Steps to Hire Senior Caregivers

1. Find Qualified Applicants

   • Care.com can be used to find local senior caregivers online, interview them in person and check all references. We can also provide options through our approved network of agencies through our senior care planning services.
   • Post a detailed job description and a summary of your loved one’s condition, including any emotional/mental/cognitive issues and special needs.
   • View profiles for the caregivers who apply for your job.
   • Request free standard background checks for your top candidates.
   • Conduct phone screens for the caregivers who fit your desired profile.
   • For the top two to four candidates who pass the phone screen stage, arrange to meet them for an in-person interview with your loved one.
   • Let the candidates know that you will call former employers and references before the interview.
      

2. Conduct In-Person Interviews
   During the interview process, involve your loved one as much as possible. Their input is important, but don’t bombard them with too many questions – try to make the meeting feel natural. After you introduce the candidate and your loved one, allow them to interact without your interference. Offer light snacks, something to do or enjoy (puzzle, television program, sitting outside, etc.,) and see if they can strike up a natural conversation. Observe how the candidate assists your loved one when sitting up, putting on a jacket, or taking a sip of tea. See if your loved one is talking, looks them in the eye, feels valued.
    

3. Gather Documentation and Run Enhanced Background Checks
   If the person is a good fit, ask them to send you a photocopy of their driver’s license, car registration, insurance card and any documentation around care certifications they have for your files. Let the candidate know that you will contact former employers for references. You can even request that Care.com conduct reference checks for you and record them so all you have to is return to the provider’s profile, select the reference tab and click to listen. Some providers may already have recorded references on file so be sure to check.

   Then return to Care.com and request an enhanced background check to ensure you have all of the information you need to make the best decision for your family.
    

4. Write a Contract
   Once you select a candidate, get it in writing. The job contract is based on the caregiver job description and should include:

   Check out this sample senior care contract for more details

   • Wages: when and how payment will be made
   • Hours of work
   • Employee’s Social Security number (because you must report wages paid to the caregiver to the Internal Revenue Service)
   • Job description
   • Unacceptable behavior (such as smoking, abusive language, tardiness, etc.)
   • Termination (how much notice, reasons for termination without notice, etc.)
   • Vacation policy
   • Dated signatures of employee and employer
      

Do I Need to Pay for a Background Check?

Yes, if someone is caring for your family member and is left alone, then take this precaution. Premium Members can run free, unlimited standard background checks on Care.com caregivers. You can also request enhanced background checks. These more thorough background checks cost $59 but are well worth the small price as they include in-person or online searches of records that may not show up in standard background checks. If you elect to hire someone completely independently you can run a background check for about $150 on your own.

Seniors can fall victim to being abused, neglected, and having their finances ransacked by individuals who know they’re vulnerable. Unscrupulous people bank on you being too busy and too trusting to keep a close eye on what’s really going on. Check with your local police department, legal aid service or attorney for referrals to reputable investigators or search for “background checks plus your city/area” online.

Ask any home health agency, non-profit, or care facility what type of background checks they do. Hiring practices vary widely. You want to know if they do criminal background checks as well as driving background checks. A person with a string of DUIs and a suspended license isn’t who you want driving your mom around on her weekly errands. Many places allow minor offenses, so don’t let that surprise you-but you need to know who has access to your loved one and their belongings.

Don’t Forget the Paperwork

Hiring an individual caregiver to work in your home – or your loved one’s home is almost always considered an employer/employee relationship. This means the caregiver will have to have Social Security, Medicare and income taxes withheld from their pay. The employer – whether you or your loved one receiving care, will also be responsible for paying household employment taxes. Check out Care.com HomePay, which can help you manage all of the details.