Before you meet the family
Caregiver interview preparation: questions families ask and how to answer them
A family hiring a caregiver directly is choosing someone to be alone in their parent’s home. The interview is less about credentials than about trust, judgement and fit. Here is how experienced caregivers prepare for it.
Before the interview
- Re-read the posting and note the specific tasks, days, hours and pay the family listed. Prepare one example from your experience for each main task they mention (bathing, transfers, meals, dementia behaviours, medication reminders).
- Bring identification, your certifications (CPR, first aid, CNA/HHA if you have them), written references with phone numbers, and, in California, a printout of your Home Care Aide Registry listing if you are registered.
- Decide your boundaries in advance: tasks you will not do (medical procedures, heavy lifting without equipment), hours you cannot work, and your rate range.
- If the meeting is in the home, confirm the address, arrive a few minutes early, and tell someone where you are.
Questions families ask, and what they are really asking
| Question | What they want to know | How to answer |
|---|---|---|
| Tell me about someone you have cared for. | Have you done this before, and do you talk about clients with respect? | One concrete story: the person’s needs, what a typical day looked like, one problem you solved. No names or private medical details. |
| What would you do if my mother refused to shower? | Patience and technique, not force. | Describe de-escalation: come back later, offer choices, link it to something she enjoys, keep dignity (towels, warmth, privacy). |
| What would you do in an emergency? | Can we rely on your judgement? | Call 911 for anything life-threatening, then the family contact; know where medications and the care plan are; stay with the person. |
| Why did you leave your last client? | Reliability and honesty. | Be truthful and brief: the client moved to a facility, passed away, the family’s needs changed. Never criticise a previous family. |
| Are you comfortable with lifting, pets, driving, cooking particular food? | Practical fit. | Answer honestly; say what you need to do it safely (a transfer belt, mileage reimbursement). |
| What are your rates and availability? | Can we afford you and will you show up? | Give your hourly rate and any difference for overnights or weekends, and state the days and time blocks you can commit to. |
Questions you should ask
- Who makes decisions about care, and who do I report to day to day?
- What does a typical day look like, and what are the hardest moments?
- Which medications are involved, and who manages them? (You remind; you do not administer.)
- Is there a care plan from a doctor, hospital discharge or IHSS assessment I can read?
- How will I be paid, how often, and will you handle payroll taxes as a household employer?
- What is the notice period on both sides, and how are sick days and holidays handled?
- Are there cameras in the home? (Ask directly; it is better to know.)
Paid trial shifts and written agreements
Many families and caregivers agree a paid trial of two or three shifts before committing to a schedule. Treat it as part of the interview: arrive prepared, keep notes, and debrief with the family afterwards. Then put the arrangement in writing: tasks, schedule, rate, overtime (in California, 1.5× after nine hours a day or 45 hours a week for personal attendants), mileage, notice and emergency contacts. A one-page agreement both of you sign prevents most later disputes.
Signs to decline politely
- Vague or shifting duties, especially medical tasks beyond your certification.
- Reluctance to discuss pay, taxes or hours in plain terms.
- Signs the person being cared for is unsafe (neglect, injuries nobody explains); in California you are a mandated reporter of elder abuse whether or not you take the job.
- Any request for money from you.
Sources
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