Finding care for my husband part-time but for this to happen I need to sign a Waiver of Liability from County Office of Aging?

Yes, the county asks for a waiver because people are sue-happy.

Let me add to Pams comments - yes Pam is right in that it is because you have a litigation culture in the USA and in the UK ours is fast becoming one (where theres blame there's a claim sort of thing) The organisations involved in background checks have access to specific national (possibly in the USA State and federal - never was sure of the difference but I am a Brit) databanks they can interrogate. If the person you want to hire has been in the system for any criminal activity it will show up. HOWEVER and this is where the waiver comes in there can be problems that have not been recorded. Let me give you an example.

Put yourself in the same situation as you are now but lets go back 40 years

Theo Cowell comes to you and says Hi I would like to be a carer for you. I was born in Vermont and my grandparents brought me up in Philly - I have always lived around older people and feel much more comfortable with them, always have. I went to Uni in Washington to study Chinese and my main hobby before an accident on the slopes was snowskiing these days I prefer to read mostly law as it has always been a subject close to my heart.

I used to work in a suicide centre as a counsellor so I am familiar with how to deal with the stresses of everyday life and I graduated from law school in Utah but really always retained the desire to work with older people.

Sound too good to be true?

If you employed this man you would just have employed Ted Bundy. His criminal record for stealing skis and snow slope tickets was expunged in 18 as per state law (so that wont be on the system) and his record shows as clean.

Now noone could have known what this man was going to do but if you hadnt signed a waiver you could potentially have sued.

No checks are perfect - NONE - in the UK a doctor - doctor Shipman had administered lethal doses of diamorphine, signed patients' death certificates, and then falsified medical records to indicate that they had been in poor health - 15 times!
All you can do is the best you can so criminal record check, take up references and also phone them, never rely on just being given an email address or a tel no for a reference and check the address out dont be fooled by being given all three that this person has bona fide references. It can pay to ask the referees if they checked the references out and the main question you need to corroborate is why they left and they wont tell you that in writing. If they have been a carer before find out which doctors they have worked with. Anyone who has only ever done palliative care will have employers who by the very nature of the work are likely to be dead. Remember Criminal checks only check CRIMINALS THAT HAVE BEEN CAUGHT. From a personal perspective I would use an agency, make sure I have continuity of care not a revolving door of dozens of different carers, I would want at least 3 references and I would want to do those checks myself or engage an independent to do them. I would read widely and ask about financial support, additional costs and I wouldstart making a very long list of what I do want and more importantly WHAT I DONT . Do be resonable - carers dont usually work 7 days a week and you will need to cover weekends/holidays etc. I do hope that explains it all a bit more to you xxx good luck

Good point--background checks only list those who have already been caught, not those who have done crimes (and not yet caught), nor those who have criminal tendencies....just waiting for their prime opportunity (a vulnerable adult, such as Your Mom). I never thought of background checks in that light. It is so true. I wouldn't want to be the criminal 's first victim.

Here office of aging has their own aides. Upon hiring them a background check has to be done. They will be government employees. Like what was said, they r covering their tails.

Hi Joyce. I have had part time help for 7 years. I use care (dot)com. It costs me but they find the people ad do the background checks. I have them sign a contract once i hire them as a contractor and send them a 1099 at years end. Agencies cost 2x as much and you usually get poor desperate caregivers who cannot do anything else. I dodged 3 bullets of agency girls who later were found out to steal. I weeded through and picked the best. I found retired or people who've children have grown to be best. Go with your gut instincts when you try people out. You can also get nanny cams if you want, i have them also.even if they are fake the caregivers won't mind if they are honest people. keep good records, all receipts , time sheets, and good luck to you!

Thank you all, You have given me some information i will definitely use. the Care website sounds really promising.

They keep deleting the site on here. I dont know why as we are supposed to help eachother.
Care. quick write it down lol

Or, if you have the resources, hire a private eye to investigate your applicant.