Welcoming strangers into your home can be overwhelming, especially when they are taking of a loved one. The first day that the caregiver walks in, that’s when the relationship and trust start to build. Not only are you trust them with knowing how to care for your loved one, but your personal belongings in your home. If you feel your trust is being taken advantage of, there are a few proactive steps that you can take to ensure that your personal belongings are safe and sound.
Choosing the Correct Home Care Company
This is the number one concern you have to have when hiring help for your loved one. Hiring the best and knowledgeable company is essential for your loved ones’ care. When you’re choosing who to hire, remember that insured companies offer excellent stability and fewer risks than hiring an independent caregiver. When you are talking to these companies, ask how they ensure that their company handles theft regarding one of their aids. An excellent company would state that they have thorough screening to ensure that their caregivers are trustworthy, loyal employees. TLC Home Care is a reliable, knowledgeable company to hire for your loved one. They will ensure the safety of not only your loved ones but your belongings.
When hiring a company, you want to ensure they are the right company for you. You want to ask the right questions, here are a few:
- How do they vet their employees?
- Do they run nationwide or countrywide criminal searches, drug testing, and a cred check?
- How often do you drug screen your employees?
- Are all your employees subject to the same standards?
- Do you bond your employees? What is the bond amount?
- What is the procedure for filing a complaint? What is the process for investigating a complaint?
Secure and Log all Valuables
The easiest way to prevent your valuables from disappearing is to secure them in a lockbox or safe. If there are no temptations, then nothing disappears. You also want to make a complete inventory list of these valuables and possessions kept in the home but can be secured. If anything was to disappear, you have proof to help guide the company in investigating the issue. You also want to log all medications as well, especially opioid painkillers, stimulants, and sedatives. If your loved one takes a number of these medications, be sure to keep the pill bottles in a secure location and organize the doses daily for the caregiver to distribute.
It can be an issue on what to do with cash, checkbooks, debit, or credit cards. This is all dependent on the elders’ independence regarding financial decisions and the level of security desired. It is essential for any loved ones who have memory disorders. It is crucial to lock up and accounting for their economic life. You want to be sure to continually check bank account, checkbooks, etc., for excessive spending that your loved one wouldn’t normally do. You could also install cameras in the house to watch the caregiver and your loved one whenever you can. These cameras do prevent thieving caregivers completely. If they know that there are cameras on all the time, they are less likely to steal anything from home.
How to Handle Caregiver Theft
However, these things still happen; even all the precautions are taken. There are ways to handle it professionally without issues.
Don’t jump to conclusions: Be sure to handle the situation with care. Accusing a caregiver of theft is a big deal. They could lose their job and, more significant than that, their license. You want to ensure that you searched the home entirely before accusing the said caregiver; maybe someone moved the missing item. Seniors with memory issues may misplace things, and they will be found in unusual places. Ask your loved one if they moved the item or took the missing medication. You do not want to confront the caregiver directly about your suspicion.
Alert the Appropriate Authorities and Company
Who you notify depends on what is missing. If it is simple as $25, there is no need to involve the police but address it with the company. You want to notify the manager of the company about your concerns, but in a respectful manner. When you hire an insured company and have a team that manages the staff, theta re the ones that handle it from there.
Conclusion
Hiring a caregiver can be a stressful process to go about. Worrying about thieving caregivers is the last thing on your mind. There are ways to handle sensitive situations like those and ways to protect yourself, your belongings, and your loved ones.