For families · Elder care
What questions should I ask an in-home caregiver before choosing them?
Ask about experience with older adults like your parent, training you can see, how they handle falls and emergencies, what tasks they will and will not do, and how they communicate with the family. Then confirm the answers: phone references, see a current vulnerable sector check, and watch a short paid trial visit.
In 60 seconds
- The best interview questions ask for real examples, such as how the caregiver handled a fall or a confused client, rather than yes-or-no answers.
- Training certificates and a current vulnerable sector check should be seen in person, not just described.
- A caregiver should say clearly which tasks they will not do, such as nursing tasks outside their training.
- Your parent should meet the caregiver during or after the interview, because comfort and trust matter as much as skills.
- References from other families are worth a phone call each, with specific questions about reliability and respect.
- A short paid trial visit shows how the caregiver actually works in your parent’s home.
What should I ask about experience?
Ask for specific examples with older adults whose needs resemble your parent’s. A caregiver who has helped someone with dementia, limited mobility or diabetes should be able to describe what a typical day looked like, what went wrong once and what they did about it. Vague answers are a signal to probe further.
- How long have you cared for older adults, and in what settings?
- Have you cared for someone with dementia, Parkinson’s disease or limited mobility?
- Can you describe a difficult day with a client and how you handled it?
- Have you helped with bathing, toileting and transfers? Are you comfortable with lifts?
- Why did your last arrangement end?
What should I ask about training and checks?
Ask what training they have and ask to see it: a personal support worker or health care aide certificate, first aid and CPR, and any dementia or safe lifting courses. Ask when they last had a vulnerable sector check and whether they will show it to you. Note dates, since certificates and checks become outdated.
A vulnerable sector check is requested by an organization and processed by the local police service where the person lives; in British Columbia, some checks go through the provincial Criminal Records Review Program. No federal law requires a family to ask for one, but for someone caring for an older adult at home, asking is reasonable. A clean check is only one piece of information, not proof of good care.
What should I ask about safety and emergencies?
Ask the caregiver to walk you through what they would do if your parent fell, became suddenly confused, had trouble breathing or would not answer the door. Good answers are calm, practical and include calling for help early. Also ask how they prevent falls and how they help your parent move safely.
- What would you do if my parent fell and could not get up?
- When would you call emergency services, and when would you call the family?
- How do you help someone in and out of the bath or shower safely?
- What signs of illness or change would you report to us?
- Have you taken a first aid course, and when?
What should I ask about tasks and boundaries?
Ask which tasks the caregiver is comfortable with and which they will not do. A personal support worker should decline nursing tasks such as wound care or injections unless properly trained and authorized. Clear limits are a good sign. Also ask how they handle money, errands, visitors and your parent’s privacy.
- Which personal care and household tasks are you comfortable doing?
- Is there anything you will not do?
- How do you handle medication reminders, and who decides doses?
- Will you drive my parent, and do you have a valid licence and insurance?
- How do you handle cash, receipts and errands for a client?
What should I ask about communication and schedule?
Ask how the caregiver will keep the family informed and how much notice they give for cancellations. Agree on a daily note, text or shared log, and on who they should call first. Confirm availability, travel time, holidays and backup plans, because reliability matters most when your parent depends on them.
- How will you let us know how each visit went?
- How much notice do you give if you cannot come?
- Which days, hours and holidays are you available?
- Who could cover for you if you were sick?
- How do you prefer to agree on rates and payment?
How do I check the answers after the interview?
Phone at least two references from families the caregiver has worked with, and ask specific questions: were they on time, respectful and honest, and would the family ask them back? Then book a short paid trial visit while you or a relative is present, and ask your parent how it felt afterwards.
An interview has limits. Some people interview well and care poorly, and some excellent caregivers are nervous in interviews. That is why references, the trial visit and your parent’s reaction count for more than any single answer. If something feels wrong, trust that feeling and keep looking.
How does Maple Care fit into choosing a caregiver?
Maple Care helps you find independent care professionals, but the interview and checks are yours. Post a free, anonymous elder care request, or pay to contact a professional first. Our team reviews every account and checks uploaded certifications, which earn badges. Badges are a screening signal, not a background check.
Maple Care does not supervise anyone’s work, set rates or handle payment for care. Once you choose someone, you agree the schedule, rates and payment directly. Ask our team for our care agreement template if you want a written starting point.
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Frequently asked questions
Should my parent be at the interview?
Yes, if they are able to take part. Your parent is the person receiving care, and their comfort with the caregiver matters as much as any qualification. If a full interview is tiring, hold the first part without them and then introduce the caregiver for a short conversation or coffee.
What are red flags during a caregiver interview?
Watch for vague answers about past clients, reluctance to show certificates or a vulnerable sector check, pressure to start immediately, requests for payment in advance, and talking over your parent. Also be careful if someone agrees to every task, including nursing work outside their training. A caregiver with clear limits is usually safer.
Is it legal to ask a caregiver about their criminal record?
Asking for a vulnerable sector check is common for anyone caring for an older adult, and the person gives consent for it. Privacy and human rights rules can affect what else you ask and how you store the information, and they vary by province. Keep copies secure and ask only what relates to the role.
How many caregivers should I interview?
There is no set number, but meeting two or three people usually gives you a useful comparison. If your first candidate seems excellent, still phone references and run a trial before committing. If none feel right, keep looking rather than settling out of urgency.
What should I ask a caregiver’s references?
Ask how long the caregiver helped their family, what the tasks were, whether they were punctual and reliable, how they handled a difficult moment and why the arrangement ended. Finish by asking whether they would ask the caregiver back. Hesitation on that last question tells you a lot.
Sources and evidence
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