Caregiver Hiring Package Checklist & Templates

An 8-page caregiver hiring package with interview questions, reference checks, interviewer notes, an employee agreement, and work-schedule forms.

Hiring a caregiver directly involves more than choosing someone who seems like a good fit. This eight-page caregiver hiring package helps families organize interviews, compare applicants, verify references and put basic work expectations in writing. It is a planning aid, not a substitute for legal, tax or professional screening advice.

What’s in the caregiver hiring package?

The downloadable PDF includes:

  • a must-have and must-not-have criteria worksheet;
  • an applicant questionnaire covering experience, training, availability, transportation and references;
  • interviewer notes for comparing candidates consistently;
  • a caregiver reference-verification worksheet;
  • a sample employee agreement with pay, schedule and duty sections; and
  • space to record household tasks, personal-care duties, emergency contacts and communication expectations.

The forms are starting points. Adapt them to the care recipient’s needs and to the rules that apply where the work will take place.

A safer caregiver hiring sequence

  1. Define the role. List the schedule, essential duties, required experience, transportation needs and any training that is genuinely necessary for the work.
  2. Use the same core interview questions. A consistent process makes it easier to compare answers while keeping questions focused on the job.
  3. Verify references. Ask former employers or families about the applicant’s actual duties, reliability and whether they would rehire the person. Confirm identity and credentials through appropriate official sources when relevant.
  4. Handle background reports lawfully. If a third-party company supplies a background report, federal notice, written-permission and adverse-action requirements may apply. State and local rules can add requirements.
  5. Write down the working terms. Record pay, hours, duties, supervision, recordkeeping, time off, confidentiality expectations and how either party may end the arrangement. Have a qualified professional review any agreement intended to be legally binding.

Employment, tax and screening boundaries

A family that hires a worker directly may have household-employer responsibilities depending on the facts. Review the IRS Household Employer’s Tax Guide and current U.S. Department of Labor guidance for live-in domestic service workers, then check the labor, tax, licensing and insurance rules in your state or locality.

Interview and screening decisions must also follow applicable anti-discrimination law. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s hiring guidance explains prohibited employment practices, while its background-check guidance summarizes federal rules for employers that obtain reports from a screening company. Requirements vary by situation and jurisdiction, so get advice from the relevant agency or a qualified attorney, tax professional or employment specialist when the stakes are high.

Access the printable package

Subscriber access: Sign up or sign in below to download the 195 KB caregiver hiring package PDF. The file contains eight printable pages. Review and customize the forms before using them; the included agreement is described as a guide and is not presented as a legally binding contract.

Official-source links reviewed August 11, 2026. This page provides general educational information, not individualized legal or tax advice.