Try: Before hiring a caregiver it’s important to know what you need them to do and what the senior needs most here’s a list of general caregiver activities responsibilities social interpersonal tasks include spending time with the elder chatting listening watching television and where possilble taking the elder on outings i e to a museum or other location of interest to the elder daily household operation tasks include planning meals cooking cleaning doing laundry changing bed linens shopping and running errands bodily medical needs tasks include helping with using the toilet helping with bathing and dressing lifting the elder out of bed or out of a wheelchair assisting with administering medications attending to a wound or bandage and taking the elder to doctor doctor’s appointments or to the hospital information references "hiring elder companions caregivers " available at www care4hire com

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Categories: Sage, Topic, Caregiver Needs&Support

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Keywords: Elder care caregiver companion home care hiring a caregiver caregiver tasks caregiver responsibilities job description

*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: An employment contract for elder companions caregivers is highly recommended to ensure a shared understanding of the terms and conditions of employment this is true even when you know the person well that you are hiring a contract should provide specifics on compensation what pay rate per hour what payroll cycle and what pay dates benefits if any performance evaluation dates and any opportunities for pay increases hours of work job duties you may include the job description in the employment contract duration of the employment contract and the terms under which employment may be terminated information references "hiring elder companions caregivers " available at www care4hire com

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Categories: Sage, Topic, Caregiver Needs&Support

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Keywords: Elder care caregiver companion home care hiring a caregiver caregiver tasks caregiver responsibilities contract job description

*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: # write a job description which lists all of the functions that you will want the companion caregiver to fulfill the job description should also list the skills knowledge experience and abilities that are necessary for the successful performance of the job # recruit and interview candidates based on the qualifications specified in the job description #after narrowing down the candidate pool to one or two candidates perform background checks on those remaining candidates ensure that you have their signed authorization permitting you to do so #when you have chosen your one final candidate and he has passed the backgound checks you should offer him the job in writing via an employment contract he may wish to negotiate the terms in the contract so don’t assume that if you offer the contract that his sole options will be to sign it or to walk away if the individual does wish to negotiate with you about the terms and conditions of employment in his contract listen with an open mind and seek compromise where possible #when the contract is signed and the employment formally begins train the companion caregiver thoroughly spend a few days with the companion caregiver to orient him her to the tasks of the job and how you or the elder wish for those tasks to be handled after training is completed provide prompt feedback when actual work performance deviates from expected work performance praise work performance that meets expectations show up unannounced periodically just to make sure that things are going well even when you are not expected to be there if possible ask questions of the elder when the companion caregiver is absent to determine if the elder is satisfied with the care provided by the companion caregiver meet with the companion caregiver at regular intervals determined jointly by you and the companion caregiver to discuss the job and how it it’s going #after a brief introductory period usually 30 days provide the companion caregiver with a brief performance evaluation ensure that work is being done as expected by you and or the elder where there are differences between the work being performed and the expectations of the work performance determine what differences are can-do issues and what differences are will-do issues can-do issues are differences that are caused by the companion caregiver caregiver’s inability to perform as expected i e an inability to lift the elder out of bed will-do issues are differences that are caused by the companion caregiver caregiver’s unwillingness to perform as expected at this point training on routine tasks should not be needed as the companion caregiver has been performing these tasks for 30 days and any performance problems have been redirected throughout the 30 days based on the can-do and will-do assessment which may need to be determined through discussion with the companion caregiver you will need to determine whether to continue to employ the companion caregiver # if the decision is made to retain the companion caregiver the introductory period will end and regular employment will begin information references "hiring elder companions caregivers " available at www care4hire com

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Categories: Sage, Topic, Caregiver Needs&Support

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Keywords: Elder care caregiver companion home care hiring a caregiver caregiver tasks caregiver responsibilities contract job description

*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: There are several traits and skills that you may need in an elder companion caregiver these may include patience tact kindness empathy emotional stability discretion honesty trustworthiness dependability good communication skills ability to follow directions ability to respond well to constructive criticism ability to handle stressful situations well ability to work independently ability to multitask ability to problem solve ability to provide transportation for self and elder ability to monitor and record physical and mental functioning of elder ability to administer medications and perform medical-related services for elder interest in the elder his life and stories what he thinks and how he feels liability insurance to cover professional errors etc certification by the national association for home care and hospice information references "hiring elder companions caregivers " available at www care4hire com

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Categories: Sage, Topic, Caregiver Needs&Support

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Keywords: Elder care caregiver companion home care hiring a caregiver

*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: If you are considering whether to hire an elder companion or caregiver for a senior here are some things to consider when making that decision #the elderly person does not have any family member nearby # the elderly person has a family member nearby but that family member does not have the time to commit to caregiving # the elderly person has a family member nearby but that family member doesn’t have the necessary skills training or emotional capability #the elderly person may have family nearby that meets many of his needs but the elderly person prefers to also have an elder companion for an additional interpersonal connection this is particularly true for home-bound elders who may feel like they don’t see many people anymore # the elderly person may ask a companion to be a set of eyes for them because they need a friend outside of relatives #the primary elder caregiver may need respite a temporary break to regroup from the stressful work of caregiving for the elders that you love information references "hiring elder companions caregivers " available at www care4hire com

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Categories: Sage, Topic, Caregiver Needs&Support, Maintenance, Medical Physical, Mobile, Needs Some Assistance, Needs Much Assistance, Independence, Some Supervision, Maximum Supervision, Vision, So-So Vision, Poor Vision, Hearing, So-So Hearing, Poor Hearing

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Keywords: Elder care caregiver companion alone lonely home care

