Professional Documents
Culture Documents
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.
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.
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
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myself in their place. Once I understand for instance, if a patient has Alzheimers, I will know
that he doesnt 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 wouldnt open her mouth. She would just sit there and sulk. It was
extremely challenging to provide her with any kind of care.
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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 patients
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 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.
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?
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6. What type of position are you looking for? After reviewing our job description, is this the
type of position you are looking for?
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?
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?
23. Are you willing to sign a contract saying you will not accept money or gifts from my
parents?
25. Can you give me two work related and one personal reference?
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