Inviting an in-home caregiver to work with your loved one in at home can be stressful if you haven’t done your research and feel you can trust the caregiver. With newspapers reporting stories of hired caregivers who have taken advantage of seniors monetarily or otherwise, you want to be sure you are making the best and safest choice possible.

When searching for an in-home caregiver, be sure to ask these questions:

Are the home care workers agency employees or are they contractors (e.g., private individuals on a referral registry)? This is a very important question to ask, because hiring a caregiver through an agency that employs their caregivers will give you added security measures such as caregiver screening, supervision, and monitoring. It will also relieve you of being considered the employer, responsible for mandated taxes and withholdings for the caregiver.

Are the home care agency and the workers who come into the home bonded? If the agency is bonded, this means they are insured against theft.

Is the home care agency a member of any professional organizations? Oftentimes, high quality agencies will be members of professional organizations such as the National Private Duty Association, which ensures that the agency employs, trains, and supervises their caregivers.

How does the agency screen and perform background checks on their workers? Some agencies’ background checks are more thorough than others. Ask about that agency’s employee qualifications, drug screening, criminal history check, reference check, and driving record check.

Are workers supervised? It is always recommended to choose an agency that supervises and monitors their caregivers. Knowing that all of the care is being overseen by a team can go a long way towards peace of mind that your loved one is being well cared for.

Freedom Home Care requires a complete background check on all prospective employees. We also check references and run a driver’s license check on those who will be providing transportation.

Freedom Home Care has offices in Dothan, Montgomery and Opelika, Alabama as well as Columbus, Georgia, providing compassionate and professional in-home care. For more information or to schedule a free in-home assessment, call Freedom Home Care in Dothan, Alabama at 334-803-8078 or Opelika, Alabama at 334-745-7308.