You need to be clear on what you need – medical support, daily chores in the home, cooking, or simply just personal care for you or your loved one. Take time to interview the Caregiver – a good interview should be for a t least 30 minutes:

• Try to understand about their background.  What similar roles have they done before?
• What are their likes and dislikes?
• What types of hobbies and interests do they enjoy?
• Check references. 
• Will they fit in with your family?
• Will they get on with you and your loved one?
• Assess the qualities of the Caregiver
• Are they strong but show empathy
• Will they make you feel they are always there to help
• Are they professional but friendly
• Do they show concern about the quality of work they do
• Are they flexible and able to adapt to change
• Tell them what you are looking for and what your expectations are
• Be open when talking to the care giver so there are no surprises. 
• Interview more than one care giver to ensure you choose the right one

Be aware:

Handicapped child

Should you decide to hire a foreign caregiver to care for your handicapped child, here is what you have to know:

There is only one program: Live-in Caregiver program. Under this program, several types of caregivers are available and each caregiver must be qualified for the type of care required.

If it’s a child with disability, you will need a caregiver who has experience with children AND disabilities. If a caregiver completed a 6-month caregiver course in Philippines, most likely she will be approved for the job. If she did not complete such a course, she will need to prove that she has at least one year experience in similar job. Don’t rely on the caregiver saying that she can do the job. Even if you are comfortable with her and believe she would do a great job, the visa officer will not approve her application for work permit and you will have wasted a lot of time.

Handicapped young adult

If it’s a young adult who needs care, the caregiver will need to have relevant experience – a nanny who has taken care of small children will not qualify. A caregiver with experience with elderly may qualify if her previous or current job involved taking care of elderly with disability.

A nurse may be a good option if the disability is physical – she would be not so good choice if the disability is mental or developmental.

Handicapped seniors

A nurse with training and experience in geriatric medicine would be probably ideal. If you can’t find one, try someone who has relevant experience.

Many caregivers abroad have years of experience dealing with elderly and handicapped persons and have learned to deal with them, even in very difficult situations.

Always interview extensively, ask questions, call references, ask more questions. In the end, this is going to be a person who will have a full responsibility of the family members you love. She will live in your house or the house of your relative. There must be reasonable expectation of compatibility and understanding between the caregiver and the person who needs care.

The caregiver should be able to relate to the young person, become not only a caregiver but also a companion and friend.

Always make sure that the caregiver you select has relevant experience or training; don’t rely on your instinct. Even if you are sure that the person is the right match, the government may be of different opinion.

Contact us at any time for assistance in finding right caregiver for your disabled relative!