When it comes time to hire a caregiver to serve a loved one in their home, it can oftentimes feel like a scary task to find someone that is caring, compassionate, and trustworthy. Working with people as a caregiver requires a unique set of skills and inherent personality characteristics. Here are some of the main things to look for when hiring a caregiver to work in your home or in a loved one’s home.

#1: Patience that goes above and beyond.

Families that are looking for a caregiver for their loved one can often be frustrated or exhausted. Caregivers that are stepping into the lives of a new family will need to be patient and able to persevere, no matter what. When you’re looking for a caregiver, talk to them about how they would handle specific situations, asking them to give tangible examples on how they would provide attentive care with patience and love.

#2: Outstanding communication.

A good caregiver needs to be able to communicate well, both with your loved one that they are taking care of, and with you. They will be spending a lot of time with your family, so making sure they communicate clearly always is important, not only for smooth day to day interactions, but for problem solving, too. If your loved one is elderly and lives with dementia or another medical condition, or if you have someone else in your family that has special needs that makes it difficult to communicate with, you should feel confident that your caregiver can find ways to communicate effectively with a calm and patient demeanor.

#3: Compassion that knows no bounds.

Caregivers should be empathetic and have a heart of compassion. Compassion is the bridge to building trust with your loved one and with your whole family. When talking to prospective caregivers, ask them their reasons for becoming a caregiver. Their compassion for others should be evident in how they talk about their career.

#4: Real-life experience.

Ask your potential caregiver to offer some real-life situation examples of how they worked with people with varying medical conditions. Determine what certifications they have completed and if they are passionate about taking continuing education courses. Talk about any other training they have had that help qualify them to care for your loved one.

Looking for a top notch, experienced caregiver for your family member? Contact us today so we can help you find the right match!