Starting Home Care Checklist for Safe and Stress-Free Support
Ensure peace of mind and better routines with our expert tips for in-home dementia care and starting home care for aging loved ones.
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Tendly Home Key Takeaways
Starting home care for a loved one can be overwhelming—here’s a quick checklist to ensure safety, comfort, and confidence from day one:
- 🏡 Create a supportive environment: Simplify the home layout, reduce clutter, and improve lighting to make everyday navigation easier and safer for seniors with mobility or memory challenges.
- 👩⚕️ Choose the right caregiver: Match professional experience with your loved one’s specific needs, such as dementia care or mobility support, to foster trust and effective daily routines.
- 📋 Establish a solid care plan: Collaborate with healthcare providers and home care staff to ensure clear goals, medication schedules, and contingencies are consistently followed.
- 🧠 Support cognitive and emotional health: Engage your loved one in familiar activities and conversations, promoting mental stimulation and emotional well-being as part of the care routine.
- 🤝 Open communication with everyone involved: Keep regular check-ins with caregivers, doctors, and family members to adapt care plans and quickly address any issues or changes in health.
Providing care for a loved one—especially when they can no longer safely manage on their own—is one of the most meaningful and emotional decisions a family can make. Whether you're preparing to care for an elderly parent, a family member recovering from surgery, or someone with a chronic illness, starting home care comes with both enormous responsibility and powerful rewards. It’s a journey filled with compassion, learning curves, and daily victories both big and small. But where do you begin?
With so many options and decisions involved, starting the process can feel overwhelming. That’s why having a clear, actionable home care checklist is crucial—it ensures nothing slips through the cracks, reduces stress, and helps your loved one transition smoothly into receiving personalized, comfortable care at home. Here’s your comprehensive guide to starting home care the right way.
Assessing Needs: Understanding What Kind of Home Care Is Required
Before hiring a caregiver or purchasing medical equipment, the very first step is understanding your loved one’s unique care needs. Home care isn't one-size-fits-all. The type, frequency, and complexity of the support they require will shape every decision moving forward.
Start with a personal needs assessment, which can be done informally at first by observing your loved one and, if possible, discussing their preferences and concerns. Are they struggling with everyday tasks like bathing, dressing, or remembering medications? Are they recovering from an injury or managing a chronic condition like dementia, diabetes, or Parkinson’s? Document these observations.
For a more structured approach, you may need a professional assessment. Geriatric care managers, occupational therapists, or primary care physicians can perform evaluations to determine physical, cognitive, and emotional capabilities. They can also help forecast how needs may change over time.
Consider categories like:
- Activities of daily living (ADLs): These include dressing, bathing, toileting, eating, and mobility.
- Instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs): More complex tasks like shopping, managing finances, cooking, or handling medications.
- Behavioral and emotional needs: Assess for signs of mood changes, isolation, or confusion.
- Medical needs: Chronic illnesses or physical limitations that require ongoing treatment or equipment.
Understanding these details will guide you in deciding whether your loved one needs basic companion care, skilled nursing care, part-time or full-time help, or specialized services like memory care.
This stage is also the right time to involve your loved one in open, empathetic conversations. Affirm that your priority is their safety, comfort, and independence. When families include them in decision-making early, it increases trust and reduces resistance to help later on.
Planning and Budgeting: Making Home Care Work Logistically and Financially
Once you know what kind of care is needed, the next step is focusing on logistics—and for many families, this is where the real challenge begins. Planning and budgeting for home care involves weighing what’s needed against what’s realistically affordable. But with research and the right tools, it’s absolutely manageable.
Start by researching the cost of different types of home care. In-home support services vary widely in pricing, from $20–$40 per hour for basic home health aides to higher costs for medical professionals like RNs. According to Genworth’s Cost of Care Survey, the national median cost for a home health aide is around $5,000 per month.
Determine how many hours per week of care you might need, then multiply by the average regional rate to estimate monthly and annual costs. Don’t forget to factor in one-time expenses like home modifications (i.e., grab bars, stairlifts), medical equipment (hospital beds, oxygen), and transportation.
