How to keep your loved ones safe when choosing a caretaker

In recent months, five Coachella Valley caregivers were arrested in connection with deaths of senior citizens. These instances are outliers in a profession which, right in its name, is meant to ensure the wellbeing of the less able.

There is a lot of risk associated with choosing that caregiver –

“Somebody here who is taking care of your life – you’ve got to really spend time doing your homework,” said Nikhil Mehta, who runs Home Care Assistance of Palm Desert. “[You need to look for] things like compassion and empathy, patience, a lack of ego…We feel that a really good caregiver, it comes from the heart. What they do it comes from the heart. It’s a very very difficult job that they do.”

If you aren’t hiring a caregiver from a licensed agency, experts say there are ways to make sure you’re still getting credible care. Check references from previous relevant employers ask about training from licensed nursing facilities or hospitals that have trained them, and conduct an interview to make sure they’re compatible with the elderly person they’ll work with.