Whenever you are bringing someone new into your home, there are risks involved. When you are requiring someone who is medically trained and will be responsible for the health and well-being of a loved one, the danger increases and a responsible pick is even more important. It is therefore necessary to conduct a complete vetting process to make sure you have the right person in place.

Since agencies do all the vetting themselves, we’ll be giving you some tips on vetting a private caregiver.

Medical Training

If you’re needing a caregiver that will be administering therapies or treatments, you’ll have to get proof from them that they have received the medical training you require; it’s a good idea to follow up with the institution as documents can be faked. You hope it won’t happen to you, but with the safety of youu or your loved one at risk, it’s a scam you need to protect yourself against.

Insurance and Payment

If you are dealing with a reputable home caregiver, they should have insurance in place for repayment of property if they damage something in your home while working. They will also need malpractice coverage in the event your loved one is injured due to their care.

Aside from insurance, you’ll want to ensure that your home caregiver is expecting to be paid legally. If they are asking for cash under the table, this is a major red flag as they will likely be uninsured or unqualified.

Background Check

It’s essential that you conduct a background check on anyone you are considering bringing into your home to care for your space and/or an individual. If they have a criminal record, especially one they’ve hidden from you, they are likely not the right choice for your needs.

References/Previous Experience

An important step to take before hiring a home caregiver is checking in with their references. A home caregiver should have experience before working on their own, so if they are unwilling to provide references, you’ll want to keep looking. Getting another employer’s thoughts about someone you want to hire is a solid final step to make sure you aren’t getting you or your family into a bad situation.

If you or a loved one is in need of a home caregiver, find some great options here.