No matter which side of the table you sit at, a caregiver interview is an essential part of the process to connect clients with caregivers. Caregiving is a highly personal and intimate role. Due to this, both parties in an interview should ensure the described assignment is right for them. Sometimes though, the interview will be with a family member looking for a caregiver, which makes the interview all that more important. Preparing a list of interview questions for caregivers and knowing the types of questions you may get asked as a caregiver streamlines the process.

This article covers interview questions for caregivers for both those looking for a client and families seeking a carer.

For Caregivers: Preparing for an Interview

If you’re preparing to take on a new client, more than likely you’ll need to interview with either a home care agency, like JEVS Care at Home, or directly with a loved one of the client. While your credentials will be a significant aspect of the interview, expect hypothetical questions and questions related to your experience.

For Hiring or Choosing a Caregiver: Why You Should Interview a Caregiver

Choosing a caregiver for your loved one is an important decision, which is why interviewing potential candidates is a must. You’ll want a well rounded idea of the person caring for your loved one. This means that asking questions about their personality, credentials, and knowledge are important to cover.

Below, we’ll break down the types of questions you should ask potential candidates and the desired takeaways from each.

15 Interview Questions for Caregivers

Personality Questions

The point of interview questions for caregivers like these are to see the type of person you are. Especially if the interviewer is a family member, they’ll spend time on questions like these to see if you’ll get along well with their loved one. A significant part of the caregiving experience is the companionship you form with your clients, so a family member may inquire about your hobbies, likes and dislikes, interests, and more to gauge characteristics like emotional stability, intelligence, and much more.

1. Do you tend to be more quiet or talkative?
2. What do you find rewarding about being a caregiver?
3. Why did you decide to become a professional caregiver?
4. What kind of hobbies or interests do you have?

Experience-Based Questions

Experience-based questions are a standard part of any interview meant to answer the question, “can you do the job?” While it should go without saying, caregiving experience with seniors will be very helpful in this process. That said, interviewers also look for personality traits, abilities, and more that relate to the position.

1. What is your experience working with seniors?
2. What is one of the biggest lessons you learned from your past jobs?
3. Do you have an experience to share about being reprimanded? How did you work through the correction or constructive criticism?

Skills Questions

Interview questions related to your skills as a caregiver and credentials should be expected for any caregiving position. Some home care agencies, like JEVS Care at Home, strive for a higher standard of care which means more training, and a willingness to pursue that training. In addition, these skills are important for whomever is hiring you to see if you’re qualified to care for their loved one or client.

1. What do you think are important skills for a caregiver to have?
2. Do you have CPR or First Aid training?
3. Do you have any experience working with Alzheimer’s and Dementia clients?
4. What is your experience in cooking for clients? What types of food can you cook?

Hypothetical Questions

Hypothetical questions are more than likely going to be the longest part of a caregiving interview. This is because these questions make you draw upon past experiences to answer them. As a caregiver, your goal should be to convey your ability to react in unique scenarios, your ability to remain objective under pressure, and have the ability to think on the spot.

A potential caregiver agency or loved one gauges these abilities, while seeing how your thought process works. Caregiving requires compassion and creativity to work through difficult situations. As a loved one, these questions are vital to seeing how a caregiver will interact with your loved one. Ultimately, the care of your loved one is of the utmost importance, so we stress that you spend a good time getting a good feel for all of your caregiver candidates.

1. What would you do if your client refuses to take their medication?
2. How would you handle a client yelling at you?
3. What would you do if your shift ends, and your replacement hasn’t arrived yet?
4. Describe the type of caregiver you would want to take care of your loved one. What type of traits would they have?

How JEVS Care at Home Helps the Process

At JEVS Care at Home, we strive to connect clients with the caregiver that makes a positive impact on their lives. We work closely with our potential caregivers to ensure they best reflect the standards and quality of care we provide at JEVS. In addition, we provide our caregivers with the training, support, and benefits they need to do their job the best they can.

Visit our site to learn more about JEVS Care at Home, and how we make the process of connecting clients and caregivers easier. We can’t wait to work with you!