Your grandmother’s caregiver could be a criminal! That’s according to a bombshell study, which found that a lot of agencies that hire caregivers are randomly placing unscreened candidates with seniors in need, and jeopardizing their lives.

Northwestern University researchers interviewed over 100 agencies across North America, pretending they needed a caregiver and asking questions about their hiring, training and competency practices.

The result? Nearly half of the agencies didn’t conduct background checks or require candidates to have any training. And even more shocking, the study found that a lot of agencies fudge caregivers’ resumes and qualifications so they’re more likely to be hired.

And that’s extremely risky. For example, we read about one caregiver who couldn’t read or write and she mixed up her own medications with those for the 103-year-old she was supposed to take care of, sending her to the hospital.

And in another caregiver horror story, an elderly woman developed bed sores because her caregiver didn’t take her out of bed for several weeks.

So, how can this be legal? Experts explain that there aren’t any nationwide caregiver regulations, which means that practically anyone, even a criminal, can apply to be a caregiver. And because most agencies don’t screen candidates, they’re likely to be hired and placed with seniors.

So, how can you make sure you hire a legit caregiver? Experts say the best thing to do is get agency recommendations from family and friends. Then, meet with an agency worker and ask questions like, “How do you recruit?,” “Are your workers insured or bonded?,” And “What type of training do caregivers receive?” That’ll help you vet out bogus agencies.