A little preparation can help a new caregiver understand how your household works and what support a veteran needs. Before the first visit, write down the person’s usual routines, important safety concerns, medication information, and emergency contacts. Keep the notes easy to find, review them together, and explain which details are most important. A clear home guide can reduce guesswork while leaving room for the caregiver and family to adjust as needs change.
Write Down Daily Routines
Describe a typical day in practical terms: usual wake and sleep times, meals, bathing preferences, mobility support, and activities the person enjoys. Include small details that help the day go smoothly, such as preferred foods, how they like to be addressed, or whether they need extra time getting ready. Note which tasks the person handles independently and where they want assistance.
Share the routine in a short written guide, then walk through it with the caregiver during an initial visit. Identify which parts are flexible and which should stay consistent. Ask the person receiving care to contribute whenever possible. Their preferences and consent should guide the plan, and the caregiver should know whom to contact if the routine needs to change.
Point Out Safety Concerns
Walk through the home together and identify potential hazards or areas where help is needed. Point out loose rugs, dim hallways, steps, slippery bathroom surfaces, pets, and equipment such as walkers or oxygen supplies. Explain how the person moves around the home, where they may need a steadying hand, and which spaces or belongings are private.
Make frequently used items easy to reach, including a phone, water, glasses, mobility aids, and any approved assistive devices. Show the caregiver where basic supplies are kept and explain any household rules, such as door locks or alarm systems. If a safety issue cannot be fixed right away, write down the agreed way to manage it and who will follow up.
Organize Medication Information
Prepare a current medication list that includes each medicine’s name, strength, schedule, and the prescribing clinician or pharmacy, if available. Include over-the-counter products and supplements, as well as known allergies or past reactions. Confirm the list with the person’s healthcare professional or pharmacy when details are uncertain; do not rely on memory or an outdated container label.
Explain where medication is stored and what the caregiver is authorized to do. Caregiver responsibilities vary, so clarify whether they may provide reminders, help open a container, or have another assigned role. Do not ask a caregiver to change a dose or make medical decisions. Keep instructions from the healthcare professional accessible and provide a contact for medication questions.
Make Emergency Details Easy to Find
Create a contact sheet with the person’s preferred name, home address, emergency contact names and phone numbers, healthcare provider, and pharmacy. Add relevant health information, such as allergies, communication needs, and conditions that could affect an emergency response. Check that the contacts know they are listed and that the numbers are current.
Post the sheet in an agreed, easy-to-find location and give the caregiver a copy. Explain how to call emergency services, where to find the home address, and whom to notify after urgent help is on the way. Review the plan together, including what to do if the primary contact cannot be reached. Update the guide whenever health needs, medications, or contacts change.
A useful home guide does not need to be complicated. Keep it clear, protect private information, and review it with the person receiving care and the caregiver. Update it when routines or health details change. Harbor Veteran Care can discuss practical ways to prepare for in-home support.