Making the Transition to In-Home Care: A Guide for Families
Starting the journey of in-home care is a big step for seniors and their concerned loved ones. If you have already done your research and chosen in-home care as your preferred solution for long-term care, the next question is, what now?
Whether you select Visiting Angels Rockford as your loved one’s in-home support partner or rely on family caregivers, we will guide you along the next phase as you prepare your loved one for setting up and beginning in-home caregiving services.
Ways to Prepare for In-Home Care Support
While prepping for your elderly family member to begin home care can feel a bit overwhelming, the following advice will help make the experience smoother for everyone involved, including you!
Have a Family Meeting to Address Key Topics
You, your loved one, and anyone closely involved with caring for them should meet to discuss everyone’s roles and responsibilities regarding the new care plan. Have an open discussion that includes questions and topics such as:
- If no person with a power of attorney is designated, who will be the family's point of contact?
- What level of involvement can each person provide?
- Does anyone have any boundaries or “hard no’s” regarding what they can provide?
- Will assigned roles be fixed or rotated?
- How will communication updates be communicated to family and friends when needed?
- Are outside resources available to help?
While these suggestions are only a sample of what your family might discuss, determining your loved one’s care needs is crucial to this discussion.
Define Your Loved One’s Needs
A focused discussion addressing your loved one’s needs and preferences is necessary. This should define:
- What specific tasks your loved one needs help with (personal care, meal preparation, household chores, mobility, medication reminders, etc.)
- Medical conditions your loved one has, if any (chronic conditions like diabetes or Alzheimer’s, stroke recovery, etc.)
- Safety concerns (fall prevention, wandering prevention, mobility challenges, etc.)
- Are there gaps in care between what your loved one needs and what your family will assist with?
Related Reading: If you find a gap where you will need the assistance of a professional care provider, we have a past article that can help: Senior Care Provider in Rockford: Questions to Ask When Choosing Care.
In addition to this information, it’s really important to note other needs, like your loved one’s favorite meals, TV shows, routines, medication schedules, hobbies, and more. These small details are crucial for keeping a senior healthy and emotionally comfortable.
Gather Important Info
Everyone should prioritize gathering relevant information about themselves and their household as they age. Create a folder or binder that contains emergency contacts, a medication list, a copy of insurance cards and IDs, the wifi password, any important account logins or tech instructions, and any other info pertinent to your family.
Prepare a Safe and Comfortable Space
Now is the time to make safety upgrades in and around your loved one’s home. Take the time to inspect their space and make sure it’s safe. Clear walkways of potential tripping hazards, install bright lighting in stairwells, and add grab bars in appropriate areas, like the bathroom. If a caregiver will be regularly visiting the home, consider having a designated area where they can store their belongings, especially if they’ll be staying more often or overnight. Keep frequently used items readily available to them to minimize any confusion. Additionally, be sure to offer a close parking space that’s easy for both the caregiver and the senior to access.
Related Resource: Our Safe and Steady Fall Prevention Resource Guide has a ton of helpful information on recognizing potential safety risks at home and recommendations for making a senior’s home safer.
Visiting Angels Can Help Families Prep for In-Home Support
At Visiting Angels, our goal is to make the transition to in-home support easy for families in Rockford and the surrounding communities. If your family decides that you could benefit from a professional in-home caregiver, we will go through all of the above steps with you! We begin with a free, in-home consultation. At this first meeting, we’ll discuss your loved one’s needs, answer their questions, and ease any concerns they may have about home care. We dive deep into discovering how we can help not only our senior clients but also their families. Whether your family wants help only a few times a month, or full-time assistance, we will tailor-make a care plan that works best for everyone.
To learn more about our flexible home care services or schedule a consultation, simply fill out our online contact form or call us at 815-977-3452.