A reference only helps when you ask about the tasks Dad actually needs and how the candidate handled trouble, so write the questions down before you dial.

A reference check is one data point, not a verdict. Its value depends on whether the person you call saw the same kind of work Dad needs and whether you asked about the tasks that matter. Write the questions first, then make the calls.

Local option: New Plan Care gives families in the St. Louis area in-home help so a parent can stay home: companionship, help with bathing and dressing, meals, and overnight care. Call (314) 405-0887.

Ask for references who saw similar work

Ask the candidate for two or three people who have seen their work with an older adult who needed daily help. A reference from a different kind of job tells you less. If a candidate offers only family members or friends, note that and weigh it accordingly.

Questions about the tasks Dad needs

Ask the reference to describe the tasks the candidate handled, such as help with meals, bathing, walking, dressing, or getting in and out of a chair. Ask whether the candidate followed the written care plan and whether they knew when a task was beyond what they were hired to do. Ask what the candidate did when a task went differently than expected.

Questions about trouble

Ask how the candidate reported a change in the client's condition, a fall, a missed shift, or a conflict with a family member. The useful answer is specific and shows that the candidate told someone promptly. A vague answer is worth a follow-up question.

The medicine question

Ask how the candidate has handled reminders and errands for a client. The acceptable answer for a non-medical hired helper is reminders and prescription pickup as an errand. Confirm that the family keeps every medicine decision, with the doctor and the pharmacist, and that the candidate understands this line.

What a reference cannot tell you

A reference cannot confirm a license, insurance, or a background check. Verify those documents directly, and keep copies with the care paperwork. Accreditation through VA applies to people who help file claims, not to a home aide, so do not assume a VA credential covers the caregiver.¹

Footnotes

VA.gov, Accreditation of claims representatives (va.gov/ogc/accreditation.asp).

Two Phone Calls Before the Interview: How to Check an Aide's References Against Dad's Daily Needs