*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: The per hour charge for elder companions and elder caregivers depends on a variety of factors such as # the level of skill that you want the companion or caregiver to possess i e cna lpn rn or other credentials # the amount of work you will be expecting the companion or caregiver to perform i e companionship only companionship plus household chores companionship plus administering iv meds etc # the degree to which there may be difficulties in the working environment i e is the elder particularly fussy # the geographical location in which the care will be rendered # the source from which the companion caregiver was hired from within the family unit from a full-service placement firm etc the average hourly cost of a home care aide worker according to a metlife survey was 19 per hour in some states the surveyed rate was as high as 30 per hour in some states and as low as 9 per hour in some states the cost of elder companions elder caregivers can be minimized by health or other insurance the department of health and human services and various state and non-profit organizations that are designed to help seniors live life as fully as they can information references "hiring elder companions caregivers " available at www care4hire com

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Categories: Sage, Topic, Caregiver Needs&Support, Financial

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Keywords: Elder care caregiver companion home care costs

*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Hospice provides an alternative to the traditional medical care that hospitals and nursing facilities commonly provide toward the end of a person’s life in hospice the goal is shifted from attempting to cure an illness or performing life-saving measures to keeping a person as comfortable and free of pain as possible in addition to providing a seriously ill patient with care and comfort hospice services often extend to his or her family members and friends — involving and training them in giving care and providing breaks and counseling services to those who need them if a person meets certain criteria medicare and most insurance plans cover hospice care where hospice care is provided many people think of hospice as care provided at home and that is generally the case but it may also be given in a hospital nursing home or separate hospice facility because hospice care is focused on easing pain rather than radical medical intervention it usually does not require sophisticated or cumbersome machinery such as life-support systems or dialysis devices types of hospice care medical care — a hospice doctor generally oversees and coordinates the care sometimes working in tandem with a patient patient’s primary care physician nursing care — provided either around-the-clock if needed or sporadically for check-ups or special services such as administering injections help with daily needs such as bathing cooking or cleaning visits from a religious counselor if requested counseling services both for the patient and for family members social services support such as help with insurance and financial matters respite care to provide breaks and rest time for caregivers especially family members medical supplies and equipment — such as hospital beds bedside commodes wheelchairs and oxygen medications to help control pain and symptoms physical speech dietary and occupational therapists and bereavement care following a death information references "hospice care the basics " available at www nolo com

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Categories: Sage, Topic, Caregiver Needs&Support, Medical Physical

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Keywords: End of life hospice health care at home

*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: On the web there are several internet sources available to help locate hospice care in a specific location the national hospice and palliative care organization at www nhpco org and the hospice association of america at www nahc org haa are good starting points for a search ask around friends neighbors and relatives who have had good experiences with a particular hospice provider may also be invaluable resources check with the local office on aging staff members may be able to direct you to reputable hospice care providers to find your local office on aging do an internet search using your state name and office on aging as the search words talk with medical staff for older people who are already enmeshed in the medical system or who are receiving care through a hospital or skilled nursing facility the best way to find appropriate hospice care is to talk with the medical staff to get their opinions and suggestions information references "hospice care the basics " available at www nolo com

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Categories: Sage, Topic, Caregiver Needs&Support, Medical Physical

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Keywords: End of life hospice health care at home

*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: To determine the types of care your relative needs ask yourself these questions #what kind of care does my relative need now and is that likely to change in the future #could my relative be taken care of at home if he or she had some help from a skilled nurse and or a health aide #would assisted living be appropriate for my relative #will he or she require a skilled nursing facility now or in the future #does my relative relative’s mental condition require him or her to have special care and housing information references "caring for an elderly relative where to begin " available at www nolo com

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Categories: Sage, Topic, Caregiver Needs&Support, Financial, Legal, Maintenance, Medical Physical

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Keywords: New to caregiving healthcare housing evaluating care care options

*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: We can help reduce the incidence of elder abuse but it’ll take more effort than we’re making now preventing elder abuse means doing three things listening to seniors and their caregivers intervening when you suspect elder abuse educating others about how to recognize and report elder abuse what you can do as a caregiver if you’re overwhelmed by the demands of caring for an elder do the following request help from friends relatives or local respite care agencies so you can take a break if only for a couple of hours find an adult day care program stay healthy and get medical care for yourself when necessary adopt stress reduction practices seek counseling for depression which can lead to elder abuse find a support group for caregivers of the elderly if you’re having problems with drug or alcohol abuse get help and remember elder abuse helplines offer help for caregivers as well call a helpline if you think there’s a possibility you might cross the line into elder abuse what you can do as a concerned friend or family member watch for warning signs that might indicate elder abuse if you suspect abuse report it take a look at the elder’s medications does the amount in the vial jive with the date of the prescription watch for possible financial abuse ask the elder if you may scan bank accounts and credit card statements for unauthorized transactions call and visit as often as you can help the elder consider you a trusted confidante offer to stay with the elder so the caregiver can have a break , on a regular basis if you can how you can protect yourself as an elder against abuse make sure your financial and legal affairs are in order if they aren’t enlist professional help to get them in order with the assistance of a trusted friend or relative if necessary keep in touch with family and friends and avoid becoming isolated which increases your vulnerability to elder abuse if you are unhappy with the care you’re receiving whether it’s in your own home or in a care facility speak up tell someone you trust and ask that person to report the abuse neglect or substandard care to your state’s elder abuse helpline or long term care ombudsman or make the call yourself information references "elder abuse and neglect warning signs risk factors prevention and help" by laurence robinson tina de benedictis and jeanne segal 2011 available at

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Categories: Sage, Topic, Caregiver Needs&Support, Financial, Legal, Medical Physical, Personal

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Keywords: Elder abuse caregiver abuse sexual abuse fraud neglect emotional abuse psychological abuse financial abuse respite

*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed