The first call with an agency or a candidate is a test, but not of speed or price. It is a test of listening. A provider who wants to understand the routine is planning the work. A provider who only quotes hours is selling a block of time. You can tell the difference in the first ten minutes if you know which questions to listen for.

Local option: New Plan Care gives families in the St. Louis area in-home help so a parent can stay home: companionship, help with bathing and dressing, meals, and overnight care. Call (314) 405-0887.

Step 1: Listen for these questions

Tick each one the provider asks in the first call. Do not score the call. Just note what was asked.

  • What does a normal morning look like for your parent? ____
  • What changed before the family started looking? ____
  • Which tasks does the family keep, and which would be handed to hired help? ____
  • Where are the stairs, the entry doors, and the parking? ____
  • Who else is in the house on a typical day? ____
  • Who should be called when a family member cannot be reached? ____

Step 2: Listen for the limits

A good provider names a limit early. Listen for phrases such as 'that task is outside what we offer' or 'a second person handles that part.' Limits are useful because they tell you where the job ends. A provider who says yes to everything in the first call has not yet described the work, and you will find the gaps later.

Limits you heard in this call: ______________________________________________

Step 3: Write down what was said

Write the provider's name, the time of the call, and the answer to each question you ticked. Keep this page with your other notes. When the second call happens, you can check whether the same answers come back.

Provider: ____________________ Time of call: ____________________

Answer on routine: ______________________________________________

Answer on limits: ______________________________________________

Signs to walk away

  • The call ends before the routine has been asked about.
  • The provider quotes a schedule before hearing what the day looks like.
  • A promise made on the call cannot be found in writing when you ask for it.
  • The provider cannot say who covers an absence.

If you need a local starting list before you make these calls, the Local Help for Hiring a Caregiver page collects St. Louis resources for the first round of calls.