1. Keep background checks up to date
Verify their Social Security number to see if they’ve used any other names. If they drive your older adult around, check their driving record too.
If you hired through a home care agency, find out how often the agency refreshes background checks and which databases they check against to make sure their checks are comprehensive.
2. Be alert for signs of trouble
Some examples of red flags:
- The caregiver ignores your instructions and does things when and how they choose.
- You can’t reach the caregiver when they’re with your older adult.
- The caregiver is obviously focused on their phone, TV, or computer.
- Your older adult’s personal hygiene is being neglected.
- Your older adult shows unexplainable signs of physical or mental trauma, like bruising, sudden change of behavior (fear, agitation), etc.
- The caregiver doesn’t seem to care about household safety.
- You see multiple negative reviews of the caregiver on reputable websites.
3. Use video cameras for monitoring
Monitoring with video cameras is often used to discourage abuse. The point isn’t to catch someone in the act, but to prevent it from happening in the first place.
