fit enough to undertake such a task is not an inappropriate question. Alzheimer's disease can cause emotional and mental changes in patients that cause them to become easily agitated; your caregiver should be experienced enough to know techniques to calm them down.

    Background Check

    • Ask your interviewees if they have ever been involved in legal matters that centered around elder abuse. Tell them that you plan to complete a background check on all applicants (and then do so) and that it behooves them to tell you the truth. Remember that elder abuse is not only physical -- it can be emotional, financial and even sexual.

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