How To Find a Caregiver in Calgary
Finding a caregiver that you can trust and your loved one can be comfortable with can be a challenging task.
There are so many things to consider in order to feel confident about your choice.
Thankfully, there are steps you can take to find the best caregiver for your loved one’s needs – one that will help them stay happy and healthy, someone who will care for them just like you do.
What Qualifies As a Caregiver?
Understanding the different types of caregiver can help you find the best one for your needs.
When starting your search for the best caregiver, the first thing you need to realize is that there are different types of caregivers with varying degrees of credentials.
It is important to understand their differences so you’ll know which type you need and what to look for in qualified providers.
Exploring Your Caregiver Options
There are three basic types of caregivers.
Choosing between a full-time, part-time and companion caregiver will depend on your loved one’s conditions.
If they recently experienced a traumatic incident, like a stroke or heart attack, full-time help might be needed to get them back to their daily routine.
It’s also needed to help them travel between appointments, the hospital and home.
5 Steps for Choosing the Right Caregiver
Have you been wondering how to find a caregiver in Calgary?
Follow these crucial steps to find the right caregiver to help you or take care of your loved one get through the senior years with ease.
1. Assess Your Situation
Once you’ve decided that you need additional support and assistance from a caregiver, it is important for you to assess your situation first.
Make a detailed list of all the requirements and jobs you will need from the caregiver.
Will you need part-time or full-time care?
What will be the caregiver’s duties? For example:
- Housekeeping
- Travelling to doctor’s appointments
- Dressing and bathing
- Cooking meals
- Light chores
Will there be any specialized care? For example:
- Dementia
- Alzheimer’s
Will there be any special language requirements?
Which gender would your loved one be more comfortable with?
Any specific qualities you are looking for in a caregiver (what type of personality would get along with your loved one?)
Any pet peeves, irritations or allergies the caregiver should know about your loved one.
2. Research Your Candidates
Take the time to carefully research caregivers in your area.
Look for caregivers who specialize in the type of care you are looking for.
You can narrow down this list for the top choices, however, it is recommended to start with a list of 10 to 15 local caregivers.
This process can take weeks or months to find the right one.
If you do not have time to do this, you can reach out to home care agencies in your area.
Whether you are doing the research yourself or going through an agency, there are a few things you should do to ensure you find the caregiver you need.
- Utilize online resources to look for caregivers or agencies who have excellent ratings
- Check out online reviews and social media pages to see what others say about their services
- Ask your friends, family, neighbours or coworkers who have recently gone through the same process
3. Conduct the Interview
This is an extremely important step.
Not only will you be able to ask all the necessary questions, but you will also be able to get to know your potential employee.
What should you look for in a caregiver?
- Patience
- Compassion
- Attentiveness
- Trustworthiness
- Punctual/reliable
How do you find out if a caregiver has these qualities?
The best way to find out is by asking questions.
During the interview, ask as many questions as you can to cover all the grounds required.
Prepare a list of questions you would like to talk about during the interview. This can include:
Can you tell me a little bit about your work experience?
What skills do you have that would make you a good fit for the job?
Why did you become a caregiver?
What’s your proudest career achievement?
What kind of training and credentials do you have?
What can you say about your previous jobs and your likes and dislikes about it?
Can you tell me about your specialized training?
What can you say about the list of duties and patient’s special care needs?
Can you handle everything in the list of patient’s pet peeves, allergies and irritations?
Can you think of possible activities appropriate for the patient?
If ever your patient becomes combative and irritable, how will you deal with the situation?
Based on your experience, what makes you happy while at work?
What are some positive things that previous clients have said about you?
This is also a great opportunity for the caregiver to learn about you, your loved one, your family and any special requirements they might need.
While conducting the interview, make the job details clear to the prospective employees. This may include:
- Your expectations
- Their responsibilities
- Characteristics of your loved one and anyone else they might interact with
- Salary and expenses
If you decide to go with a home care agency like All About Seniors, most of this will be dealt with by the agency so you can rest assured that they will find a caregiver that match your expectations.
4. Signing the Contract
Once you’ve hired a caregiver, you’ll want to draw up a contract.
The contract will outline the details of the caregiver’s job and your expectations.
It should also include their salary, any additional expenses and any special care required.
It will serve as a protection for all involved.
5. Hiring Process
After the contract is signed, the caregiver will need.
A list of care details:
- Characteristics
- Likes or dislikes
- Diet and eating restrictions
- Mobility problems
- Medical conditions
- Medication list and intake schedule
- Appointment schedules
- Situations when he or she needs to be rushed to the hospital
- Behavioural issues and ways to address them
A list of home details
- Access to medical supplies
- A key to the house
- Food and cooking supplies
- Household items
- Security codes
- Security precautions, emergency exits and emergency kit
Emergency contact information
- Name and phone numbers of emergency contact
- Name and phone numbers of doctors, clinics, hospitals, etc
Ready to Find an Amazing Caregiver in Calgary? All About Seniors Can Help
The team at All About Seniors’ key mission is to match your loved one with someone who will become a friend and confidant, as well as a caregiver.
Would you like more information about how All About Seniors can help care for your loved one?