Are you looking to hire a caregiver for your loved one?

If so, you’re probably feeling overwhelmed about who to hire. After all, this person is going to be spending a lot of time with your loved one, so you want to make sure that they have the right experience and the right personality for the job. 

To make sure you hire the right caregiver, there are certain questions you should ask.

Check out this guide to learn the top essential caregiver interview questions you should ask. 

1. What Qualities Do You Possess That Makes You A Good Caregiver? 

Ideally, you want to hire a caregiver who sees themselves as a caring and empathetic person. 

And, you want to hire someone who gets satisfaction from helping others in a one on one environment. 

Whether you’re hiring a caregiver who provides care for a young person or an older person, the candidate should also stress their professional training and previous experiences. In a candidate’s answer, they should focus both on the hard and soft skills that they possess. 

In addition to empathy and compassion, the ideal candidate will also stress that they’re reliable and responsible, and that they can handle themselves well in stressful situations. 

In terms of hard skills, the caregiver should have medical training, including CPR and first aid. If they have additional medical certification, such as certification as a CNA or a behavioral therapist, then that’s a huge bonus. 

2. Hypothetical Questions 

When interviewing a caregiver, it’s also very important to ask hypothetical questions. Not only will this help you tell how well they think on their feet, but it’ll also give you insight into their care tactics. 

If, for example, you’re hiring them to care for an older person who takes medication, you might ask, “What would you do if your client doesn’t want to take their medication”?

If it’s for a child, you might ask, “What would you do if a child misbehaves or doesn’t listen to your commands?”

Ideally, a caregiver will be able to draw from a past experience to answer these types of questions. Also, you want to make sure that their answer to the question is based on empathy and understanding, and that they’re not just telling you what they think you want to hear. 

3. How Do You Handle Clients With Special Needs? 

If your client has a special need, such as dementia or autism, then this is a very important question to ask. 

Ideally, you’ll want to find someone who already has experience with your loved one’s disorder and knows the ins and outs of the typical behavioral patterns that come with it. 

When a candidate answers this question, they should ideally mention:

• Special needs training or geriatric training
• Positive reinforcement techniques they use in handling those with special needs
• A willingness to listen to and encourage their clients

Let’s say, for example, you ask a caregiver candidate how they’d handle a client with dementia.

A good example answer would be: “I’ve learned how important acceptance and compassion is with patients who have dementia. By using gentle redirection, I’ve seen how a day that’s well-organized with a bit of flexibility can help reduce any issues”. 

4. What Would Your Previous Employer Say About Caregiving Abilities? 

In your search for senior care, you’ll obviously want to call the caregiver’s previous employer for a reference.

However, you should still see what the candidate has to say about this question. Although there’s no specific right answer to this question, you really want to pay attention to the candidate’s facial features and body language when they answer this question. 

If they begin to tense up a bit and try to brush the question off, then there might have been an issue with their previous caregiver. 

If they had a positive experience with their previous employer, then they should say that their previous employer was sad to see them go but that they left on a good note. 

A good answer to this question would be: “I think my previous employer would say that I’m reliable and that I had a good sense of humor while carrying for their daughter. I loved working for my previous employer for 2 years, but after a while, I knew I needed a change”. 

5. Why Do You Want This Specific Job? 

If you’re an agency and you’re hiring the caregiver as a general employee, then you want to make sure that the candidate has an understanding of your company’s culture and the types of clients you serve. 

The candidate should also demonstrate that they have knowledge of the specific qualities that distinguish you from other caregiving agencies in the area. 

Here’s what you should look for in the candidate’s answer:

• Knowledge of your company’s mission
• An interesting story or anecdote that shows a connection to your agency’s beliefs
• An interest in the way your company operates and the types of patients you serve

A good answer to this question would be: “Your caregiving agency was an obvious choice for me because you specialize in caring for children with autism. My goal is to become a Certified ABA therapist, and I know working for this agency will help me gain the right skills and knowledge to reach that goal”. 

If you’re hiring a caregiver for a specific member of your family, then they should talk about why they’ve chosen to take on a private client instead of work for an agency. They should also mention why they’re interested in specifically taking care of your loved one. 

A good answer to this question would be: “I grew up with a family member who had Alzheimer’s, and because of this, I believe I possess the right skills and the amount of compassion it takes to look after someone with this disease”. 

Caregiver Interview Questions: Are You Ready to Hire a Caregiver? 

By asking these caregiver interview questions, you’ll be well on your way to finding a great caregiver for your loved one or for the agency you worked for. 

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