Next, build a funding plan. Look into:
- Medicare and Medicaid: These may cover certain medically necessary in-home care services, depending on eligibility.
- Long-term care insurance: If your loved one has a policy, review the fine print for covered services.
- Veterans benefits: Programs like Aid & Attendance may offer financial help to qualifying veterans and their spouses.
- Out-of-pocket/savings: For uncovered services, this will be a primary funding source.
- Tax deductions: Some in-home services or medical expenses may be tax-deductible.
Finally, create a written care plan. This living document should detail the types of care needed, a schedule, who will provide each service, and contingency plans for emergencies or caregiver absences. Including a calendar of appointments, medication tracking tools, and emergency contact info can be especially helpful for both professionals and family caregivers.
Remember, planning isn’t a one-time task—it’s ongoing. Reassess both care needs and finances every few months, or after major events like hospitalization or a change in health.
Hiring the Right Support: Choosing Between Agencies, Freelancers, and Family
With the type of care and finances mapped out, it’s time to find reliable, compassionate caregivers. It’s not just about hiring someone—it’s about bringing a trusted individual into your home and entrusting them with someone you love. Choosing the right support can make all the difference in the quality of care and peace of mind.
You have several options:
1. Home Care Agencies
These are professional companies that hire, train, and dispatch caregivers. They handle background checks, liability insurance, worker's comp, and replacement workers if someone calls out. Agencies can also provide higher levels of care, like licensed nurses or therapists, for more complex health needs.
Benefits: convenience, reliability, compliance with health and labor laws.
Considerations: often higher hourly rates, less personalized caregiver matching.
2. Independent Caregivers (Freelance)
These caregivers work directly with you, without a middleman. They may include certified nursing assistants (CNAs), home health aides (HHAs), or experienced companions.
Benefits: lower rates, potential for more flexible and personalized care.
Considerations: you’re responsible for hiring, vetting, scheduling, payroll, and any legal issues.
3. Family and Friends
Sometimes, loved ones band together to provide care, either part-time or full-time, especially in the early stages. If informal, this can save money and feel emotionally reassuring.
Benefits: trust, emotional support, familiarity.
Considerations: caregiver burnout, strained relationships, gaps in skill or availability.
Regardless of the path you choose, due diligence is key. Conduct interviews, request references, and run background checks. Look for red flags like vague timelines, a lack of certifications, or poor communication.
Ask candidates specific questions:
"How do you handle emergencies?"
"What experience do you have with Alzheimer's or mobility issues?"
"Can you describe a time you dealt with a difficult client situation and how you resolved it?"
Also, establish clear boundaries and expectations. Draft a simple caregiver agreement that outlines duties, hours, pay, and confidentiality policies. Even for family members, a little structure can go a long way.
Ultimately, the goal isn’t just hiring someone who’s capable—it’s finding someone who’s compassionate, trustworthy, and aligned with your family's values.
Setting Up the Home Environment: Creating a Safe and Comfortable Space
Making your home safe, accessible, and welcoming for your loved one is the final step before home care officially begins. This isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about preventing falls, reducing confusion, and improving quality of life.
Start by walking through every room and identifying potential trouble spots. Falls are the leading cause of injury among older adults, so remove clutter, secure area rugs, and ensure there’s adequate lighting throughout the house—including night lights in bathrooms and hallways. Install grab bars in showers and next to toilets, and consider non-slip mats on floors.
For those with mobility issues, evaluate the need for ramps, stairlifts, or wider doorways. Clear pathways make it easier to navigate with walkers or wheelchairs. Adjust frequently used items to be within reachable height to reduce the need for bending or climbing.
In the bedroom, consider hospital beds or adjustable beds for comfort and easier transfers. In the kitchen, use appliances with easy-to-read controls and automatic shut-off functions. Label items clearly, especially if your loved one has cognitive impairments.
Safety technology can also be a game-changer. Medical alert systems, video doorbells, medication dispensers with alarms, and remote monitoring devices help family members stay informed and prepared.
