Home care becomes necessary when circumstances such as illness, cognitive decline, frailty or injury make it difficult to remain safe and comfortable in one’s own home. Use the list below to identify regular tasks and determine what you can do by yourself, what your family is able to help with, and what is not being done. Once you have identified what tasks you need help with, you can use it to write a job description for your in-home worker.
- Bathing – standby or hands-on assistance with bathing in tub, shower, or bed.
- Personal Care – assistance with dressing, brushing teeth or denture care, shaving, hair care, foot care and grooming needs.
- Toileting – assistance with toileting or incontinence products.
- Ambulation – help walking, using a wheelchair, or other assistive device.
- Transfers – assistance movement from wheelchair, tub, bed, toilet, automobile, etc.
- Positioning –turning or changing an individual’s position to avoid discomfort or injury.
- Eating and/or Feeding – assisting with eating.
- Medication Assist – reminding and/or assisting an individual to take medications correctly.
- Errands/Appointments – transporting or escorting to shopping, appointments or errands.
- Range of Motion – providing assistance in movement of legs and arms as directed by a physician or physical therapist.
- Housekeeping – maintaining a safe, sanitary environment with a special focus on kitchen, bathroom and laundry.
- Meal Preparation – preparing nutritious meals to eat immediately or reheat later
- Supervision – providing protective supervision for individuals who are not safe if left alone because of confusion or poor judgment.
This worksheet will help you and other family members determine what types of assistance your loved one needs.