Every caregiver we consider for a Chicago family goes through background checks, reference verification, and a video interview before we make a match. That order is intentional: screening happens first, and an introduction to your home happens only after those steps are complete. If you are comparing in-home options, start with our Chicago dementia care hub and use the sections below to see how we screen.
Why Careful Vetting Matters for Dementia Care
Vetting matters in dementia care because the caregiver will support someone whose memory, thinking, and daily function may be impaired, and that work takes place inside the family's home.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes dementia as affecting memory, thinking, and the ability to perform everyday activities.
Families in Chicago often combine that need for trust with practical help such as companion care or personal care. We screen first, then talk about which of those services fits the household.
Background Checks Before Any Family Match
We run a background check on each caregiver candidate before that person can be matched to a Chicago household.
A background check is used to confirm identity and to review criminal history that would make in-home dementia care an inappropriate assignment. Candidates who do not clear this step are not proposed to families and are not sent to a first visit. We complete this review before care starts, including when the request is for memory care at home.
We do not treat a resume, a personal referral, or a short phone conversation as a substitute for this check.
How We Verify References
We verify references for each caregiver by contacting people who can confirm work history and reliability before we propose a match.
Reference verification means we look beyond written claims on an application. We ask about reliability, communication, and how the person showed up for prior work, especially work that involved older adults or help in a private home. Inconsistent stories, references we cannot reach, or feedback that raises concern can pause or stop a match.
Families can ask us what kinds of questions we cover with references and what we need from them if they already know a candidate they would like us to screen.
Video Interviews Before We Introduce a Caregiver
We hold a video interview with each caregiver so we can confirm identity, communication, and readiness for dementia-related home care before any introduction.
Video lets us see and hear the person we screened, rather than relying on a voice call alone. We listen for how the caregiver describes past work, how clearly they communicate, and how they talk through common in-home situations such as repetition, confusion, or a change in routine. We do not skip this interview for short coverage, overnight help, or support after a return from the hospital. If you need help during that transition, see our hospital discharge care page.
Matching a Screened Caregiver to Your Chicago Family
We match a caregiver to your Chicago family only after background checks, reference verification, and the video interview are done.
Matching then looks at schedule, language, household routines, and the type of help you want. That may be daytime visits, respite care so a family caregiver can rest, or 24-hour live-in care. A match is a proposal, not an automatic placement. You should still meet the caregiver and decide whether the fit feels right for the person living with dementia and for the rest of the household.