If you are looking at getting help from a domiciliary carer for your loved one, there are some practical things to think about once you know you will be using their service:
Declutter the rooms they will need to be in. This is important because your loved one’s home is the carer’s work place and it needs to be safe for them too. Extra equipment in the home may well be needed so there should be space for this, and for the carer and your loved one to be able to move around as a pair.
Ensure all of your loved one’s post, filing and general paperwork are up to date. Then, when new items arrive, they will be easy to fileand keep on top of. If everything is already out of order, it takes longer to deal with and to find things when you need them.
Write simple instructions for the washing machine and how / when your loved one wants clothes and bedding washed. Not everyone is the same, so these things vary.
Write simple instructions for what to throw away from the fridge. We know that sometimes things are discarded too soon, and other times left for too long, so it can be good to have instructions.
Write instructions on how your loved one likes tea / coffee / certain meals – the carers may not always be the same ones due to holiday or sickness, so although most agencies will try to send the same person, this helps towards a seamless handover.
Write instructions for the dishwasher. Not everyone has one or knows how to use it. They could wash up instead so you can suggest that if you think it’s easier.
Let the carers know what day the bin collection is and what things can be recycled or not. This varies from borough to borough, and can differ in blocks of flats, so this information makes it easier for everyone.
Let the carers know if they should answer the phone or not, and what you would like them to say if your loved one cannot speak (either indisposed or doesn’t have capacity).
Make a note if there’s anything else you would like them to do. It could be to charge the iPad once a week, or to make sure certain lights are left on. They won’t know if you don’t tell them.
Make sure you have enough toiletries for your loved one, or set up deliveries so they can’t run out.
Hopefully the above practical suggestions will help the transition go smoothly.
One Stop Organisers: here to help your older loved ones live their best lives