Caregivers are essential to the lives of seniors. They provide emotional and physical support, and help with activities of daily living. They also assist with medication management and follow a prescribed health plan to ensure that clients stay safe and healthy. In some cases, home caregivers are required to perform medical tasks like feeding and bathing. During the hiring process, it’s important to find out what credentials and experience a home care aide has. It’s also crucial to assess if they are a good match for your client. Using tech tools such as Smartcare’s unique machine learning (ML) technology can ensure that all new caregivers are well-matched with the right jobs for optimal caregiver-client satisfaction.
Although families can hire independent caregivers directly, many decide to work with a home care agency instead. Although agencies can be more expensive than hiring an independent, there are advantages such as a comprehensive screening process, insurance coverage and supervision that can result in better quality of care for your loved one.
Agencies are bonded and insured, while independent caregivers don’t carry liability insurance or worker’s compensation. This means that the family would be responsible in cases of theft, property damage, or abuse, a situation which could cost them hundreds of dollars. Furthermore, a home care agency typically offers backup services in case a caregiver is unable to come to work. It’s also important for a client to review their contract with the home care agency, as they should discuss what duties are covered and how long the caregiver is expected to be at their home. caregiver agency hiring