Find the right caregiver

Background checks, explained simply

A background check is inexpensive peace of mind when you're bringing someone into your loved one's home. Here's what it covers, what it can't tell you, and how to use it fairly.

What a good check includes

• Identity verification, confirming they are who they say.
• A national criminal database search.
• A sex-offender registry search.
• County court records where they've lived, the most reliable source, since serious records live at the county level.
• A driving record, if they'll be driving your loved one.

A check should be renewed periodically (yearly is common), because a one-time check only reflects that moment in time.

Consent and fair use

Two things to know so you handle this properly:

• Consent is required. You need the caregiver's written permission before running a check.
• If results affect your decision, fair-use rules (the federal FCRA) generally require certain steps, like telling the person and giving them a chance to respond, before you decline based on what a report shows. A reputable screening service guides you through this.

Also fair to remember: an old, minor, or unrelated record isn't automatically a reason to say no. Look at what genuinely affects safety and trust.

How it works on HomeTogether Hire

Caregivers marked with a ✓ background-checked badge have completed identity verification and criminal, sex-offender, and county record searches, renewed each year they're active. For your loved one's privacy and the caregiver's, families see the result (checked or not), not the raw report. And because no check is a guarantee, a real person from our team stays involved from first match to first visit.

This is general information, not legal advice. Background-check laws and fair-use requirements vary, when in doubt, use a reputable screening service or consult a professional.