Providing Home Care To A Family Member: Before You Make A Plan

Providing Home Care To A Family Member

Sometimes life sneaks up on us.

It’s common to get caught up in your daily routines – work, kids, whole weekends devoted to travel soccer. Weeknights filled with homework help, dance classes, and trying to squeeze in some quality time with your partner. You’re used to your beautiful chaos, but it’s a full-time job in itself.

And then one day you get a call.

Your mother, who is in her 70s and lives alone, fell down a couple of steps. This isn’t the first time she has fallen, but it’s certainly the most unsettling as she has a few bruises. Thankfully, she’s OK otherwise. But – what about next time?

Later that evening, you’re lying in bed and you just can’t shake the worry. You lie awake and wonder, “how did the time go so quickly? And, since when does my mom need so much help?” This is the third time just this week that you’ve had to rush over to her house. On the first day, she had just finished watering flowers on her front porch and locked herself outside. The second time, she was upset because she couldn’t find her purse.

It’s time to do something more.

Aging In Place

Most people think aging in place simply means growing old in your own home. And, while that’s true, it’s really only part of the big picture. The truth is: it’s so much more.

Aging in place includes securing the care and support needed to stay safe at home. The process focuses on improving and maintaining quality of life while planning for the future.

Did you know that 90% of seniors WANT to age at home?

Once you begin noticing signs that a loved one needs help, it’s important to know where to start. And, if you and your family hope to provide that help, you’ll need a plan. Caring for a loved one often requires lots of prepping and teamwork. Here’s how to get going…

Before You Make A Plan

Before creating a home care plan for your loved one, you’ll need to do a whole lot of info-gathering. Your first steps should be focused on assessing health, safety, and wishes. Some of this will require a little investigating. You may need to talk with your family member’s doctor or other health professionals. Your loved one should be included in this process as much as possible. It’s important to ask before looking through their medications or personal belongings as this could be construed as overstepping boundaries; which, in turn, may undermine your intentions, no matter how wholesome they may be. Of course, allowances will need to be made if your loved one has developed impairments that make it difficult to communicate or comprehend clearly and effectively (i.e. Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other memory-effecting conditions).

Assessing Health

When assessing your family member’s health, first gather preliminary info such as medical history and medications taken, then answer some simple questions to determine their needs.

Medical Conditions

Condition	Healthcare Provider	Medication For This Condition	Past or Ongoing?

Major Illnesses

Illness	Start Date	End Date	Physician	Notes

Surgeries

Procedure	Date	Hospital	Physician	Notes

Medication List

Medication	Dosage	Frequency	Physician	Purpose	Start	End

Vaccinations

Vaccination	Date

Lifestyle

Smoke cigarettes	YES or NO	Frequency:
Drinks alcohol	YES or NO	Frequency:
Vaping	YES or NO	Frequency:
Recreational drug use	YES or NO	Frequency:

Medical Contacts

Name	Provider Type	Phone	Address	Notes

Physical Health

YES	NO	If their phone rings, can they hear it?
YES	NO	When you speak to them, are they able to clearly hear everything you say without straining?
YES	NO	Can your loved one get dressed on their own?
YES	NO	Can they tie their own shoes?
YES	NO	Do they maintain overall good hygiene (i.e. washes and brushes hair, wears clean clothing, bathes regularly and completely, brushes teeth, etc.)?
YES	NO	Do they keep a clean, clutter-free home (i.e. they are able to dust, vacuum, mop, and put away items after use)?
YES	NO	Can they do their own laundry?
YES	NO	Does your loved one keep a clean kitchen and bathroom (i.e. they are able to wipe down and sanitize surfaces, clean up after meals, and wash towels regularly)?
YES	NO	Are they able to maintain the yard and do regular home maintenance?
YES	NO	Do they have a good range of motion?
YES	NO	Do they experience pain when moving extremities?
YES	NO	Any leg or apparent muscle pain?
YES	NO	Does your loved one have any apparent muscle weakness or paralysis?
YES	NO	Are they able to take care of pets (i.e. walking the dog, cleaning the litter box, and feeding daily)?
YES	NO	Does your loved one need help with transferring in and out of bed or chairs?
YES	NO	Can they get in and out of the shower or bathtub safely?
YES	NO	Can they bathe themself completely with no help?
YES	NO	Do they require assistance or total bathing from someone else?
YES	NO	Do they use a toilet without help (i.e. sitting, standing, and cleaning self)?
YES	NO	Do they have complete self-control over urination and defecation?
YES	NO	Can they feed themself?
YES	NO	Has your loved one unintentionally lost or gained weight recently?
YES	NO	Are they able to get exercise regularly (i.e. walking or any form of appropriate movement for at least 30 minutes per day)?
YES	NO	Do they need help walking short distances?
YES	NO	Can they get around the house safely (i.e. no falls)?
YES	NO	Have they had any recent eye pain or changes in sight?
YES	NO	Have they had any recent changes in the color of their skin?
YES	NO	Have you observed abnormalities in extremities (i.e. bumps, bunions, etc.)?
YES	NO	Does your loved one have frequent tremors or ticks they’re unable to control?

