Heather Arranie 
Hiring a private caregiver can be the right choice for you, as opposed to utilizing a local caregiving company, but it’s important to understand both the pros and cons of private caregivers so you can make an informed hiring decision. In this guide, we give you more details on private caregivers, the risks of hiring a private caregiver, and how to potentially mitigate these risks to ensure you can hire a private caregiver who is as dedicated to the health and safety of your loved one as you are.
What Do Private Caregivers Do?
Private caregivers are individuals who help seniors complete daily tasks and provide assistance to seniors who may be living alone or with their partner. They help seniors go about their day with greater ease and ensure they can maintain their independence for as long as possible. Private caregivers are often selected as an option over nursing home or assisted living home care, especially when seniors may be overall fine living alone except for when it comes to tasks dealing with fine motor skills, driving, and lifting heavy items.
Private caregivers must be at least 18 years old and many will also be certified as CNAs (certified nursing assistants) or HHAs (home health aides). Your private caregiver should also be able to perform CPR, and they will either be an independent private caregiver or a caregiver associated with an agency that employs these individuals and connects them to seniors in need.
Where Can I Find Private Caregivers?
You can find private caregivers by performing an online search of available caregivers in your area. You may be led to agency websites, or you may be able to locate freelance private caregivers who have their own websites or contact directories. If you know individuals in your local community who utilize private caregivers, you may also be able to speak to them to request referrals.
Risks of Hiring a Private Caregiver
When you hire a private caregiver, there are some risks, and it’s important to understand what these risks are so you can make an informed decision about whether or not you wish to employ a private caregiver or a caregiver through an agency.
Risks of hiring a private caregiver include:
- A private caregiver may hide their information and have a criminal history that makes them unsafe to hire
- A private caregiver does not have an agency to provide a backup plan in case the caregiver is unavailable for a day or two
- A private caregiver may insist upon cash or other suspicious payment methods
- A private caregiver may not have the right training to properly take care of your loved one
- You may not have certain legal protections when working with a private caregiver, as opposed to when you work with an agency that provides certain liability protections for a caregiver’s actions
Remember, you are inviting a private caregiver into your home and employing them to take care of the health and safety of your loved one. It’s essential that both you and your loved one feel good about the private caregiver you choose and their qualifications.
How Can I Avoid Private Caregiver Risks?
There are a few steps you can take to avoid the most common risks associated with hiring a private caregiver, such as hiring someone unqualified or dangerous to be around your loved one. The most essential step is to conduct a background check through an official source; a background check must adhere to state laws, and it will give you a good overview of the private caregiver’s personal history. You can review someone’s criminal and civil court history in addition to employment history and other public record information that might be vital to know.
You should also conduct interviews with private caregivers, something that gives you the chance to ask about their experience and get a sense of who they are as a person. Often, private caregivers who are not truly interested in their jobs or those who are unqualified will make themselves known during the interview process.
Finally, you can check online reviews and search for a private caregiver online to see if others have dealt with them. This can give you a sense of whether or not they have poor reviews and a history of interacting with others poorly on the job.
Ensuring the Safety of Your Loved Ones
If you are considering hiring a private caregiver, you no doubt want your loved one to feel safe and secure as they receive the extra help they need to get through the day. By understanding the risks of hiring a private caregiver you can better make an informed decision about whether or not this is the right solution for you, in addition to mitigating any potential risks by running background checks and taking the time to properly research a private caregiver’s credentials.
Always remember when running background checks, however, that this must be done through an official channel and according to state laws if you plan to use the background check as part of an employment process.
