Hiring Help at Home: Questions to Ask a Paid Caregiver

Inviting a paid caregiver into a parent's home is a decision about trust. This person may help with meals, errands, companionship, or personal care. They will see your parent on good days and hard ones. A thoughtful interview helps you learn whether someone is a good match before that trust is given.

This guide offers questions to ask, whether you are working with an agency or hiring someone directly. It does not replace checking credentials, references, or your state's requirements. The National Institute on Aging also describes kinds of in-home help that may be available and how families can look for them.

Include your parent in the interview

If your parent is able and willing, they should be part of the conversation. They are the person receiving care. Ask them beforehand what matters most: punctuality, quiet company, someone who enjoys cooking, a person who respects their routines. After the interview, ask how they felt. Comfort and chemistry matter.

Questions about experience

• What kinds of caregiving have you done before?
• Have you supported someone with needs similar to my parent's?
• What tasks are you comfortable doing, and which are outside your role?
• What training have you completed, and can you share documentation?

Listen for specific, concrete answers. "I helped a client who used a walker get ready each morning" tells you more than "I have lots of experience."

Questions about reliability

• What hours and days are you available?
• What happens if you are sick or cannot make a shift?
• How much notice do you need for schedule changes?
• If you work through an agency, who do we call when there is a problem?

Backup plans matter. Ask before you need one.

Questions about communication

• How do you prefer to share updates with family?
• How would you tell us if you noticed a change in my parent?
• What would you do if my parent asked you not to tell us something?

That last question is important. A good caregiver respects your parent's privacy while knowing when safety concerns need to be shared. Discuss these boundaries openly so everyone understands them.

Questions about respect and dignity

• How do you handle it when someone does not want help with a task?
• How do you support someone's independence?
• Tell us about a time you disagreed with a client or family. What did you do?

These answers show how a person thinks about autonomy. Look for someone who sees your parent as an adult with preferences, not a list of chores.

Questions about emergencies

• What would you do if my parent fell or seemed suddenly unwell?
• Are you comfortable calling 911 if needed?
• Where would you expect to find emergency contacts and important information?

Before the first shift, give the caregiver a written sheet with emergency contacts, your parent's preferences, and house basics. Our guide to organizing important caregiving information can help you put that sheet together.

A simple interview scorecard

After each interview, jot quick notes so candidates do not blur together.