Written by Mei Ling
Published 16 October 2026 | Last updated -
Who we are: Home Care Apps Team
Quick answer: Ask seven questions before hiring a caregiver or home nurse in Malaysia: registration and APC, exactly what they will do, the full price, cancellation terms, the back-up plan, how changes are reported, and who employs them. Get every answer in writing. Facts checked October 2026.
Key points
- Check a nurse's APC; we found no official register for caregivers.
- Get the scope of work, full price and cancellation terms in writing.
- Ask who covers when the person cannot come.
- Ask who employs them: the provider or you.
What questions should I ask before hiring a caregiver or home nurse?
Ask the same seven questions of every candidate, whether you hire privately or through an agency, and ask for the answers in writing. They work for a registered nurse, a caregiver or a private caregiver you found yourself, and the first question shows which one you are dealing with. Ask by message or email so that there is a record. If you are working out how to hire a private caregiver, these are the questions to ask a private caregiver before any contract. Compare two or three candidates on the same questions, and avoid paying before you have the answers. The table in question 7 compares a provider with a private hire. If you are still deciding between a nurse, a caregiver and a domestic helper, read nurse, caregiver or maid first.
1. Is this a registered nurse with a current APC, or a caregiver?
Ask which one is coming, because a registered nurse and a caregiver are checked in different ways. A registered nurse is on the register kept by the Nursing Board Malaysia, which also issues the Annual Practising Certificate (APC). An APC is valid until 31 December of its year, and practising without one is an offence, with a fine of up to RM1,000, up to six months in prison, or both (Nurses Registration Regulations 1985, regulation 8). So ask to see the current APC and photo ID, and note the numbers. The Board's pages describe no public online look-up, so ask the Nursing Division how to confirm one. A caregiver has no APC, and we found no official register. To check a caregiver's credentials, ask for training certificates, work history and references, and call the references.
2. What exactly will they do, and not do?
Ask for a written scope of work that names every task, the visit length and the days. Bring the doctor's discharge instructions and ask the provider to match each task to them. Then ask what is outside the scope, such as bathing, lifting, housework or night cover, so that nothing is assumed. A clear answer names tasks and limits. A vague answer, such as "we look after everything", is a reason to ask again. Home Care Apps, for example, provides registered nurse visits only, not bathing or mobility help (our home page FAQ). For what a nurse does after discharge, see what a home nurse does after hospital discharge.
3. What is the full price, and what is not included?
Ask for the total in writing, and ask what is extra. Is the price per visit, per hour or per shift? Does it include travel, dressings and other supplies, and tax? Is there a deposit, or a higher rate for evenings, weekends or public holidays? Home Care Apps publishes "from" prices on its home page and states that prices exclude SST (Sales and Service Tax), so ask every provider whether tax is included. If you plan to claim from insurance, ask what paperwork you receive, such as an itemised receipt or a visit report, and ask your insurer what it needs (documents needed to claim). For market prices, see home nurse cost per visit; we do not quote market rates here.
4. What happens if I cancel or change the booking?
Ask for the cancellation and refund terms before you pay. Ask how much notice is needed, what you get back if you cancel late, and what happens if the provider cancels or no one arrives. We did not find an official cancellation rule for private home nursing on the pages we read, so the terms are whatever the two sides agree. Keep a copy of them. Each provider words its terms differently, which is why it helps to ask the same questions of two or three; our guide on how to compare home nursing providers shows how. Ask any provider, including Home Care Apps, for its current booking and cancellation terms before you confirm.
5. What is the plan if the nurse or caregiver cannot come?
Ask who comes instead, how quickly, and how you will be told. Ask whether a replacement nurse also holds a current APC and is checked the same way, and which number to call after hours. If you hire one person directly, there is usually no replacement unless you arrange one, so line up a family member or a second helper first. For long or overnight care, ask whether the provider offers it at all. Rest rules limit how many hours one person can give: the official employer guide for foreign domestic helpers asks for at least eight hours of unbroken sleep and a weekly rest day of at least 24 hours (Ministry of Human Resources guide). See night care for a sick parent.
