Questions to Ask Before Hiring an In-Home Caregiver

Choosing an in-home caregiver starts with understanding the help your family is looking for. You may want companionship for a loved one, assistance with everyday tasks, or time to step away from your own caregiving responsibilities.

Write down your priorities before calling a provider. Use the questions below to guide the conversation and compare the answers. Questions about screening, scheduling, and policies are prompts to discuss with each provider; they do not describe confirmed Helping Hands policies.

1. Which services are available?

Start with the everyday tasks your loved one would like help with. Ask which tasks the provider can support, what that assistance includes, and whether any requested tasks fall outside its services.

Helping Hands of Beverly Hills lists the following caregiver services. Call to discuss current availability:

• Companionship and life enrichment
• Shopping, errands, and outings
• Light housekeeping and laundry
• Meal planning, preparation, and clean-up
• Medication pick-up and reminders
• Personal care and bathing or grooming assistance
• Assistance with transferring and mobility
• Respite care for family caregivers

Be specific about what you mean by a task. For example, ask what help with meal preparation would involve and how preferences would be discussed.

2. How are caregivers selected?

Ask the provider to explain its current selection process in its own words:

• What screening do you perform before a caregiver begins working with a client?
• How do you assess experience with the tasks we need?
• How can we discuss our loved one's preferences and comfort?
• What happens if the caregiver arrangement is not a good fit?

Request an explanation of any qualifications relevant to the proposed services. Clarify whether information applies to the business or to the individual caregiver.

3. Can you accommodate the schedule we need?

Describe your preferred days and times, then ask what is currently available. Confirm the schedule before making plans around it.

• Is there a minimum visit length or weekly commitment?
• Can we request a consistent caregiver?
• What happens if the scheduled caregiver is unavailable?
• How do we request a schedule change, and how much notice is needed?

4. Who will communicate with our family?

Ask whom to contact about everyday questions, concerns, or changes in the support needed. Discuss your loved one's communication preferences and who in the family should be involved.

• Who is our main contact, and how do we reach them?
• How are changes to requested tasks discussed and agreed upon?
• How should we raise a concern about a visit?

5. What will the care cost?

Request an estimate based on the same tasks and schedule when comparing providers. Our article on in-home care costs offers additional budgeting questions.

• What is the current rate, and what does it include?
• Do minimum hours or additional fees apply?
• What are the cancellation and schedule-change terms?
• How and when is payment due?
• Can we receive the estimate and service terms in writing before agreeing?

6. What should we understand before starting?

Before agreeing to care, review the proposed tasks, schedule, costs, and contact arrangements. Ask for clarification wherever the answers are unclear.

• What are the next steps if we decide to proceed?
• What should we prepare before the first visit?
• How do we request a change or end the arrangement?

Bring a short checklist to your first call

Have your preferred tasks, days and times, budget questions, and your loved one's preferences in front of you. Leave space to note each provider's answers and any details you still need to confirm. You do not need to have every answer yourself to begin the conversation.

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