How to Hire a Live-in Caregiver

Hiring a live-in caregiver can either prove to be the greatest day of your life or the biggest nightmare. Unfortunately, we never really know someone until we live with them. Hiring the right caregiver depends a lot on references and good intuition.

Instructions

1. Place an ad in your local paper looking for a live-in caregiver. List as many details as possible: who will need the care, salary, type of room available, house rules and other important factors.

2. Check with local domestic placement agencies who specialize in pre-screening applicants for hire. These caregivers are already interviewed and accepted by the agency for the clients they accommodate and work to match you with the caregiver that has the right skill set for your job.

3. Ask standard questions of all candidates. Require certain documents, including an application, proof of eligibility to legally accept work in the United States and a driver's license or other form of identification. Conduct your interview at a table, not a couch. Keep it impersonal. Use the second interviews for establishing deeper relationships. The initial contact must be kept professional.

4. Get references. Because anyone can falsify references, get a list of past residences, past phone numbers and past employers. A person who has a long history at one residence or one job shows greater stability.

5. Always ask the candidate inquiring about the job, "Why should I hire you?" Keep notes. Sometimes, these on-the-spot answers tell a lot about a person. Keeping notes will help you connect the answers to the right person later on.

6. Hire someone with geriatric experience if your loved one is elderly. Hire a caregiver who has child care experience if you are a mother looking for a nanny. Make sure the live-in caregiver has experience for the type of care he or she will be giving.

7. Conduct background screening. In addition to checking references, you'll want to verify previous employment and complete a criminal background check. You can contact a pre-employment background screening company to conduct an investigation for you for a fee.

8. Offer the job. After completing interviews and conducting a thorough background screening, offer the job to the candidate you'd like to hire. Present a formal, written job offer to avoid any confusion about what you're offering.

9. Sign a work agreement. Having a clear agreement that outlines job expectations, salary, benefits and more can help make sure everyone is on the same page. This is especially important for live-in caregivers. Be sure to outline living arrangements, any house rules and what will and will not be covered, such as phone calls, Internet access or food, as part of the live-in arrangement.

10. Get legal. Set up payroll and benefits. If you are paying your caregiver directly, you are the legal employer. You'll need to contact the Internal Revenue Service to obtain an employer identification number and contact the state department that oversees new hires to find out what other requirements your state has for employers. This will enable you to pay your share of federal and state taxes. Payroll companies that specialize in household employment taxes like GTM Payroll Services Inc. and Breedlove & Associates can assist you with the financial legalities of hiring a caregiver.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure you feel comfortable with the person you hire. You will be living with that person. If it takes a few interviews to find the caregiver you mesh with well, then conduct several interviews.

• Because you will be living with the person providing care in your home, make sure you are compatible. It doesn't matter how great they are with your mother. If they don't get along with you, then find someone else.

• Unfortunately, no matter who you hire, there is no guarantee. As nice and cordial a person may seem, people can be deceptive. Always beware. Never be too sure. Confidence and complacency can be a disaster. Although many people can be trusted, it's just safer not to trust too soon. After a person has proven his or her good qualities, you can relax and be grateful you were a success in hiring a live-in caregiver.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• GTM Payroll Services Inc.
• Breedlove & Associates
• Internal Revenue Service