HomeCare Assessment

A number of options are available for finding help at home. It is often best to start by assessing both your needs as a caregiver and the needs of the person you are caring for. There are a variety of checklists to help you evaluate what types of help are needed. In general, consider the following areas:

• Personal Care: bathing, eating, dressing, toileting
• Household Care: cooking, cleaning, laundry, shopping
• Health Care: medication management, physician's appointments, physical therapy
• Emotional Care: companionship, meaningful activities, conversation

Things to Think About

Values and preferences of the person receiving care:

• Cultural background and/or language
• Male or female caregiver
• Hobbies and interests
• Time of day requiring greatest need

Checklists

A number of checklists are available to help in evaluating what types of help are needed. Here are some recommended ones:

• Needs Assessment Worksheet from Family Care America available at www.familycareamerica.com or (804) 342-2337
• Legal and financial matters to consider when caring for an elder - Click Here
• When is home care needed? - Click Here
• Checklist of questions for elderly parents - Click Here