As we age, it’s likely that many tasks – even tasks that were once extremely mundane – become increasingly difficult. It’s natural for daily tasks like cooking, money management and bathing to take longer and more effort for older adults.
Home health aides are trained professionals who provide assistance with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, and eating, as well as medication reminders, meal preparation, and light housekeeping.
Having someone in your home is an intimate and often vulnerable experience, regardless of the benefits.
It is important to carefully evaluate potential caregivers and choose someone who is qualified, experienced, and a good personal match.
When interviewing home health aides, make sure to find the right fit for your needs and your personality. Here’s where to start:
Qualifications
Before considering anything else, ensure that the aide you’re hiring is uniquely qualified for this position.
First, consider the agency you’re using to find your perfect candidate. Using a licensed home care agency ensures that the staff have the proper credentials, are screened and have liability insurance. In addition, nursing staff supervise the home health aide staff ensuring appropriate medical follow-up and also are available 24/7 for urgent care issues.
Here are a few questions you may want to ask:
What are your certifications and qualifications?
Your home health aide should at least have gone through the training to become a Certified Home Health Aide. If they work with a licensed agency, they are mandated to have a certain number of hours of on-going training per year.
Do you have any additional speciality training?
Does your agency offer additional training?
Does your agency offer additional support outside of your services?
What is your agency’s policy for aide replacement?
Personality
Once you determine if the candidate has the baseline qualifications you need, then it’s time to make sure it’s a personality match. Home health aides are more than just an extra hand around the house – they often become an intimate part of your life.
You’ll want to make sure they are aware of your schedule needs and preferences. For example, if your schedule is such that a minute late is going to make you late, communicate that to ensure that the person is committed to showing up on time.
This is the person you’ll likely see more consistently than anyone else in your life, and you want to make sure you enjoy being in their company.
You may want to ask:
• What made you want to enter this field?
• Why do you want to work with older adults?
• What are your hobbies and interests?
The Catch
While it’s vital to do a thorough interview to find the right candidate for you, keep in mind that this is, in fact, a job interview for each candidate. There are certain questions you should steer away from.
It is never appropriate to ask a candidate how old they are, if they have kids or are planning to become pregnant, or their political views.
Know Nothing is Permanent
Even though it’s important to try to get the best possible home health aide the first time you hire, not everything is perfect the first time around. Keep in mind that if things don’t work out how you expected, you can find a better match.
At the end of the day, your care and your comfort is the most important thing, so don’t hesitate to speak up at the first sign that the situation isn’t what you hoped it would be. That’s what gives you the opportunity to truly find the right fit that allows you to age in place exactly where you want to be - in your home - with independence and dignity.