When you have an interview for a senior care position, you might be mostly concerned with the questions the interviewer is going to ask you. Do you have the training needed for the position? The specific experience needed? There are so many different types of senior care positions needed, and some require more physical work than others, for example. But just as they want to know specifics about you that will tell them if you’re right for the job, it’s necessary for you to ask questions that will help you determine if the opportunity is the right fit for you.
Senior caregivers need to know what an employer’s particular rules and regulations might be, the protocols about calling out, their expectations and their preferred means of communication, says Cindy Jekels, Recruitment and Retention Manager at Comfort Keepers, an in-home senior care service in Westport, Connecticut.
Every client has their own unique needs, which you may or may not be trained to manage, such as bathing or dressing an older adult.
“It’s very important to find out ahead of time what’s going to be expected of you in a job,” says Carol Gleason of Brewster, New York, a certified nursing assistant (CNA) who has worked with seniors in private care situations as well as at assisted living facilities. “You might be asked to lift a patient who’s too heavy for you, or to use a Hoyer lift [an apparatus used to transfer patients to the shower or tub], which you need to be trained to use. You also have to be qualified to dispense medication, usually a nurse will do that.”
Guerdy Duclosel, also a CNA in Darien, Connecticut, adds that you’ll want to cover basic employment info like hours and compensation.
To make sure a job is the right fit for you, here are 24 questions a caregiver should ask when interviewing for a senior care position, according to experts interviewed.
Basic questions about the job:
- Will I be expected to drive to appointments or take the client on errands, etc.? Will I be given a vehicle to use or expected to use my own vehicle?
- What are the hours and days for this position?
- Will there be overnight shifts?
- Is this a permanent or temporary position?
- What is the dress code expectation?
- How will I communicate with other members of the caregiving team?
- What are your policies regarding sick days and vacation days?
“It’s very important to find out ahead of time what’s going to be expected of you in a job.”
— Carol Gleason, certified nursing assistant
Questions about the client’s health and needs:
- Can the client feed themselves?
- Will the client need help bathing?
- Is the client a fall risk?
- Who do I call if the client is injured or has fallen?
- Will I be expected to give the client medication or just med reminders? “We only do med reminders at Comfort Keepers,” says Jekels. Not all senior caregivers are med-certified, but those who are can dispense or administer meds.
- Will I be expected to lift the patient, and if so, how much does the client weigh?
- Will I need to use a Hoyer lift?
- Does the patient have wound issues?
- Does the patient have dementia, and if so, to what degree?
- Will the patient’s family members be present while I’m working?
Questions about the home:
- Are there pets?
- Will I need to clean the house or change bed linens?
- Will I be expected to prepare meals? Are there any dietary restrictions?
- Will I be required to shop for groceries or pick up prescriptions?
Questions about compensation:
- What is the wage and what are the benefits for this position?
- Will you be issuing a W-2?
- How often will I be paid?
By ensuring that these crucial questions are answered before you accept a position, you can preempt misunderstanding and enjoy smoother sailing in your position down the road.
