In-home senior care: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What in-home senior care is

In-home senior care means a caregiver visits an older adult at home to help with bathing, dressing, meals, medication reminders and getting around, on a schedule that fits the family. People look for it when daily tasks become hard to manage alone.

Signs you need it

  • Missed meals, unopened mail or a home that is harder to keep up
  • Trouble with bathing, dressing or getting in and out of a chair
  • Falls or near falls at home
  • Medication mix-ups or missed doses
  • A family caregiver who is stretched thin

What the pro does

  • An assessment of daily needs, home and preferences, often with family
  • A written care plan with tasks and schedule
  • Hands-on help such as bathing, dressing, meals and mobility
  • Reminders for medications as set by the person's doctor, without changing doses
  • Notes or updates to family and a regular review of the plan

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Hours per visit and visits per week
  • Overnight or live-in needs
  • Level of hands-on help
  • Agency or individual caregiver
  • Transportation and errands
  • Special needs such as memory loss or mobility equipment

What a written quote should spell out

  • The tasks the caregiver will and will not do
  • Schedule, minimum hours and how changes are handled
  • Backup plan if the caregiver cannot come
  • Billing, payment terms and cancellation notice
  • Who supervises the caregiver and how problems are reported

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Are you a licensed agency or an independent caregiver?
  • How are caregivers screened and trained?
  • What happens if my caregiver is sick?
  • Can you handle memory loss or mobility needs?
  • How is the care plan reviewed?
  • Who do I call if there is a problem?

Red flags

  • No written care plan
  • Cannot say how caregivers are screened
  • Caregiver who changes medication on their own
  • Pressure to sign a long contract before a trial
  • Vague answers about backup coverage

What you can do yourself

Family can add grab bars, clear walkways, set up pill organizers and arrange regular check-ins. Hands-on care, medication questions and health changes should involve a professional and the person's doctor. Call a doctor or emergency services for a fall, confusion or sudden change.

Licenses and permits

In-home care providers are commonly licensed or registered by the state, and rules differ for agencies and independent caregivers. Ask for the license or registration and check it with your state licensing agency.

In-home senior care questions

What is the difference between companion care and personal care?

Companion care is company and light help. Personal care adds hands-on help such as bathing. Ask what each provider offers.

Can caregivers give medication?

Rules vary. Caregivers usually remind. Ask the provider and the person's doctor.

How do I choose between an agency and an individual?

An agency handles screening and backup. An individual may cost less in effort for you but you become the employer. Ask about state rules.

How often is the plan reviewed?

Ask for a set schedule, such as after the first weeks and then at regular intervals, and for a review whenever health changes.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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