How to hire an elder

How to hire an elder, step by step

Here's a step-by-step elder hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an elder job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new elder
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your elder job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find an elder for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An elder's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, elders from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of elders.

   Type of Elder	Description	Hourly rate
   Elder		$11-20
   Home Care Attendant	A home care attendant is a health care worker whose primary job is to provide care and assistance to the elderly and people with disabilities. Your day-to-day duties will include monitoring and recording the condition of patients, performing housekeeping and laundry, and providing personal care services such as dressing and bathing... Show more	$8-18
   Hospice Chaplain	A Hospice Chaplain provides care and comfort to patients nearing the end of life because of terminal illnesses. They collaborate with the community and the care team to ensure that care is in accord with the patient's faith.	$16-36

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Vital Signs
   • Blood Pressure
   • Caregiver
   • Home Maintenance
   • Meal Preparation
   • Social Work
   • Companionship
   • Care Plan
   • Community Resources
   • Senior Care
   • Doctor Appointments
   • Physical Therapy
   • Medical Appointments
   • Mental Health

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Work on achieving goals with child base on yearly ISP reports.
   • Be able to assist clients with ADL's, such as bathing and grooming.
   • Fill in as substitute caregiver for other assignments.
   • Administer medications, assist with meals, laundry, mobility and ADL'S.
   • Assist father with Alzheimer care needs, social activities and day to day routines.
   • Serve congregation as a small group leader, usher, and children's ministry volunteer.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your elder job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An elder can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, elders' average salary in mississippi is 53% less than in maine.
   • Seniority. Entry-level elders 43% less than senior-level elders.
   • Certifications. An elder with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an elder's salary.

   Average elder salary

   $15.48hourly

   $32,205 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level elder salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

4. Writing an elder job description

   An elder job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of an elder job description:

   Elder job description example

   Job DescriptionResponsible for assisting in the care of the client in the home by providing personal care and performing light housekeeping services when no significant other is available to assume this responsibility.
   
   Light housekeeping including mopping and vacuuming, bed making and changing lines, dusting, dish washing, bathroom cleaning, kitchen cleaning
   Laundry Meal preparation and serving Food shopping/bring receipt to client Performing errands Trash and garbage removal Escorts to medical appointments and companionship Provides personal care including showers, baths, hair washing and care, grooming, dressing, oral care and nail care in non-diabetics with nail clippers Assists with ambulating Completes documentation daily at time of visit. Obtains client signature as confirmation of work completion. Submits and reconciles encounters weekly with time care to validate hours worked Reports significant health data to supervisor Uses computer systems to retrieve and relay communications, schedules and data Participates in monthly in-service Attends staff meetings Ensures attendance at six hours of PCHM-applicable trainings either within or outside organization and produces evidence of attendance at annual evaluation Contacts clients the day before to confirm visit schedule Notifies supervisor immediately if client not home, does not answer door, changes schedule or refuses services Contacts clients about changes in schedule related to planned and unplanned time off and schedule changes Participates in quarterly conferences with contract case manager Orients new PCHM staff as requested Collaborating with peers for time off coverage Assumes any and all other tasks as delegated by supervisor or department head
   
   Qualifications
   Successful completion of a DPH-approved certified home health aid training program, English literacy, and ability to take oral and written instructions, ability to record observations and activities.
   
   Must have manual dexterity to use available technology, ability to take oral and written instruction, good communication skills.
   
   EEO Statement
   Massachusetts General Hospital is an Equal Opportunity Employer. By embracing diverse skills, perspectives and ideas, we choose to lead. Applications from protected veterans and individuals with disabilities are strongly encouraged. Partner's Healthcare is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right elder for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with elders they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit elders who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your elder job on Zippia to find and recruit elder candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit elders, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new elder

   Once you've decided on a perfect elder candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new elder. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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