Whether you are evaluating your own needs for live-in care or the needs of a loved one, start out by writing down what needs to be provided. What does a typical day look like from waking up to going to climbing into bed?

Think about the following:

Hours – How many hours a day is care needed? When is care most intensively needed? Will they require help in the middle of the night with going to the bathroom?

Dietary – Are there special cooking requirements? Does the elder have allergies? How will groceries be purchased?

Transportation – Does the client need transportation to doctor’s appointments, social events or other activities? Can the caregiver drive the client’s car? Can the caregiver escort the client on public transportation, such as a bus or taxi?

Medication Management – How does the elder currently manage their medication? Are they being taken correctly? What side effects are there to the medications? How often are they being refilled?

Memory Loss – Is there memory loss? Does your loved one need to be tested? Knowing this will help the agency assign the properly trained caregiver.

Other Skills – Are there other requirements such as blood sugar testing, taking blood pressure, etc?