5 Tips On Choosing a Right Live-In Caregiver For Your Loved One

For some families with a loved one to care for at home, hiring a live-in caregiver might be the most cost-effective solution. Having decided on this option of hiring a live-in caregiver, choosing a right caregiver is the next crucial decision. A right caregiver can improve the quality of your loved one’s life, by helping the care recipient with the activities of daily living and engaging her in activities in which she enjoys. Find a right or suitable caregiver can put you at wase and allow you to focus on your tasks, knowing your loved one is in good hands.
 
Based on our years of experience in the deployment of live-in caregivers, we offer the following 5 tips for choosing a right live-in caregiver for your loved one.

(1) ​Understand the Needs of the Care Recipient

​In order to find the right caregiver with the right skill sets and / or experiences to meet the needs of the care recipient, it is important to first understand the needs of the care recipient. Many families often underestimate the needs of the care recipient or are not fully aware of the needs of the care recipient. To resolve this, the family members should consult the doctors, nurses and / or healthcare professionals who were looking after the care recipient on the needs of the care recipient. With a good understanding of the needs of the care recipient, this will facilitate the search for a right caregiver. The needs can also be communicated clearly to the caregiver preventing any wrong expectations when the caregiver is deployed to the family. 

(2) Communicate with the Care Recipient and Spouse

While you have the care recipient’s interest at heart in looking for a caregiver to look after your loved one, it is equally important to check in with the care recipient on the arrangement. The care recipient must accept that there will be a live-in caregiver who will be looking after her / him. With the acceptance of the arrangment, this will make it easier for the caregiver when she is deployed to the house. Besides the care recipient, the spouse of the care recipient must also accept that there will be a live-in caregiver. As there is often close contact between the care recipient and the caregiver, the spouse is sometimes ‘uncomfortable’ of the arrangement and this will make the job of the caregiver very difficult.

(3) Matching to a Caregiver with the Right Skill Sets and / or Experiences

​As there is a spectrum of caregivers with different qualifications, skill sets and / or experiences, it is important to find a right caregiver with the basic skill sets and / or experiences who is able to handle the needs of the care recipient. It might not be possible to find a perfect match, some of the skill sets can be taught to the caregiver. The renumeration package for the caregiver differs based on qualification, skill sets and / or experiences. It is worthwhile to pay a slightly higher monthly renumeration for a more suitable caregiver matching the needs of the care recipient

(4) Language Abilities

As the caregiver is in constant contact with the care recipient, the ability to communicate effectively with one another is very important. This will hopefully establish a bond between the caregiver and care recipient, allowing care and support to be given easily. This will also avoid misunderstanding especially on instructions being passed down to the caregiver. In choosing the right caregiver a common language between the caregiver and care recipient should thus be considered.

(5) ​Right Attitude to take care of the Elderly

​As it is not an easy task to look after the elderly, the caregiver must have the right attitude in wanting to take care of the elderly. This willingness will help the caregiver overcome various issues she might face in her job. There are caregivers who prefer to looking after babies and kids as compared to taking care of the elderly. 

​Conclusion

​While there are many considerations in the choosing of a right live-in caregiver for your loved one, we offer 5 tips in which we consider are important factors in the choosing of a right caregiver. A good match will result in a ‘win-win’ outcome for the care recipient, the family members and the caregiver