Hi Everyone,

I am going to have to hire someone to help. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions on where you find someone?

I need someone that can drive etc..

Having someone come in from a newspaper ad is a bit scary to me. Much Love, Roz xxx

Check out the website National Caregivers Library it has really good suggestions and important questions to ask, and reminds everyone to take out SS when hiring help. Always one more thing the government has their hand out Sorry you have advanced to needing help, but glad you admit it and are doing something about it. Hope you find someone that can be a friend as well as helper..all my best on finding the perfect person!! Carose

Hi Carose,

I am in a 2 story so it's a bit rough. I have a son and a grandchild I need to look after as well. Hugs, Roz

Hi Roz! TMake sure they do like the schools here in Ohio, get a 'BACK GROUND Check".. I'm talking finger printing, references,.. go by that "Tiny voice" in your head.. you will know! Also, when I baby sat for a teacher and a Ear Dr. The only reasin she hired me, is because I was the ONLY one her two little boys would come to. Yes, I met with her for 2 hrs. She asked me lots of questions, because of her, I had "Eagles Nest" I loved that job, I love kids. Heck, Roz, if I was closer, I woulcd come help ya out! I wish ya the best! Love and hugs=, Desi

good heavens - call your health insurance company first and ask for their Visiting Nurse or community health agency. They can give you referrals to home health aides, and you can work from there. I would not start with the local 'help wanteds'.

Hi Roz,
Sorry to hear this.
I was wondering if you could possibly get a referral from your doctor. Maybe they know of a local organization that could help you find someone. Does your son know anyone that might be interested in helping you?
I wish you the best.
Linmarie

Call your county social services, they have all the info you need as they also hire these people. There is people certified by the county that has gone through the background check and fingerprinting.

I hope everything is going ok in your world, been thinking of ya alot.

Your local center for independent living should have lists of care givers,
see

(usa) www.virtualcil.net/cils/
(Canada) www.cailc.ca/CAILC/text/home_e.html

for one near you.

If you go to a church, that's a good place to ask if anyone there uses caregivers and has names to recommend. Senior Centers often have care giver reference lists ( and will often help you if you are disabled even if you are not 65 yet)

I found the best help by advertising at local university odd job boards (the ads are free if you are disabled and the college uses monster.com for their job boards, which most do). Students who were single parents were generally much more efficient at this work than the young students without kids.

Paying at the higher end of the range for this type of work tended to be more cost effective overall because you tended to get people who got more done per hour at the higher pay range. (this assumes you pay directly)

Employees that don't have to travel far to get to you are more likely to stay.

What I would do also is check the local health care agencies that do this kind of work. The new one I am getting is working for a local health care agency but she also has a private client. We have 3 companies in our tiny little town so if you live in or near a fairly good size town you may have even more.

If you are on disablility, SS or SSI may pay for it.

It doesn't matter if you have someone living with you, what they do is only take care of the person that is needing the care. The only strict part is that they aren't suppose to do anything for the people who live with you such as dishes and clothing. Mine always did mine, Bill's and the boys though, they didn't mind.

Also since SS or SSI pays for it you might call your local SS office and they might be able to tell you the nearest ones.

The Social Services is also tied in with mine so you might want to call them and they can give you that info.

The town I live in really does take care of the elderly and disabled, so I would say that other towns offer a lot of help too.

Good luck,
Ada

Hey Roz,

I have a live in. They are brilliant (Generally). If you are getting someone privatly you could consider getting a student - who could do some house work and some nannying in exchange for free accomodation and a small wage. Also, depending if you need personal care, you could get an au paire who can be responsible for being a mothers help, so the washing, ironing, cooking, cleaning and running around after the boys (and the driving). I don't know if you need personal care, but if you don't then you would be sorted! The others have given far better advice on choosing an appropriate live in mothers help than I ever could.

But, if it is for personal care, then think about what qualities are most important - quiet? commanding? intuitive? enthusiastic? Personally I need someone who is pretty intuitive and can see a real problem as it arises, some one who is fun and I can have a giggle with over silly stuff, someone that cooks food that I will eat, someone who is confident in what they are doing whether that be looking after someone, moving and handling or just cooking and washing clothes. Someone that knows when to step away and when to offer help etc.

In the UK care contracts can be terminated for any reason in the first 2 weeks because this gives you both a chance to learn whether you will get on - this is a person who will be living with you, so you need someone who fits into the family.

There are also issues you have to think about like do you want this person to be seperate and more of a housekeeper, or an au paire and be someone who is involved in everything, and, literally, one of the family as this will change who you go for, personality wise.

I hope this has been a teeny bit helpful!

Love ya

Froggsy xxxxxxxxxxx