October 8, 2014

Hiring In-Home Help

Most family caregivers reach a point when they realize they need help at home. Tell-tale signs include recognizing that your loved one requires constant supervision or assistance with everyday activities. Caregivers also find that certain housekeeping routines and regular errands are accomplished with great difficulty or are left undone. It may become apparent that in order to take care of any business outside the home, more than one caregiver is required.

A number of options are available for finding help at home. It is best to start by assessing both your needs as a caregiver and the needs of the person for which you are caring. There are many things to think about that will help you evaluate what types of help are needed. For example, review the following items and think about what type of help you need:

  • Personal care, such as bathing, eating, dressing and toileting.
  • Household care, such as cooking, cleaning, laundry and shopping.
  • Health care, such as medication management, physician appointments and physical therapy.
  • Emotional care, such as companionship, meaningful activities and conversation.

For more information on hiring in-home help and additional resources, visit AuthoraCare’s caregiver support page.