Mental/Cognitive Health

YES	NO	Is your loved one able to do their own grocery shopping (i.e. planning meals, choosing foods in-store, handling money or a bank card, and loading/unloading their vehicle)?
YES	NO	Do they remember to pay bills regularly and on time?
YES	NO	Can your loved one drive safely and with confidence?
YES	NO	Do they regularly prepare their own meals?
YES	NO	If they are on any prescription medication, do they take it regularly and as prescribed?
YES	NO	Do they make their own health care appointments and do they understand any care plans provided by their primary physician?
YES	NO	Can they manage conditions or illnesses safely and effectively with little or no help (i.e. diabetes, high blood pressure, the common cold, influenza, etc.)?
YES	NO	Does your loved one worry a lot?
YES	NO	Do your loved one’s own thoughts seem to make them anxious?
YES	NO	Do they have a hard time making decisions?
YES	NO	Does your loved one experience frequent and apparent mood changes?
YES	NO	Does your loved one have a hard time remembering what day of the week it is?
YES	NO	Are they easily confused?
YES	NO	Can they recognize faces and remember names?
YES	NO	Language disorientation – Do they frequently misplace words, struggle to find words when speaking, or do their sentences trail off?
YES	NO	Directional disorientation – Do they frequently forget how to get from one place to another, even if it’s just a room in their house?

Social Health

YES	NO	Does your loved one frequently socialize with friends and family?
YES	NO	Are they involved in volunteer work?
YES	NO	Do they participate in activities outside of their home?
YES	NO	Do they get bored often?
YES	NO	Are they in good spirits most of the time?
YES	NO	Do they prefer to be at home rather than out and doing new things?

Assessing Safety at Home

Here’s a home safety checklist, complete with tips and tricks for some easy protection.

Bathroom Safety

Is the bathtub difficult to step over?
- Consider remodeling the tub or installing a zero-threshold shower.
Consider a shower chair.
Install grab bars in the shower/tub and near the toilet.
Non-slip bath mat
Non-slip bath rugs
Are frequently used items easy to access?

Kitchen

Are dishes and food in cabinets that are easy to reach?
Is the floor slippery?
- Consider buying non-slip kitchen rugs
Is there adequate lighting?
If there are pets, are food and water bowls out of walking space?
Is there a step stool?

Bedrooms

Are lights and switches easily accessible?
- Pull strings, dimmer switches, and sound-activated light switches can be affordable and easy to install.
Is extra linen stored in an easy-to-reach area?
Is there enough walking space?
- Consider less furniture.

General

Are hallways and living spaces well-let?
- Install night lights
Smoke detectors
- There should be one in each room.
- Batteries should be changed out every six months.
Carbon monoxide detector
Are stairs difficult to climb?
Area rugs should have a non-slip backing.
Are doorknobs hard to turn?
- Consider installing door levers
Ensure cords and cables are out of walking space.
Are outside entryways well-lit?
Are outside handrails secure?

Related: 7 Ways Family Caregivers Can Get Training & Support

Knowing Your Loved One’s Wishes

How do you know what your family member truly wants if you don’t ask questions? Remember that even with good intentions, making assumptions can backfire. Include your loved one as much as possible in all planning. Ask what kind of care they’re comfortable with and who they would prefer to take care of certain duties. Do they want to make home modifications? Is keeping track of monthly bills weighing too heavily? Make sure to ask questions beginning with phrases like, “is it okay if…” and, “how would you like to…” It’s common for these types of conversations to happen over a period of time rather than all at once. So, don’t get discouraged if your loved one isn’t immediately receptive to receiving a little home care help. Sometimes, the most important step is getting the conversation started.

Locate Important Documents

This task may be the most tedious and even disheartening of them all, but important nonetheless. It may turn out that you’ll never need some of the info. But, then again, what if you need it all? At the very least, you should know where to find any important papers. Here are some common documents of importance you should locate before making your loved one’s home care plan:

Power of attorney
Medical proxy
Advance directive
Living will
Life insurance policies
Birth certificate
Military records
Social Security card

Start Thinking About Goals

Goals are absolutely something you want to discuss with your loved one and the rest of your care team. But, there’s no harm in getting started beforehand! Make a list of short-term and long-term goals that you hope to accomplish. What are your main concerns for your family member? What type of support do you feel they would benefit from? Save this list as a rough draft of sorts for when you get together with the rest of your team.

Next Steps

Once you’ve gathered all the documents and information necessary to begin, you can start making some calls to build your caregiving team! Building your team comes next…