Whether you’re looking to hire a personal care assistant or an aide to help with daily activities in your home, the right fit is key. While some people may see hiring someone as an easy task, it can be a little more complicated than that. After all, if you want the right person for the job and not just someone who will do what you ask them to do. Here are some questions to ask before hiring a personal care assistant / aide that could make or break your search.
Are you properly trained?
The first thing you’ll want to look into is the training and experience of your potential assistant. While you may have a vision of an assistant on paper, you need to make sure that they can handle the job. One of the first things you’ll want to look into is their training. While many people assume that you hire an assistant because they are looking for a job and are available to work, that’s rarely the case. Most people hire someone because they have a need for help and don’t have the time or energy to do everything themselves. For example, if your spouse is in a wheelchair and can’t do everything on their own, hiring an assistant is a great option. It allows your spouse to stay at home with their kids and still be cared for by someone. So, when looking at training, you want to make sure that your assistant has the proper training for their job. If they’re a caregiver, you want to make sure that they’re trained in their job and have the right certifications.
What experience do you have?
Next, you’ll want to find out what experience your potential assistant has. If they’re completely new to the industry, you want to know that. If they’ve worked as a caregiver before, it’s important to look into how long they’ve been in this profession. If you can find out if they’ve worked for a specific company before or if they’ve worked for other agencies, it’s important to find that out as well. There are lots of different factors that go into hiring an assistant, including training and experience, to name a few. If you find an assistant that has experience in the field but also has the right training and certifications, it’s a great combination to have when hiring.
How long have you been a care provider?
Next, you’ll want to know how long your potential assistant has been a care provider. If they’ve only been working for a few months, you want to know that right away. While you want to hire someone who can do the job and get the job done, you also want to make sure that they’re stable enough to be in the position.
Do you have any criminal history?
Next, you’ll want to ask if your potential assistant has any criminal history. While it’s not something you’ll want to find out in the beginning of a potential hiring, it’s something you’ll want to know once you decide to hire them. There are several reasons why you want to find out right away. First, it could affect the way your state checks their criminal history. Second, it could affect your ability to hire someone. If your state checks criminal history and finds out that your potential assistant has a criminal history, it could greatly affect their ability to work as a care provider.
Other questions to ask before hiring
Before you bring your potential assistant in for an interview, there are a few other things you want to make sure you ask them. – Do you have insurance? – What is your availability? – What do you expect from the job? – What do you like about being a caregiver? – Who do you call if you need to take a break? These are just a few questions that you’ll want to ask your potential assistant before you bring them on as your PCA. The more time you spend researching your potential assistants and making sure they have everything they need, the better your experience will be.