6. How will changes in my parent's condition be reported?
Ask what the nurse or caregiver does if something looks wrong, whom they call first, and what you receive in writing after each visit. Ask whether the notes can be shared with your parent's doctor, and who else sees them. The Nursing Board's Code of Professional Conduct says "The nurse maintains confidentiality of privileged information" (Code, section 1.1), so a nurse should be able to explain how records are kept. Home Care Apps says it provides a detailed post-visit clinical report that can be submitted for reimbursement claims, and that cover depends on your plan. Whoever you choose, ask to see a sample report before the first visit.
7. Who employs this person: the provider or me?
Ask who the employer is, because it changes who handles pay, insurance and cover when the person is away. PERKESO, the social security agency, says employers must register domestic workers, and its examples include a "caregiver" (PERKESO, page read 16 October 2026); its flyer says "caregiver for the elderly" (PERKESO flyer). If you hire a caregiver directly for your home, that may make you the employer. Whether the same applies to a nurse you hire directly is a legal question, so ask PERKESO or a lawyer.
| Ask about | If a provider sends the person | If you hire directly |
|---|---|---|
| Employer | Ask the provider to state it in writing | You may be the employer |
| Registration and insurance | Ask what the provider covers | PERKESO says employers must register domestic workers |
| Credential checks | Ask how it checks, and see the proof | You check the APC, ID and references |
| Cover when absent | Ask the provider | You arrange it |
What to do next
- Copy the seven questions and send them before you book.
- Ask to see a nurse's current APC and photo ID.
- Get the scope of work, price and cancellation terms in writing.
- Start with one visit if the provider allows it.
- Compare two or three providers on the same questions.
FAQ
What should I check before hiring a caregiver for my parents?
Check identity, training, experience and references, and put tasks, hours and pay in writing. A caregiver has no official register that we found, so references matter. For a foreign helper, the Immigration Department says the helper may work only for the employer and at the address on the work permit (Immigration Department).
How do I check a nurse's APC in Malaysia?
Ask to see the current APC and photo ID. The Nursing Board's pages describe no public online look-up, and the contact page lists APC enquiry numbers for the Nursing Division. Ask the Division how it confirms a nurse's status.
Should I use an agency or hire privately?
Both can work, so compare them on the seven questions. A provider may handle checks and cover, but ask who employs the person. If you hire privately, you may be the employer, and PERKESO says employers must register domestic workers (PERKESO).
Can I start with one trial visit?
Ask each provider for its minimum booking and cancellation terms before you pay. A single visit lets you see punctuality, skill and how the report is written. Home Care Apps arranges visits by enquiry, so ask us for the current terms.
How we can help
Home Care Apps arranges registered nurse home visits across Peninsular Malaysia, subject to nurse availability in your area. We verify each nurse's APC before approval and track its expiry, and we do not provide caregivers. Send your seven questions with an enquiry, ask for our current booking and cancellation terms, or see our services.
Sources
- Nursing Board Malaysia (Ministry of Health Nursing Division), Registration and APC page, last updated 23 July 2026. Link, page read 16 October 2026.
- Nursing Board Malaysia, Contact Us, last updated 23 July 2026. Link, page read 16 October 2026.
- Nursing Board Malaysia, Nurses Registration Regulations 1985, as posted on the Board's site. PDF. Regulation 8.
- Nursing Board Malaysia, Code of Professional Conduct for Nurses, First Edition, April 1998. PDF. Section 1.1.
- PERKESO, Domestic Workers, copyright 2023. Link, page read 16 October 2026. Also the PERKESO Domestic Worker flyer (undated). PDF, read 16 October 2026.
- Immigration Department of Malaysia, Pembantu Rumah Asing (foreign domestic helper), page read 16 October 2026 (no publication date; copyright 2021). Link.
- Ministry of Human Resources with the ILO, Garis Panduan dan Tip untuk Majikan Pekhidmat Domestik Asing (employer guide), copyright 2017. PDF. Page 13 ("Langkah 1") and section 2.2.3 (page 22).
- Home Care Apps, home page ("from" prices excluding SST; FAQ on registered nurses), page read 16 October 2026. Link.
Note
This is general information, not medical, financial or legal advice, and Home Care Apps is a home nursing provider, not an insurer, takaful operator or insurance agent.