Choosing care
How to choose a caregiver
Good decisions here come from a process, not a gut feeling in a single meeting. These six steps are what experienced families and care coordinators do, in order.
Written and reviewed by the My Caregiver editorial team · Last reviewed September 2026 · Editorial policy
1. Write the role down before you meet anyone
Describe the job as you would for any other position: the tasks, the hours, the skills required, the things that matter to the household. Two hours of work on this makes every later conversation shorter and every comparison fairer.
2. Decide provider or private, deliberately
A provider brings rostering, supervision, insurance and backup cover at a higher hourly cost. A private arrangement is cheaper per hour and often more flexible, but the responsibility for cover, insurance and administration is yours. Choose knowingly rather than by default — see the full comparison.
3. Check credentials yourself
Do not rely on a description in a listing or a claim on a website. Ask what checks and registrations the person or organisation holds, sight the documents, and confirm them where a public register or verification process exists.
What to verify
- Identity and right to work
- Police check and any worker screening clearance required in your state
- Qualifications relevant to the role, and current first aid or CPR where applicable
- Professional registration for clinical roles such as nursing
- Insurance cover — public liability and, where relevant, professional indemnity
- For organisations: approved-provider or registration status where the funding requires it
- Two work references you actually contact
We do not vet caregivers
4. Interview properly, with the person receiving care present
Wherever possible, the person who will receive the support should be in the room and should lead where they can. Use our question checklist, and pay attention to how the candidate talks to them rather than about them.
5. Trial before you commit
Agree a two to four week trial with a specific review date. During the trial, watch for the unglamorous indicators: arriving on time, doing what was agreed, writing useful notes, communicating about changes and asking when unsure.
6. Review, and keep reviewing
Needs change. Set a short monthly check-in for the first three months, then quarterly. Ask the person receiving care privately how they feel about the arrangement — the answer is not always the one given in front of the worker.
Warning signs worth acting on
- Reluctance to provide a written agreement, price list or invoices
- Vague or shifting answers about checks and qualifications
- Pressure to pay cash with no documentation
- Discouraging family contact or resisting supervision
- Repeated late arrivals, missed shifts or last-minute substitutions
- Unexplained changes in money, medication or the person's mood
If you have concerns about someone's safety, act immediately: contact the provider, the relevant complaints body for the program involved, or emergency services if there is immediate risk.
Common questions
What checks should I ask to see?
Ask which police checks, worker screening clearances, first aid certificates and qualifications the person holds, and sight the documents yourself. Requirements differ by state and by whether the work is aged care, disability support or private assistance.
Should I use references?
Yes, and actually call them. Ask about reliability, communication and how the worker handled something going wrong — not just whether they were nice.
How long should a trial period be?
Two to four weeks is usually enough to see reliability and fit. Agree in advance that it is a trial and set a specific date to review it, so ending it is not an uncomfortable surprise.
What are the warning signs?
Reluctance to provide a written agreement or price list, vagueness about checks, pressure to pay in cash without documentation, discouraging family involvement, and repeated last-minute changes to arrangements.
Last reviewed September 2026. General information only — not medical, legal or financial advice.