A Little Advance Preparation Makes a Big Difference
As a family caregiver, you’re already stretched thin, and you’re often busy with your own responsibilities while ensuring your loved one has everything they need. It may seem overwhelming to think about arranging your loved one’s home on top of all you’re already doing to secure caregiving services.
However, if your goal is to help your loved one maintain their independence at home, and you want to feel at ease about relying on a caregiver, consider these simple steps to set their home up for care.
Start With a Walk-Through of Your Loved One’s Home
The National Institute on Aging (NIA) states that the best time to think about how to age in place is before care needs become too great. Thinking early about how to prepare the home gives you the opportunity to set up the living space in a way that lays the right foundation for caregiving.
AARP notes that planning needs to account for both immediate needs and future challenges. When a senior caregiver service team member steps into your loved one’s home, you want them to find an environment that is already prepped, so that services are primarily focused on compassionate care as opposed to troubleshooting logistics.
One of the most practical things you can do before caregiver services begin is to take a room-by-room walk through your loved one’s home. Stay focused on looking for the areas that could potentially cause challenges when you’re not around to solve them.
The NIA recommends this exact approach. Look for things like trip and slip hazards, areas of the home that are dark, bathrooms without safety supports, or walkways that are difficult to get through.
AARP also suggests that an aging-in-place specialist can even help you spot what you might miss, and their input is worth far more than trying to address issues after a fall or a close call. Your chosen caregiver agency may be able to provide similar advice.
Many home setup issues are fixable. You can remove slippery rugs, rearrange furniture, or add lighting and safety features. When your loved one’s home is prepped with safety in mind, you’ll feel comfortable during the times when they are with their caregiver or even alone.
Building an Information Packet For Your Caregiver Service Team
Your caregiver will do their best work when they have all the information they need at their disposal. Before services begin, take time to gather key information in one place. Your goal is to create a practical reference guide that your caregiver can find and use quickly.
That guide should include these items:
- Emergency contacts with phone numbers and their relationship to your loved one.
- Medical providers, including their primary care physician, specialists, dentist, and any others involved in ongoing care.
- A current medication list with dosages and timing.
- Your loved one’s daily routine and personal preferences, such as the time they wake, how they like their meals, what they need help with, and what they prefer to do independently.
AARP points out that a written record ensures that everyone on your in-home caregiver services team is working from the same reference point. When this information is documented, your caregiver does not have to rely on memory or reconcile conflicting guidance from different family members.
For families supporting a loved one with memory loss, a written daily routine is especially valuable. Consistency is essential for dementia care. Knowing what to expect can reduce confusion and help your loved one feel more settled and comfortable when receiving in-home caregiver services.
Handling Logistics When Your Loved One Needs Caregiver Services
Although the following items may take some time, they lay the foundation for what a caregiver is there to do: focus on caring for your loved one.
- Set up a simple system for household expenses, such as a petty cash envelope with a request for receipts, or a separate account for day-to-day needs.
- Designate a consistent place for mail and important documents so nothing gets misplaced.
- If your caregiver plans to drive your loved one’s car for appointments, speak to your loved one’s auto insurance company to check if their coverage includes other drivers.
Establish Clear, Honest Communication With Your Caregiver Service Team
All good relationships start with clear, specific expectations. Before your caregiver’s first full day, go over the care instructions you’ve made available.
You’ve likely already discussed these items with the caregiver agency, but it is helpful to communicate which tasks need to happen, when, how you prefer things done, and how you prefer to communicate updates and changes.
This simple conversation confirms that you’re on the same page with your team for caregiver services near you.
Allow Your Loved One and Their Caregiver To Develop a Relationship
All the preparation you do in advance, from the safety walk to setting clear expectations, is all in service of one goal: helping build a real relationship between your loved one and the person caring for them.
You’ll find that your loved one will thrive when trust is established between them and their caregiver. This starts with finding a caregiver whose approach aligns with your family’s and loved one’s values.
Research caregiver services near you to find a caregiver who is genuinely concerned with your loved one’s well-being and wants to get to know them better. Knowing that your caregiver is engaged with your loved one will put you at ease right away.
Be Patient About the Adjustment Period
Even when you, your family, and your loved one have been waiting for more support from a caregiver, a new person in the home is an adjustment. No matter how welcome additional help may be, your family is in a new phase of life.
Everyone deserves space to have their feelings in the first days of care. Your loved one may be feeling complicated emotions, and so might you or other family members. Let everyone adjust on their own time.
Our caregiver services for senior patients, adults of all ages, and even children, are dedicated to offering you an experience where your loved one is treated like family. Our caregivers know how to guide your loved one and family through this adjustment period, simply by being present, attuned, and thoughtful. Our goal is to help you achieve a much-needed New Beginning.
Contact Phoenix Home Care & Hospice For Caregiving Services
Phoenix offers a wide variety of caregiver services, including elder care, depending on your loved one’s needs. We’re happy to help determine your eligibility for options like Medicaid-based care and private duty care.
We have a solution that can help your loved one at home. You just have to call to learn more.
Contact Phoenix today to find caregiver services near you.
