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Suppose you or someone you love reaches a point when care is required day in and day out; the first thing that comes to mind is to move into a care home. But there’s another option, and that’s to choose live-in care instead. This way, you or your family member can stay in the comfort of your home while receiving the care and assistance needed.

Whether it’s a short or long-term solution, hiring a live-in carer is a big decision to make. You need to make sure that you’ll get the best experience and service possible. Quality live-in care goes through the services provided. It’s equally important to make sure that the person who provides care should also know someone who knows how to respect house rules, routines, and privacy.

Choosing a suitable live-in carer for your or your loved one is a decision that should not be taken lightly.

Here you’ll learn some tips to help you make the right choice.

Choose an agency

The first thing you need to do is choose an agency that offers live-in care services. Do your research and ask for recommendations. Your family, friends, and colleagues can give you an honest review of a similar service they received. Word of mouth is still the best way to find a reliable and reputable service provider.

You can choose between large, small, or independent agencies. This decision will also rely on the cost and how much you can afford. Just like everything else, some agencies offer more expensive services than others. Do your due diligence before making a choice.

Know your criteria
You also need to know your criteria because this will help you make an informed decision. You need to ask yourself a few questions to help you come up with a list of criteria for choosing a live-in carer.

What kind of person do you get along well with?
·Are you comfortable with a male or female live-in carer?
·Do you have an age preference?
·What range of experiences do you expect them to have?
·What skills are you looking for?
·Do you need a carer who shares the same interest as you or the person they’ll be taking care of?
·Do you prefer someone who has the same religion as you?
·Do you need a carer with a driving license, car, and good driving skills?

Always remember that the person you hire will live with you or your loved one. Finding someone you can get along with and live with is important. You must know what you want before you search for a live-in carer.

Conduct an interview
When you start contacting agencies, they will set up meetings or allow you to interview potential live-in carers. Take this as an opportunity to know them by asking questions. During the meeting, feel that you can work well with the person you’re talking to.

Create a shortlist
Once you’ve talked to all potential live-in carers, come up with a shortlist of the ones you’re considering hiring. Be sure to choose one that you believe will provide you or your loved one with the best care possible. If you’re unsure which one to choose, you can ask your family or friends for their opinion.

Schedule a trial shift
Before committing to a long-term contract, arranging a trial shift is best. This way, you’ll determine if the live-in carer is a perfect fit and if you can build a positive relationship with them. It will be a struggle at first, but things will improve if you find a suitable carer.

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