How to Prepare Your Parent’s Home for an In-Home Caregiver

Making the decision to bring a professional caregiver into your loved one's home can be emotionally challenging, but also necessary to provide the support they need. In-home caregivers can be a massive benefit to the entire family, offering the assistance you need to avoid caregiver burnout.

Once you have decided to hire a professional caregiver, it can take time to get used to each other, especially as your loved one transitions into their new routine. With the steps on this list, you can start off on the right foot with a new caregiver for your loved one.

Outline your expectations and any necessary logistics

Professional caregivers are trained for their job, but they don't arrive knowing the particulars of your loved one's routine. Consider everything they need to know and what systems might help both you and caregiver stay aligned.

Think of expectations around the home, like collecting the mail and leaving it in a designated place, where to place notes for reminders of medication times, how to communicate dietary requirements, medical appointments, or whether a caregiver should have access to a family car, which means they could need insurance coverage.

Consider and communicate what needs to be done around the home and be open to changing direction if a routine needs adjustment. Especially in the early days of working with an in-home caregiver, communication should stay open and honest to make sure everyone receives the support they need.

Create a file for important caregiving information

As part of this process, ask your loved one about their care preferences ahead of time. You know the needs of your loved one best, but talking through everything can help to reveal the small details that make a senior feel more comfortable and heard. With these conversations, in-home caregivers can also understand the specifics about what the senior prefers to do independently versus where they need support. There may also be other household expectations from a senior that a family caretaker hasn't considered.

A professional caretaker will also need specific information to provide any medical support on a daily or ongoing basis. For example:

• Emergency information and contact information
• Information about any healthcare needs, conditions, or mobility limitations
• Contact details for any relevant doctors and specialists
• How to access the house or other locked areas
• Information about routines, dietary requirements or restrictions, and medications, including dosages

Your loved one should feel free to communicate with their caregiver, and should be an active participant in these conversations whenever possible.

Set the home up for success

Ahead of a professional caretaker's arrival, it can be helpful to go room-to-room and set up for them. This can include removing tripping hazards, ensuring pads and medical devices are easy to find, that mobility aids are all accessible, and that the caregiver has their own space to store their belongings.

If they're working a longer or late-night shift, they should also have a space to rest if it is safe and appropriate for them to do so. If a professional caretaker has a safety recommendation after walking through the home, this can also be taken into consideration.

Store sentimental items privately

Having an in-home caretaker can feel vulnerable, especially when your loved one is used to family caregivers instead of professionals. Speak to your loved one about any sentimental items they would prefer to store safely out of sight. Items like a favorite mug or a hand-made quilt should be treated with care, but many seniors may prefer them to be stored away for peace of mind. These items can be removed and kept in a special room or area, so a professional caretaker doesn't accidentally interfere with anything meaningful to a senior.

For the security of the home and family, ensure that the agency the in-home caregiver is working with is bonded and insured, with a good reputation and reliable reviews.

Take time for self-care

While hiring a professional caregiver can alleviate stress, there is still a transitional period. It's important to be patient with the new caregiver, and with your aging loved one as they adjust to the new person in their life and environment. As a family caregiver, it's also essential to be patient with yourself. This is a new dynamic of no longer being the sole caregiver for your loved one and can be an emotionally charged time. It's important to remind yourself that asking for support is a sign you want the best for your loved one, and professional caregivers are best placed to meet changing care needs.

It can help to take space for self-care and reflection before the professional caregiver arrives, preparing mentally for all of these changes. Remember, enlisting professional care does not diminish your role—it is simply welcoming in another form of support for a loved one at home.

What to expect on the first day of in-home care

Here are some things that family caregivers and seniors can do on the first day of in-home care to introduce the new caregiver to the household:

• Start the day with a walk-through of your loved one's home, so the professional caregiver can get familiar with the environment
• This is a good time to outline any safety considerations or possible problem areas in the home, like a tiled bathroom floor that may be a fall risk when wet
• Observe the caregiver and how they interact with your family member, which should help you gauge whether their communication styles are compatible
• Review any important information or documentation that was done in the preparation stages
• Offer an overview of the senior's routines, habits, and care preferences

This is a time when both the family and the caregiver should be free to ask any questions they need to feel comfortable and supported. As you get to know one another, adjustments will undoubtedly need to be made. Even with the most experienced caregivers, these changes can be expected and are a valuable part of receiving personalized in-home care for a loved one.

Throughout the process, maintain open communication with your loved one to ensure that this caregiver is the right fit for them.

Discover in-home care with Comfort Keepers^®

Enlisting the help of a professional caregiver can be an emotional time, but it is often a crucial step in making sure aging parents have the support they need to live and thrive in their own home.

At Comfort Keepers^®, we provide personalized home care for seniors. Our care plans reflect your loved one's routines, preferences and current abilities, adapting our support as care needs change. From post-hospital support to companion care, our caregivers help with daily activities like meals and transport and aim to create daily moments of joy that lift a person's spirit. Reach out to a local Comfort Keepers team to see what options might be the right fit for your family.