Helpful Caregiver Interview Questions

Karen Fifer Ferry

Recently at our Partner in Care meeting we talked about the challenges of hiring caregivers. Along with ideas from our meetings, her own research and recovery of questions she used in the past, Karen Fifer Ferry from the Caribbean Island of Green Turtle Cay chronicled the following for us and for you.  Thank you Karen.

• What situations have you worked in similar to ours?
• What was your favorite part of the job?  Why?
• What was your least favorite part of the job?  Why?
• Is there anything you are not comfortable or willing to do?
  • cooking
  • cleaning
  • toilet assistance
  • laundry
  • errands
  • showering/bathing
  • going for outdoor walks (with a walker, or wheelchair)
• Is there anything I have not mentioned that has come up before or comes to mind now?
• Describe a situation where circumstances changed after you had been on a job for a while and what kind of adjustments did you need to make?
• Are you comfortable/willing to only use your phone in an emergency during working hours?
• How flexible are your hours if we need more time one day and fewer another for special circumstances?
• Have you ever had to call for help of any kind and what was the circumstance?
• Is there anything I haven’t asked that I should have?

By the way, when checking each reference, include:

• Given no one is perfect, what would you like to see further developed in this caregiver?
• Was there anything that came up that the caregiver did not want to include in his/her job responsibilities?
• How was the caregiver’s punctuality/reliability (particularly relevant when not using an agency)?

We learn so much at the Partner in Care meetings, please check the PRO Calendar on the back page of this Newsletter or on the PRO website, register with us—it’s free!—to get electronic invitations to these and all the PRO meetings. These meetings have helped thousands of people over the last 32 years.