09/01/2026
Preparing your loved one for live-in care
The economics and logic of bringing a caregiver into the home make sense. But that doesn’t always make it easy. That’s especially true when caregiving moves to the full-time, 24-hour per day situation. However, the more prepared clients and their families are, the easier the transition will be.
There are many emotions experienced as you and/or a loved one prepare for a caregiver to move in full-time. On one hand, you may experience a sense of relief and greater security–a burden has been lifted. On the other hand, it can feel stressful and like an invasion of privacy to have a stranger move in, particularly when this stranger may not have come from the same culture or background as you and your family. These feelings are further compounded if you live in a multi-generational home, and the caregiver will be moving into your family’s space to care for your loved one.
The good news is that this stranger will soon be a comfortable and caring addition to your home, providing helpful services, compassion, and care that will ease the burden for you, your family, and your loved one who needs care.
Take small steps toward having a full-time caregiver if possible
If your loved one has an illness, is in the beginning stages of dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease, you may have a little time on your hands before 24-hour care is required. If this is true, you can take small steps into caregiving by hiring a caregiver to come in a few times a week, for a few hours each day. During this time, the caregiver and client can get to know one another, and familiarize themselves with preferences, routines, item placement, grocery lists, meal requests–basically all of your loved one’s “activities of daily living.”
Communicate clearly and honestly
While mutual respect is expected and hoped for between the family/loved one and the caregiver, there is no need for a client to feel as if he or she needs to put on “polite manners.” In fact, doing this can lead to misunderstandings or unexpressed feelings that may cause trouble later on. It’s always best to be 100% clear about your expectations, needs, requests, and preferences. Also, state your concerns, fears, and discomfort concerning a situation. Some of these topics may be addressed during your consultation with the caregiving company you have hired. However, we recommend taking time to create a list that you update often with no items, thoughts or concerns considered too small or petty.
When you’re ready, go over your list with the assigned caregiver so you are all on the same page. If done honestly and thoroughly, this one step can alleviate a tremendous amount of stress, anxiety, and miscommunication.
Clearly outline all of the “house rules” and the expectations of the caregiver. Are there restrictions on television usage, volume levels, personal phone calls, mobile phone usage, Internet use, lights out, and so on? Everyone’s house rules are different, and they vary from culture to culture. So, setting clear expectations from the outset minimizes conflicts along the way.
Write a detailed day-to-day (month-to-month) schedule
In the weeks leading up to having a full-time caregiver in your home, create a written list of your daily, weekly, and monthly schedules. Clients are often unaware of how set their routine is until someone moves and changes things around. Create a schedule that replicates how things are currently done so the caregiver can emulate that routine as much as possible. The same is true for weekly, monthly, and seasonal interests, activities, and events. Also include things like:
* Important contact information (family, friends, neighbors, physicians, specialists, pharmacy)
* Dietary restrictions/preferences
* Weekly events and activities
* Allergies
* Medication schedule
* Other important information, facts, and interesting personal information about your loved one
Secure sensitive and valuable family items and documents
Your caregiver should be thoroughly vetted by the company, including a complete background check. Even so, it’s a good idea to secure any sensitive/private/valuable items in locked cabinets, an in-home safe, or with a nearby loved one.
Create a private, comfortable place for the caregiver
In a perfect world, caregivers would have their own private space, such as a bedroom, but this isn’t always possible. If not, create a private, comfortable space where the caregiver can get his or her full, 8-hours of sleep each night or day.
The caregiver will be investing considerable time and energy into their work. Just as it isn’t easy to have someone move into your home, it’s not always easy to live away from one’s own home, or to get a good night’s sleep in another home and bed, so take that into consideration when preparing your caregiver’s space. Your consideration for making the caregiver feel welcome and comfortable will be greatly appreciated.
Consider some minor details that make for a smoother transition
Once you’ve gone through the major checklist of items with the caregiver, there are some things you also do to help the transition and facilitate a healthy, day-to-day relationship. Consider things such as:
* Purchasing a baby monitor, the caregiver can use it outside or in their own space so they can hear their loved one wake up or call for assistance.
* Create a pantry, cabinet, and/or drawer space in the kitchen. These spaces and/or shelves should be labeled, offering the caregiver a place to store their own food, beverages, and snack items.
* Get a notebook that the caregiver can use as a daily log, noting anything unusual or special that happens each day. This helps to keep the caregiver in tune with the client as needs and preferences change. Some changes in your loved one may also be a sign that medical attention is needed. These daily logs are especially helpful in multi-generational households where there is a regular flow of family members and the caregiver.
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