Safe hiring / Interview kit
The caregiver interview kit
A free, printable pack for vetting any home caregiver: a ten-minute phone screen, interview questions by care type, a reference-call script, the verification checklist, and a one-page agreement to fill in together. It works no matter where you found the person. Print it and take it with you.
Found the caregiver on Sakina Care? Their profile links to a version of this kit pre-filled from their own listing. Open the profile and look for "Open the interview kit".
1 · Phone screen, ten minutes
Before you meet. A short call filters more than an hour of messages.
- Are you still available? We need help near [your area]. Can you get there on the days we need?Listen for: a clear yes or no on distance and schedule
- What kind of care do you do most: companionship, personal care, overnights?Listen for: specifics, not a rehearsed list
- Tell me a little about the last person you cared for.Listen for: respect and warmth about past clients, never complaints or vague answers
- What is your rate, and what does it include?Listen for: a straight answer, given without hedging
- If we move forward, can you share two references from families you have worked with?Listen for: an easy yes; hesitation here ends the call
2 · The interview
Meet in a public place, or at home with two family members present. Start general, then use the blocks below that match the care your family needs; skip the rest.
- Why elder care? How did you start?
- Tell me about the client you kept the longest. Why did it end?
- What would the last family you worked for say about you if I called them today?
- What days and hours can you truly commit to? What happens when you are sick or away?
- What do you do when an elder refuses care: a bath, a meal, medication?Listen for: patience and respect, never force
If you need companionship
- What does a good visit look like, hour by hour?
- How do you draw out someone who is withdrawn, or hard of hearing?
If you need personal care
- Walk me through how you help someone bathe safely while protecting their dignity.
- How do you handle transfers, like bed to chair or chair to toilet? Have you used a gait belt or a lift?
If you need overnight care
- What does your night routine look like, and how lightly do you sleep?
- Tell me about a night when something went wrong. What did you do first?
If you need live-in care
- What rest hours and days off do you need to do this well for months, not weeks?
- How do you keep healthy boundaries when you live where you work?
If you need end-of-life support
- Have you sat with someone in their final days? What did the family need from you most?
- How do you work alongside a hospice team? What do you handle yourself, and what do you call the nurse for?
If you need respite for family
- Families can feel guilty stepping away. How do you help them rest with a clear heart?
- How do you pick up a routine another caregiver built without disrupting it?
If you need halal meal prep
- What would you cook across a week for an elder with a small appetite?
- How do you keep cooking halal in a kitchen that already has its own habits?
If you need errands & transport
- Do you have a valid driver’s license, insurance, and a reliable car?
- How do you handle receipts and change when you shop for someone?
If you need light housekeeping
- What housekeeping fits inside a care visit, and what do you consider a separate job?
If you need post-surgery support
- Someone comes home after hip surgery. What do the first two weeks look like?
- What warning signs would make you call the family right away, or 911?
3 · Reference calls
Call at least two, ideally previous care families. Five minutes each.
Reference 1: name phone
Reference 2: name phone
- How do you know them, and how long did they work for you?
- Were they reliable? Any missed days without notice?
- Why did the arrangement end?
- Would you hire them again tomorrow?Listen for: a pause here is an answer too; ask why
- Anything I should know before they care for my parent?
4 · Verify before hiring
None of this is awkward. A good caregiver has done it all before and respects you for asking.
- Government photo ID seen, and the name matches what they told you.
- Asked about certifications and training. If they claim a CNA/HHA license, check it on your state registry website.
- Background check run ($20-40 at Checkr, GoodHire, or your county court portal), or they ran one on themselves and shared the result.
- Both references called (section 3).
- Legally able to work in the US, confirmed; ask to see documents if you will employ them formally.
- Paid trial period agreed: two to four visits with a family member present or dropping in.
5 · One-page agreement
Fill this in together before the first paid visit. Both sign, both keep a copy. Disagreements shrink when the paper already answers them.
- Family contact
- Caregiver
- name phone
- Care for
- Start date
- · paid trial of visits first
- Duties
- Days & hours
- Rate
- $ per
- Extra hours
- Pay method & day
- Cancellation notice
- by either side
- House rules
Regular household employment can come with tax obligations (the "nanny tax" applies to caregivers too). A tax preparer can set you up in an hour.
From sakinacare.org · the full safe-hiring checklist lives at sakinacare.org/safety. Looking for a Muslim caregiver? Browse the free directory by metro. Sakina Care is a community bulletin board, not an agency, and has not verified anyone.