Your loved ones deserve a quality home life, but caring for an aging loved one on your own isn’t easy. Hiring a live-in caregiver is a great way to ensure your loved one receives the care they need while remaining in a comfortable living environment. Here’s a look at how to prep your home for live-in care.
What is live-in care?
Live-in care allows your loved one to stay in their home or yours instead of relocating to an assisted living facility or a nursing home. A caregiver will move into your home to provide your loved one with 24/7 care. Caregivers provide a range of services, such as meal preparation, cleaning, personal care, conversation and companionship, and more. Care is available on a temporary or permanent basis.
How to prepare your home for live-in care
While live-in care is a great way to make sure your loved one always has someone looking after them, it does require a bit of preparation to ensure your home is ready for the caregiver’s arrival.
Create space for the caregiver
Your home is becoming someone else’s home, too. Welcome your caregiver by providing private space for sleeping and relaxing. If possible, prepare a bedroom that the caregiver can have to themselves, along with storage space for their clothes and other important belongings. Private space for the caregiver is also important because it gives them somewhere to go to relax and unwind when not caring for your loved one.
Create space for your loved one
If your loved one is moving into your home as well, be sure to consider the best place for them in the house. If mobility is an issue, it may be a good idea to give them a bedroom or other living space on the ground floor of your home and somewhere with easy access to a bathroom.
Clean the home
Give the caregiver a warm welcome with a nice, clean home. Before the caregiver arrives, vacuum and dust to clear out any lingering dust and other particles. Pick clutter up off of the floor and counters, and provide freshly washed sheets and clean bedding. Make sure that the bathrooms are clean as well, especially the one that the caregiver will primarily be using.
Provide access to the kitchen
The live-in caregiver will likely be responsible for cooking meals for your loved one, so it’s important that the kitchen is accessible, organized, and ready for use.
Provide important information
Keep a list handy with important information that your caregiver can reference if needed. Information might include important phone numbers, medications your loved one is taking and when, allergies, physical therapy schedules, and more.
Make sure your home is safe
To prepare your home for your loved one and caregiver, remove any clutter to make your home easy to maneuver. Be sure that smoke detectors are working properly and that telephones are easily accessible. If needed, outfit bathrooms with a grab bar, raised toilet seat, shower chair, and non-slip mats or decals.
About Miami Valley Homecare
Miami Valley Homecare is a locally owned and independently operated health care agency. Our number one concern is the care of your senior loved one. Our services include daily respite care, hourly respite care, and permanent live-in care with no long-term obligation. We also offer drop-in home care services. Miami Valley Homecare offers care in Centerville, Kettering, Xenia, Beavercreek, Fairborn, Dayton, and Oakwood, Ohio. Our live-in employees are professionally trained and dedicated to providing the best care at the most cost effective rates. Contact us today to request an assessment.
