Caregiver Interview Questions and Answers Why are you interested in the job? OR Why do you want to be a caregiver? Possessing a nurturing nature, caregiving comes naturally to me. Also, I have been working in the personal care profession for quite some time now. I am a compassionate person and enjoy providing care to people of different ages. It gives me great satisfaction to think that I am of help to someone and the job actually enables me to make a difference daily in the lives of my clients. Tell me about yourself? I am a sociable person who has a natural capability of providing continuous care. Empathy is embedded in my personality and I’m a good listener. I have a track record of providing elderly and child care and immensely enjoy each moment of work. What are the main responsibilities of caregiver? The main task of a caregiver is to provide companionship. In addition, a caregiver provides assistance in activities of daily living such as personal hygiene, toileting assistance, feeding and changing, prescribed medicine administration, housekeeping and laundry. What does the work of a caregiver encompass according to you? Caregiving is not just providing physical care to the patient assigned to you. Providing emotional support to patients / clients going through a traumatic (physical or emotional) phase in their lives is also important. In addition to this, ensuring that the place that one’s assigned patient is living in is organized and safe for them is also the responsibility of a caregiver. What is your experience as a caregiver with children? I have looked after children aged 6 months to 10 years, over the last 6 years. I understand and can cater to their differing emotional and physical needs, as well as provide them with support in homework and special projects. I have also been extremely successful with children suffering from ADHD and Autism. Speaking of special needs, what is your specific experience with children who need specialized care? I have been especially trained to assist children with special needs so that they can integrate into society without problems. I have assisted therapists in helping children come to terms with their conditions and learn to build up on their strengths. And I have also provided special needs assistance in a number of situations. What is your caregiving experience with geriatric patients? Working with the elderly is actually more challenging than working with children. However, I am trained in handling emotional upheavals, medical emergencies and administration of medication. How do you handle patients with dementia? Do you have a special plan? Patients with dementia are the most difficult to handle – unless you delve into what they are feeling and thinking that makes them act the way they do. I try to understand their disease and put 1
myself in their place. Once I understand – for instance, if a patient has Alzheimer’s, I will know that he doesn’t remember half the things I tell him and will be impatient with me – I can easily formulate a care plan in my head and let him take the lead. Unless of course, what transpires hurts him physically or mentally. Have you ever come across a situation where a patient with dementia tested your patience? Many times. But there was one such incident where the patient refused to take her medication. That was alarming as she was suffering from many underlying physical conditions as well. No matter what I did or said, she wouldn’t open her mouth. She would just sit there and sulk. It was extremely challenging to provide her with any kind of care. What are the typical skills necessary to perform caregiver job? Caregivers need to be patient, empathetic and extremely dedicated to their work. If you are doing it for the money, you will never be able to get it right. You also have to be very organized so that you can keep the patients’ timetables in check. Do you believe that caregivers need medical training? Yes, I do. Medical training is extremely important in a caregiver’s job. Whether you are handling children, adults or the elderly, you may come across emergency situations. With a little medical training, you can save someone’s life. What are your strengths? Compassion and actively listening are my major strengths. I am bilingual fluent in Spanish and English and possess remarkable rapport building skills. I have demonstrated ability to involve clients in social activities and to provide exceptional daily living services with high regard for their privacy. What are your salary expectations? Tips: You need to do some research before answering this one. Check the competitive salary in your area and never mention a fixed figure say around—- or plus ——- try not to negotiate too much at this point to leave your options open however if you want to set a minimum limit this is the time to clarify it. Do you have any questions for us? Tip: Interviewers generally like proactive candidates. Think up some smart questions you may inquire regarding the typical schedule or routine tasks, total number of clients, branches of the firm, total employees and the like. Hospice Aide Interview Questions and Answers Tell us of your experience as a hospice aide. As a hospice aide, I have provided personal services to many terminally ill patients. Administering medication, assisting with bathing and grooming, providing mobility support and 2
ensuring that their physical and mental wellbeing is maintained, has been part of my work. The work has been extremely satisfying even if it has been sad at times. How do you deal with emotional loss while working with terminally ill patients? Losing a patient that one has cared for, for months is not easy. No matter how much one tries to stay detached, one almost always develops feelings. Emotional loss is something that I have come to terms with. I think of them leaving this world to go to a better place where there is no pain. And for someone like me who has to see pain on a daily basis, it is a relief to feel that someone I have looked after will be free of it. That is how I deal with it. If you found out that a fellow hospice aide was indulging in mercy killing of a patient, what would be your reaction? My first instinct would be to stop him or her – even if the deed was being done with the patient’s consent. I would then report the offending hospice aide. I understand that terminally ill patients go through immense physical and emotional pain, but there is no way that hospice staff members can take these matters into their own hands. What do you feel about assisted suicide? I have always had mixed feeling about assisted suicide. When I found out that there are clinics out there that legally handle assisted suicide, it did shock me a bit. However, I believe that it is a “to each his own” thing here. I would probably never be able to work in a place that promoted assisted suicide but I do not condemn it either. What skills do you think are most important while working as a hospice aide? What terminally ill patients require the most is empathy and love. I believe that a hospice aide who is able to provide both is a successful one. Additional skills that one needs is patience, physical dexterity, ability to cope with temper tantrums, and capability of managing emotionally distressed or violent patients with tact. Why did you choose to work as a hospice aide? Providing someone with care at the end of their lives is extremely fulfilling. I am emotionally strong but I feel quite strongly for terminally ill patients. I chose this work because this is where I can make the most difference. 1. Name, address, home phone number, cell phone number, and the best time to call. 2. Do you smoke? 3. Do you have a driver's license? If yes, do you have reliable transportation and insurance? How far from here do you live? 4. Do you have any CPR or first-aid training? Do you have any formal caregiving training? 5. Do I have your permission to run a background check? 3
6. What type of position are you looking for? After reviewing our job description, is this the type of position you are looking for? 7. Can you perform the duties required for this position? 8. Are you comfortable with pets? 9. Are you able to work the hours needed? 10. When are you available to start working? 11. Do you have any medical conditions to prevent you from heavy lifting? Would you be able to transfer someone from a wheelchair into a car or onto a bed? 12. If we are delayed, go out of town, or go on vacation would you be able and willing to adjust your schedule? 13. Where was your last job? How long were you there? Why did you leave? May we contact your past employer? Please provide contact name, phone number, and email address. 14. If meal preparation is needed, what kind of food do you cook? Have you had experience cooking for other people. 15. How do you feel about caring for an elderly/disabled person? Or a person with memory problems? 16. How do you handle people who are angry, stubborn, or fearful? 17. What type of diagnoses have you cared for? 18. Is there anything in the job description that you are uncomfortable doing? 19. Give an example of a difficult situation you handled with a client. For instance, how did you handle refusing to take a shower? 20. What time commitment are you willing to make to stay on the job? 21. Will you keep daily records? Do you know how to use a computer? 22. Why should I hire you? 23. Are you willing to sign a contract saying you will not accept money or gifts from my parents? 24. How will you keep the family informed? 25. Can you give me two work related and one personal reference? 4
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