Finding Your Fit
In a study done by the Canadian Research Network for Care in the Community, 77% of PSW’s said their biggest motivating factor was good relations with clients and family. Finding the right caregiver can not only improve the client’s quality of life but also that of their family and friends who are involved in their care.
Choosing a caregiver can be a daunting task, especially when you have never done it before. Whether you have chosen a caregiver before or are new to home care, here are some essentials to consider when hiring a caregiver.
Most people in need of home care services are looking for three things:
Someone that’s qualified
Someone they get along with
Someone they can trust.
A caregiver that has a good understanding of your background information can help to make better care decisions and keep a consistent routine. It’s important to remember that not every caregiver will be a perfect fit. Sometimes it's best to try a few different caregivers out in one hour increments to get a feel of who would be the best fit for your particular situation.
Knowing your care needs
An important factor in finding a quality caregiver is knowing and explaining the care needs of yourself or your loved one. Some things to include when explaining your care needs are:
Driving
Medication management
Light housekeeping
Bathing
Dressing
Toileting
Grooming
Mobility
Meal preparation
Companionship
Sitter
Bill payment
Managing funds
Ability to lift person
Operate machinery/ lifts
Home maintenance
Taking someone to appointments
Respite care (care/ relief for the family caregiver)
Foot care
Shopping
Running errands
With Alto, this information can go in your Care Profile. Your Care Profile offers you a place to explain everything you need from your caregiver without having to repeat yourself every time. The more detailed you are in your Care Profile, the better the caregiver will understand your expectations, the higher your chances of success. Learn more about Care Profiles here.
Are they qualified?
At Alto, we prioritize your safety. We also know that a lot of people may not even know the difference between a Criminal Record Check and a Background Check, or a Personal Support Worker certificate and a Continuing Care Assistant certificate. We have a standardized Vetting Process so that when you hire one of our caregivers, you can focus less on paperwork and more on their fit with you and your family.
Here’s a breakdown of the documents we look for in our caregivers.
Criminal Record Check including the Vulnerable Sector
Criminal record checks are one of the most important things to look for.
Criminal record checks contain information the police have on file pertaining to an individual. This includes, but is not limited to, a record of convictions for criminal offences across Canada, outstanding charges before the courts, and current judicial orders that are in effect (such as peace bonds, prohibitions or probation orders). Anyone can get a criminal record check, so it is important to always ask for one.
A vulnerable sector check is an add-on to a criminal record check that includes any record suspensions (pardons) for certain offences, many of which are sexual related. A regular criminal record check without the vulnerable sector does not include any record suspensions (pardons) even for crimes that are sexual related.
Anyone working with vulnerable populations such as children or seniors should have a background check including the vulnerable sector.
CPR & First Aid
CPR and First Aid certifications provide important, sometimes life-saving, skills to caregivers to protect the safety of the person they are caring for. These certifications usually need to be updated every 3 years.
Education and Training
There are many different home support worker certifications caregivers can take that provide specialized education related to personal care. Home support worker certifications are usually offered by a public institution for post-secondary technical education and skills training. Unlike Registered and Licensed Practical Nursing programs which are regulated across Canada, home support worker programs can vary province to province, institution to institution. Some programs have changed names, some are no longer offered, and some are new. Examples of home support worker certifications are:
Personal Support (Care) Worker
Continuing Care Aide
Health Care Support Worker
Health Care Aide
Health Care Assistant
Personal Caregiver
Community Support Worker
Resident Care Worker
Nursing Assistant
Personal Support Aide
Personal Care Attendant
Geriatric Care Attendant
Disability Support Worker
Health Care Assistant
Developmental Service Worker
Disability and Community Support Worker
Many of these are interchangeable and will provide training for an array of home care needs. Some are more specialized, such as the Disability Support Worker and Gertiatric Care Attendant programs, but all provide training relevant to home care.
Alto manages all the logistics that can be time consuming and awkward when finding a caregiver. This means you don’t have to worry about checking credentials such as: criminal record checks, CPR, First Aid, or home support worker certifications. You also don’t need to worry about negotiating wages, sorting out a payment schedule, or making sure the caregivers schedule fits with yours. All of these things are handled through the platform so you can focus on what really matters.
Will I get along with them?
Communication is key in any relationship, including the relationship you are building with your caregiver. Poor communication can lead to misunderstanding and frustration. Remember to always listen to what your caregiver has to say, as they may have dealt with a similar situation in the past.
To set yourself and your caregiver up for success, keep the following in mind:
Be specific. Being able to respectfully communicate your expectations and anything that arises from the interaction will help to ensure you and your caregiver are on the same page. Make sure to be specific with your requests, questions or feedback, being too general can cause confusion.
Communicate frequently. Having strong back and forth communication with your caregiver will help to establish a concrete relationship which can increase both parties' satisfaction.
Listen closely. While no one knows your care needs better than you, it’s important to give your caregiver space to communicate their thoughts. Ultimately, your caregiver is a trained professional and has your best interests at heart. Take advantage of their knowledge and experience by asking them questions and taking their recommendations seriously.
A great place to start is with your Inbox. Once you’ve sent a booking request to a caregiver, you’re able to message them. Start by introducing yourself and ask them any questions you may have. You may have questions related to your care needs, or something they mentioned in their bio, or to simply get to know them.
A caregiver that has a good understanding of your background information can help to make better care decisions and keep a consistent routine. It’s important to remember that not every caregiver will be a perfect fit. Sometimes it's best to try a few different caregivers out in one hour increments to get a feel of who would be the best fit for your particular situation.
It is also important to have a back up as sometimes life happens and your regular caregiver can not make it. For people who req uire a significant amount of hours, it’s a good idea to find a second or third caregiver that you feel comfortable with so that if your caregiver can’t make it, you have someone you trust that you can reach out to.
Can I trust them?
All of our caregivers have provided a Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector, CPR & First Aid certification, proof of identity, and, for senior care and special needs care, home support worker certification. They’ve filled out their availability so you know when you can book them, written a bio so you can learn more about them, and passed our Vetting Process.
All that’s left is their fit with you and your family.
