Hiring an In Home Caregiver

Hiring a caregiver for in-home care can significantly benefit a senior's health and overall well-being. It allows seniors to remain in their homes and receive assistance with tasks like laundry, grocery shopping, and grooming. When hiring an in-home caregiver, look for a qualified and trustworthy professional who seems compatible with you and your loved one. 

Family caregivers are typically unpaid, and 40% of unpaid caregivers spend over 21 hours/week caring for their loved ones, which can lead to caregiver burnout. Hiring a caregiver for in-home care can benefit seniors seeking assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) and help family members who may be overwhelmed by care services. 

Hiring a trustworthy and capable caregiver is essential for your loved one's safety and health. Explore the steps in this guide to help you hire an in-home caregiver.

In-home care is a type of nonmedical supportive service provided to seniors in their own homes. The goal of in-home care is to help seniors maintain their independence and quality of life while receiving assistance with ADLs. 

Daily living assistance with in-home care can include personal care, meal prep, household chores, and grocery shopping.

About 87% of seniors age 50 and older reported that their home was the most preferred setting for long-term care. In 2021, approximately 3 million Medicare Fee for Service beneficiaries used in-home care services. 

In-home caregivers are often loved ones. In fact, in 2022, there were 24 million family caregivers providing help to older adults. Looking after a loved one can be a demanding and draining responsibility. Family caregivers can choose to hire in-home care services from trusted professionals to help alleviate the strain of unpaid care.

The spectrum of in-home care options is wide, encompassing services like basic companionship and assistance with daily tasks. You're likely to encounter the following services as you research providers:

 

• Assistance with ADLs such as bathing, dressing, and personal grooming
• Meal planning and preparation
• Medication management and reminders
• Transportation for medical appointments and general errands
• Light housekeeping and laundry
• Companionship and socialization
• Help with mobility and transfers
• Early-stage Alzheimer's or dementia care

Choosing the right in-home caregiver directly affects your loved one's long-term care experience. If you've been wondering how to find a live-in 24-hour caregiver, we've outlined seven steps to guide you through the process. You can also download our checklist for hiring an in-home caregiver to reference on your journey.

Start by compiling a list of the care needs you seek from an in-home caregiver. Determine which ADLs need support, such as bathing or dressing. Your list of care needs can also help you create an ideal schedule. Consider how much time a caregiver will be required to spend each day or week. 

If cognitive decline has become an issue, a specially trained caregiver experienced in aiding seniors experiencing memory disorders may be needed.

Creating a formal job description helps you outline exactly what you need from a caregiver. You'll be able to share the job description for applicants and use it to check off requirements during interviews. 

The job description should include the following:

 

• Job Summary: Include the caregiver's purpose and the senior's care needs.
• Responsibilities: Make sure to mention whether they'll be managing medications and ADLs.
• Qualifications: Candidates should provide details on any previous experience or licenses they have.
• Schedule: Ensure that you include the hours and days of care needed from them.
• Pay and Benefits: Include the hourly rate and benefits, such as paid time off, in your listing, and make sure to have some flexibility.
• Additional Requirements: Request items from candidates such as a valid CPR certification and a driver's license.

Once you've finalized a job description, you can post it to employment agencies, job boards, and community spaces. You'll want to share it in multiple places to increase your chances of finding qualified candidates. 

Some places you can share the job posting include:

 

• Referrals: Ask friends, family, and health care providers for recommendations of caregivers they have used or know personally.
• Home Care Agencies: Contact local home care agencies to see if they have caregivers available who meet your requirements.
• Community Resources: Check with community organizations, such as senior centers, churches, and volunteer groups, for caregiver recommendations or caregiver training programs.
• Social Media: Use social media platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn to post the job description and ask for referrals.

Once you've received applications and narrowed down your list of candidates, it's time for interviews. Start by preparing a list of questions tailored to the care needs and job requirements. 

Then, contact each candidate to set up a phone interview. Reaching out can help ensure they meet your basic requirements as you narrow the list to your ideal caregivers.

Schedule longer in-person interviews with a few top candidates to assess more than just their skills and see if they're a good fit. 

Some other tips to help you interview potential caregivers include:

 

• Ask Behavioral Questions: Ask questions that require candidates to describe specific situations they've previously encountered and how they handled them.
• Observe Interactions With the Senior: If possible, bring the candidate and the senior together and observe how they interact. 
• Explain the Job Requirements: Be sure the candidate knows the senior's care needs and the job's requirements to avoid any potential misunderstandings.

