A caregiver is a person who, as the name suggests, will care for a person who needs attention and assistance. You may be looking for one who can care for your elderly parents, or help a loved one during pregnancy, or look after someone who is recuperating after a serious illness.
Whatever the condition, here are a few pointers that will help you choose the right caregiver based on the specific needs.
Understand The Patient’s Needs
1. Specific Conditions Or Generic Requirement
If the patient is suffering from a specific condition, you will need a specialized caregiver. For instance, there are special caregivers who will look after patients suffering from Alzheimers. On the other hand, you can look for a generic caregiver if you need someone who can help your elderly parents with their daily routine.
2. Understanding Daily Needs
Before you finalize the type of care and caregiver you are looking for, jot down all the activities that the patient needs help with on a daily basis. Also, write down the time of day, evening or night when the patient needs specific help.
3. Additional Requirements
If the patient is on a specific diet plan that is prescribed by a doctor, you will need a caregiver who can help prepare those specific meals. If the patient is not able to independently perform daily activities, such as bathing, eating, using the washroom and so on, you will need a caregiver who can help with all of these as well.
Questions To Ask A Caregiver
Once you know what type of caregiver role you are looking for, here are a few questions you should ask during the personal interview:
- How long have you worked as a caregiver? What made you choose the profession?
- Where were you working before and what was your role? What duties and activities did you help with?
- What type of medical needs patients have you worked with in the past? Were there any particular challenges you faced in such situations? If yes, how did you work around those?
- How comfortable are you of keeping track of medication timing? How will you administer medication if the patient is irritable, angry or turns violent?
- Have you cooked for your patients and are you comfortable doing so? Have you followed any specific food requirements pertaining to health or medical restrictions?
- Have you ever worked with someone who is experiencing problems with memory?
- Have you ever been in a situation where a patient was in an emergency? What happened and how did you deal with it?
- Are you comfortable in transferring the patient from the bed to the wheelchair or car, or vice versa?
- What are some caregiver roles that you would not personally prefer?
Before you reach a decision, let the caregiver interact with the patient. It will help you see how your loved one feels about the person, and in case of any unpleasantness, how the caregiver tries to resolve it.