Organization goes a long way, too. Create a central care binder or digital folder that includes:
- Medication lists and schedules
- Emergency contact information
- Doctor appointments and notes
- Insurance cards and health documents
Finally, don’t forget the emotional side of things. Comfort is about more than function. Include personal touches in your loved one’s room—family photos, favorite blankets, music, books. These items can provide an essential sense of calm and familiarity, especially for those with memory conditions like dementia.
Remember, creating this environment isn’t a one-time project—it’s an evolving space that should grow with your loved one’s needs. Stay flexible, observe daily patterns, and don’t hesitate to make adjustments as necessary.
Moving Forward with Confidence and Compassion
Starting home care is a big step—but you don’t have to do it alone or blindly. With preparation, communication, and a detailed checklist guiding your every move, you can create a care experience that’s not just effective, but also loving and respectful.
From assessing needs and finances to building the right care team and preparing the home, each element of this process plays a crucial role in your loved one’s well-being. Every decision you make is an investment in their comfort, safety, and dignity—and your own peace of mind.
Home care works best when it’s a mix of heart and strategy. So take your time, trust your instincts, and remember: the goal isn’t perfection—it’s presence. By showing up with thoughtfulness and structure, you’re doing more than managing tasks—you’re providing a home where your loved one can truly feel safe and cherished.
Take the first step today—download a checklist, schedule that assessment, have the hard conversation. You’ve got this.
Frequently Asked Questions
Choosing the right home care service depends on your loved one’s specific needs. Start by assessing daily tasks they need help with, such as bathing, dressing, medication management, or meal preparation. Then consider whether they require medical care from a licensed professional or just non-medical help. Compare agencies based on services, reviews, and state licensing to ensure they meet your quality and safety expectations. A consultation with your loved one’s doctor can help clarify the type and level of care needed.
Home care licensing requirements vary by state and the type of care provided. Most states require agencies offering medical services to be licensed by a state health department, and caregivers may need to be certified as home health aides or nursing assistants. Non-medical home care may not require a license, but many states still regulate these businesses. Check your state’s Department of Health website for specific guidelines and ensure all caregivers meet local training and background check requirements.
Starting home care can involve several costs, including caregiver wages, agency fees (if applicable), medical supplies, and safety modifications to the home like grab bars or ramps. If hiring privately, budget for payroll taxes, liability insurance, and training. Using an agency often includes management services, background checks, and ongoing supervision. Explore financial aid options, such as long-term care insurance, Medicaid programs, or veterans’ benefits, to help offset these expenses.
To prepare your home for home care services, prioritize safety, accessibility, and comfort. Ensure pathways are clear for movement, especially if mobility devices are used. Remove tripping hazards like loose rugs, improve lighting, and install handrails or grab bars as needed. Set up a dedicated area with all necessary supplies and medication, and secure valuables or sensitive information. A professional home safety evaluation can help identify overlooked risks and give you peace of mind.
Hiring a caregiver directly gives you more control and may reduce costs, but it also means you're responsible for background checks, payroll, scheduling, and legal compliance. Working with a licensed home care agency provides screening, training, insurance, and backup care support, offering peace of mind and less administrative work. Consider your time, budget, and comfort level with employer responsibilities when deciding which option best suits your needs.
Dr. Alan Lee is a board-certified geriatrician specializing in neurodegenerative conditions including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s, and Lewy Body dementia. With more than two decades in clinical practice and research, Dr. Lee is a trusted authority in personalized care planning for aging adults. He serves as a medical reviewer for several national caregiving organizations and frequently lectures on aging in place and ethical dementia care.
Emily Sanders is a Dementia Practitioner and educator who trains in-home caregivers and family members in person-centered dementia care. With a background in occupational therapy and caregiver training, Emily creates practical tools and care plans that improve everyday life for people living with Alzheimer’s and related conditions. She is passionate about preserving identity, dignity, and connection in home-based settings.
Maria Torres is a social worker with a focus on elder care, family systems, and caregiver mental health. She has worked in both hospice and community health settings and currently supports family caregivers navigating long-term care decisions. Maria brings an empathetic lens to her writing and advocates for proactive planning, emotional resilience, and equitable access to home care resources.