Before hiring a caregiver, conduct a background check on your candidate to ensure they don't have a criminal record and can be trusted to care for your loved one. If they will transport your loved one, you'll also want to make sure they have a good driving history. 

Make sure you obtain written consent to conduct a background check before you start. You can hire a company to conduct a background check for you or check criminal records using online databases and request driving records from the relevant state's Department of Motor Vehicles.

Another way to vet the credibility of a candidate is by asking for references and reaching out to them.

Once you've found and vetted an ideal candidate, it's time to make a job offer. A formal job offer should include terms of employment, pay rate, hours, and start date. You'll also want to discuss and review expectations, set a 1-2 week trial period, and sign a contract. 

Onboarding and training the caregiver is a great way to start them off with success. Follow these steps as you bring them on board:

 

• Introduce the Caregiver and Your Loved One: Start by introducing the caregiver, the person they'll be caring for, and any other family or friends they'll interact with. 
• Review the Care Plan: Walk them through the senior's day-to-day life and all the ways they'll need care. Include preferences for any ADLs the caregiver will be responsible for, as well as medications. 
• Provide Training: If additional training is required, make sure the caregiver receives it and provide any necessary resources to meet their needs.
• Establish Communication: Keep continuously open and clear communication channels with the caregiver.
• Set up a Schedule: Create a schedule for the caregiver's shifts and ensure they know their working hours and days.
• Provide Support: Offer ongoing support and feedback to help the caregiver improve their skills.

Finally, managing the caregiver's expectations is crucial to establishing a stable and successful relationship. Building a rapport with the caregiver can also help with communicating expectations and providing feedback.

Here are some tips on how you can achieve this:

 

• Set Clear Boundaries: Ensure the caregiver is completely clear about their role and responsibilities, especially if you make changes that weren't in the original contract.
• Establish Regular Check-Ins: Stop in to discuss any concerns, provide feedback, and check that their work meets your expectations.
• Address Problems Promptly: Address and try to resolve problems before they become major issues or habits.
• Provide Positive Feedback: It's easy to focus on negatives, but it's just as important to let the caregiver know you're pleased with the work they do.

In-home care for your loved one has many benefits, primarily that they can remain in their home setting. Other key benefits include:

 

• Personalized Care: In-home care is tailored to specific needs, ensuring your loved one receives the exact level of support they require.
• Independence: An in-home caregiver helps maintain a senior's independence and quality of life by assisting with ADLs without dominating every aspect of their life.
• Comfort: Staying in their own home can provide seniors with a sense of contentment, security, and familiarity.
• Cost-Effectiveness: In-home care can be a cost-effective alternative to institutional care, such as nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
• Reduced Stress: With professional caregivers regularly in your loved one's home, you'll ease the burden on family caregivers and sustain a healthy relationship with your loved one. 
• One-on-One Attention: The personal nature of in-home care allows for one-on-one attention from a caregiver, who can ensure they meet your loved one's needs and promptly address your issues.
• Improved Health Outcomes: In-home care can lead to improved health outcomes, as seniors are more likely to follow a care plan and receive the assistance they need to manage their health.

In-home care and home health care are often confused, so we've built a table that clarifies the differences and similarities between the two services.
 

 

You can hire an in-home caregiver for either type of service, but you will want to look for different qualifications. You should also expect to pay a different rate for home health care, which typically requires a medical professional. 

Choosing in-home care for your loved one can benefit them and your family. It can be empowering for a senior to remain home while lightening the care burden on family members. You can find more information on senior care in our resources hub.

• Caregiver training services. (n.d.). Medicare.gov
• Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP). (2025). New York State Department of Health
• Curioni, Cintia, et al. (2023). The cost-effectiveness of homecare services for adults and older adults: A systematic review. International Journal Of Environmental Research And Public Health 
• Get paid as a caregiver for a family member. (2025). USAGov
• Home Health Quality Reporting Program. (2024). Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
• How to become an IHSS provider. (2025). California Department of Social Services
• How to become a paid family caregiver. (2025). WA Cares Fund
• In-home support services (IHSS). (2025). Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing
• Montoya, Ana, et al. (2025). Long-term care: Are older adults ready? National Poll on Healthy Aging
• Statewide Medicaid Managed Care. (2025). Florida Agency for Health Care Administration
• Wolff, Jennifer, et al. (2025). The number of family caregivers helping older US adults increased from 18 million to 24 million, 2011–22. Health Affairs Journal