Be careful who “cares” for your loved one.

When asked “would you like to go into a nursing facility or stay at home?” what do you think the vast majority of answers would be?  I think most seniors would say “keep me at home as long as you can!!!!”

The baby boomer group is turning 65, on average,  at the rate of 10,000 individuals per day.  In many of the southeastern states like North Carolina, we have become a “destination” state for retirees, increasing the potential number of seniors looking for in-home care.

Kevin Corrigan of Caring Senior Service shared the top 10 things to look for when interviewing an in-home agency.  Here are the first five, look for the last five in a few days!

#1. YOU MIGHT GET AN INEXPERIENCED CAREGIVER

It is very dangerous to leave a senior with an inexperienced caregiver. Most companies do not require enough experience from their caregivers – usually only one year (because that is NC State law). Companies should

require at least 5 years of verifiable eldercare experience. Inexperienced Caregivers are dangerous.

#2. GETTING A LAZY OR INCOMPETENT CAREGIVER

It would be regrettable to leave a poor worker in the home. Most companies only require 3 work references

from an applicant. But it is important to interview both employers and friends. Checking too few references

will not let you get a good picture. Home Care companies should require 6 references (3 personal and 3 work).

#3. PUTTING A CRIMINAL IN THE HOME

It would be disastrous putting a criminal in the home. Most eldercare companies do not do thorough enough

criminal background checks – only checking on a local/statewide basis. And they only do that once at hiring

time. All criminal background checks need to be nationwide. And they need to be repeated frequently.

#4. CAREGIVERS ARE NOT PROPERLY INTERVIEWED AND ASSESSED

A Caregiver can look good on a resume and get by a casual hiring manager. Caregiver applicants need a

thorough face-to-face interview and skills assessment performed by a qualified professional.

#5. GETTING A DRUG USER FOR A CAREGIVER

Illegal drugs are widespread in our country and prescription medications are prevalent where seniors are

present. Initial urine drug testing at the time of hiring and then random follow-up drug testing is critical.

It is so important to choose the right care options, but don’t let your legal documents go uncheck either.  Make sure as you begin the care process with these updated documents:  your Health Care Power of Attorney, Advanced Directive, HIPAA Release form are in order.  Added to this, Wills should be updated, General Durable Powers of Attorney (GDPOA) and make sure all your insurance, retirement and annuity beneficiary designations are correct.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions regarding our post:             rick.messemer@wgalaw.com