Raising a child with special needs takes patience and creative approaches, and you may be considering hiring a caregiver. Before you choose a person to help raise your child, you should know what to look for in an agency-trained individual.

3 Tips for Finding a Caregiver for a Child With Special Needs

1. Meet Face-to-Face

It's impossible to know whether a caregiver will have chemistry with your child until you have them meet face-to-face. Organizing an in-person meeting is a great way to supervise how a caregiver interacts with your child, and can give you insight as to whether they are the right fit for the job. It's important that your child and caregiver have cohesive personalities so they can bond over their time together.

2. Check Their Experience

If there are specific things a caregiver must know how to do to properly care for your child, you want to make sure they are up to the task. Check a potential caregiver's former experience to make sure they know what it takes to care for someone in your child's situation. You are entrusting someone with the health and safety of your loved one, and you want to ensure they have past experience to back up their skills. 

3. Look for Certifications

In addition to previous experience, you want a caregiver with home health care certifications that may come in useful throughout their service. Look for caregivers with training in Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) approaches, first aid, and CPR to ensure they can care for your child's mental and physical health. You want someone with an educational background to take on emergencies, should they occur.

If you're searching for the perfect caregiver for your child, consider a professional from the team at Deer Valley Home Health Services in St. Louis, MO. This home health care service offers private care throughout the Greater St. Louis, MO, area to children and young adults up to age 21. Call (314) 355-3679 to speak with their staff about your needs, or visit their website to learn more.