What to Ask When Interviewing a Home Health Aide

August 15, 2025
Friends & Family Team

Hiring a home health aide is a big decision. You want to make sure your loved one receives compassionate, reliable, and professional care. However, choosing the right aide isn’t always easy. Asking the right questions during the interview can make a big difference in selecting the right aide. These questions can give you a clear picture of the aide’s skills, personality, and work style, whether you’re working with a home care agency or hiring a caregiver on your own.

In this guide, we’ll cover the most important questions to ask a home health aide, such as their qualifications, day-to-day responsibilities, and communication and compatibility, to help you make an informed decision.

Key Takeaways:

Asking detailed questions can help you determine the caregiver’s ability to meet your loved one’s specific care needs.
Compatibility and communication are just as important as skills and experience.
Understanding the aide’s availability and flexibility can help avoid future scheduling issues.
Background checks and agency policies are essential for your peace of mind.

Why Interviewing Matters

Finding a good fit for your loved one is about more than checking credentials. A great home health aide should not only meet your loved one’s care needs but also be someone they feel comfortable with, especially when the aide is providing in-home care.

Interview Questions to Ask a Home Health Aide

Asking potential caregivers the right questions can help you determine if they are a good match for your loved one’s care needs. Here are some questions you can ask that can give you a better idea of their experience, personality, and how they’ll fit your needs:

Experience and Qualifications

Start by learning about the aide’s background, including their training, work experience, and any special skills they bring to the job.

How long have you worked as a home health aide?
What kind of clients have you worked with in the past?
Are you certified or licensed in New York?
Do you have CPR or first aid training?
Have you received any ongoing training recently?

These questions can give you a clear idea of how they might best support your needs, and whether they have the experience relevant to home health care and healthcare services your loved one’s level of care requires.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

Understanding what the aide can and cannot do will help you set clear expectations and ensure that their responsibilities align with your loved one’s needs.

What types of activities of daily living do you assist with?
Are you comfortable helping with mobility, bathing, and toileting?
Can you assist with meal preparation and medication reminders?
Are you willing to help with light housekeeping or laundry?

These questions can help you make sure the aide’s skills match your loved one’s care plan and medical needs. The aide’s relevant experience is significant if your loved one needs specialized support, similar to assisted living or skilled nursing.

Communication and Compatibility

Since the aide may spend a lot of time with your loved one, it’s essential to find someone they will get along with well. You need to make sure that their personality, communication style, and approach to care are a good fit. Compatibility can make a big difference in building trust and providing comfort.

How do you handle communication with family members?
What’s your approach to building trust with a new client?
Can you provide updates about the care plan?
How do you handle situations where the client resists help?

These interview questions can help you see whether the aide is a good emotional and personality fit for your loved one, especially when mental health or emotional support is part of the care.

Availability and Flexibility

You’ll want to make sure the aide is available at times when you or your loved one needs care. To make this possible, you must set a regular schedule to keep things simple and reduce stress for everyone involved.

What days and hours are you available?
Are you open to full-time or live-in care?
Can you work evenings, weekends, or holidays if needed?

Background Checks and Documentation

Since you are entrusting yourself or your loved one to the care of a stranger, it is wise to verify proper background checks and documentation.

Have you passed a recent background check?
Are you legally authorized to work in the U.S.?
Can you provide references or a referral from a previous employer?
Do you carry liability insurance or workers’ compensation?

A reputable home care agency will usually ensure that aides are appropriately vetted by handling background checks. Whether you’re hiring a home aide through an agency or privately, asking for a referral from a health care provider is also a good step.

Questions to Ask the Home Care Agency

If you’re going through a home care agency or home care provider, here are additional questions you can ask:

How do you match aides with clients?
Do you provide ongoing training or support for your staff?
What’s your process if we’re not satisfied with an aide?
Can you provide a written care plan?
Do you accept Medicaid, Medicare, or long-term care insurance?

These questions can help you evaluate the agency’s reliability and commitment to quality care. They should also be able to explain how their services compare with those from nursing homes or hospice care.

Red Flags to Watch For

While most aides are dedicated professionals, it’s smart to watch out for:

Unwillingness to answer questions directly
Lack of references or refusal to share contact information
Poor communication skills
No understanding of basic caregiving duties

Don’t ignore any red flags that may arise during the interview process. You’re looking for someone who will genuinely support your loved one. The aide’s reliability and compassion are vital for your loved one’s well-being and quality of life under their care.

Final Thoughts

Choose a home health aide carefully to ensure your loved one gets the support they need. These interview questions can help you determine whether the health aides can meet your loved one’s needs and help them feel safe.

Whether your loved one is moving out of senior living or considering options other than hospice or nursing home care, these questions help you tailor support that fits their daily and medical needs.

If you are a family caregiver stepping in for the first time or you’re adjusting your current home care services, take your time, trust your instincts, and make sure every box is checked.

At Friends & Family Home Care, we can help you find the right health aide who can accommodate your needs. Get in touch with us today, and we’ll help you find the health aide for your loved one.

FAQs

What is the difference between a home health aide and a personal care aide?

A home health aide receives more training and can assist with basic medical tasks. In contrast, a personal care aide typically helps with daily activities like bathing and dressing.

Do home health aides need to be certified in New York?

Yes, home health aides in New York must complete training through a state-approved program. They may also need certification depending on the services they provide.