hiring home health caregivers

Hey there!  Welcome to Caring's groups.  I'm glad you found us.

How frustrating for you!  Have you considered hiring an individual, rather than going through an agency?  You may have better luck finding someone who is a good match that way rather than just being assigned someone. 

Have you tried using the Medicare.gov's Home Health Finder tool?  Here is a link.  http://www.medicare.gov/HHCompare/Home.asp [medicare.gov]

You may also want to check out an article we have on the site about finding home health help.  The link to the tool I mentioned above is broken in it.  That's why I've listed it separately for you.  http://www.caring.com/articles/hire-a-caregiver. 

Hope that helps!  And I hope someone with firsthand experience offers advice as well!

Hi! So glad you've found us here!

It sounds like a very frustrating and even frightening set of experiences you've had, and I'm sorry for that. I agree with Missy above, check out those links she provided and see if you can't find a better caregiver that you vett out first.

Let us know how things are going, ok?

Best,

Laura

Hi Beekid,

I also found it really helpful to have checklists of stuff to do that people could refer to, til they had it down to a routine.  So many people have a hard time remembering a whole bunch of verbal instructions, so I do both the verbal, and then have it all down on paper so they can refer to it at any time.  Have you tried that?

Rebecca, that is a really great, and simple, idea!

hello beekid,

  just responding to your problem with caregivers.  I am a private caregiver myself.  I have been hired by my employers through word of mouth and I also have a professional card which I had printed up and have it on the bulletin board at my church and several other churches in the area.  You might look into something like that, ask at your church or ask some friends if they know of anyone that is a caregiver, might work out better than going through the hassle of organizations.

I've learned that "center for independent living" (google it in quotes, plus add AND and your state) have great resources to help us learn how to hire caregivers. There are these types of centers for the disabled all over the country.

Bell star, thank you for that search suggestion!

Hello there, everyone. 

I am so very sorry to hear that you can't find a responsible caregiver.  Fortunately for you there are many individuals out there who are in the business of serving because they love to nurture, and derive many benefits from this business.  I have been a careprovider for about 15 years, and have worked in many different settings.  I now am caring for two elderly ladies, one is 100 years old, and still living alone, and the other lady I live with and care for all but the other 24 hours, that I am with my 100 year old friend.  She is 86 yeaars old and has quite severe demetia.  I have known both these ladies for over 15 years, and had gone to church with one of them for 17 years.  At this stage of my life (my only child is in Bible College away from home) it was easy for me to move in with my family friend, and put my stuff in storage.  I won't say I don't miss having time for myself. I cherish the five hours I get out a week, and try to see a different friend each time and do a different coffee date or shopping or whatever.  Plus, my housemate is not a morning person, so I have the early mornings to do whatever I wish as long as I am home.  I guess what I am trying to say, is as long as you are searching, there will be someone for your parents.  Please don't give up and God bless you and your efforts.  By the way, my grandmother lived with my family and cared for us kids while my parents worked so all along, I have been preparing for this stage of my life.  Someone is watching out for all of us, and is so much wiser than we know...

Hi Beekid,

I live in Northern CA, so I found the Council on Aging, Silicon Valley, at a company health fair.  They had several things for caregiver resources and they gave me a booklet of local caregiving agencies in my area.  The information was very helpful, it gave me their addresses, web sites, Director names/phone #s, price ranges and duties that their caregivers perform.  I selected my top 3 due to hourly rates, location and web site info.  I then checked the Better Business Bureau on all 3 and did some googling on line.  I spoke to one Director who was very helpful, patient and understanding.  She asked me tons of questions about my 87 yr. old Mother-in-law that we took in over 2 years ago, who now needs some more assistane when we are at work.  She set me up with a couple caregivers to interview and meet with all of us.  I immediately liked one gal more and she was also a CNA with excellent references.  We had her for a few months and then she had to go back to Africa for a long period, so we interviewed another gal the agency referred.  She was also wonderful and has been working out well for the past few months.  She is also a CNA, does more than she is supposed to do and we are very happy with her.  Some people tell me that her rate is very reasonable ($20 per hr.) for what she does and her qualifications, so I guess we got real lucky!!  Check around, it does take time, but it is well worth it.  I wanted someone who is trustworthy, patient and kind to Agnes.  Now, I'm just trying to talk Agnes in to increasing her hours, but she is reluctant to pay her for another day.  (We pay for one day right now, and she assumed we would pay for the 2nd day, but I explained to her that she has the money and she should spend it to make herself more comfortable, plus it makes life a bit easier for me...less showers to give her and etc.)  So now we just have the challenge to convince her she should use her money that is just piling up and have the caregiver come over an extra day each week....