Our guest blogger this week is Ken Myers, President of Morningside Nannies

As adults, we tend to take for granted an abundance of competency related normalcies that will one day begin to deteriorate, but there are many revelations that come with aging. One may wonder how our family members will find the proper person to take care of us when we are unable do so ourselves. How do our family members find the right person to take care of us when we are unable to do it for ourselves? The following is a list of considerations that need to be taken.

1. Experience – Though a person may have a substantiated educational background pertaining to the care of a senior with Alzheimer’s, someone with hands on experience may be better suited to provide for a person confronted with the ever-changing needs of their particular situation. You do not want to disregard education in total, but perhaps someone with more real time experience is better suited for the person that needs care.

2. Education – The positive value of a good education cannot be disregarded when considering a candidate.  A young person with a degree that is certified to care for seniors with disabilities may be adequate for your situation if it is not very complex. It will also provide that capable person with priceless hands on experience, enabling them to know what to expect going forward. At the very least the person will be prepared for the basic treatment of Alzheimer’s and/or Dementia and will likely be knowledgeable about CPR and First Aid. The latter is not guaranteed, so please ask.

3. Background Check – It is always smart to perform a background check on your caregiver and it should be a common practice. This will validate their credentials and prove useful in preventing an unfavorable situation when hiring live-in help. The downside to not preforming a background check is bottomless. This should always be done when considering care for a senior.

4. Trial Run – Impose a period of trial employment to gauge how well the candidate and the senior interact with each other day to day. Many adults will resist giving up control when it comes to personal care; it is natural to want to be independent. Grading how well a candidate performs under the pressures of resistance and aggression by the senior will help to determine if they are a fit for the job.

5. Caregiver Agency – There are many agencies that offer caregivers at varying levels of skill and education. These agencies have already prescreened, tested, and deployed these professionals to care for seniors in the past. Though these agencies tend to be more expensive, you can rest assured knowing that this candidate performs their job well and is proven.

It takes a great amount of patience and understanding to deal with someone with Alzheimer’s disease or Dementia. The person will need to be able to adapt at the drop of a hat and be able to care for us. You wouldn’t want to put someone who isn’t ready in that predicament, and many of us would rather not put our own family members through the frustration and anguish that comes with day-to-day care.

Author Bio:

Ken holds a master’s in business leadership from Upper Iowa University and multiple bachelor degrees from Grand View College.  As president of morningsidenannies.com, Ken’s focus is helping Houston-based parents find the right childcare provider for their family. When he isn’t working, he enjoys spending time with his three children and his wife.

For more information about legal services for seniors, visit www.elderlawnewyork.com.