Small preparations that make the first weeks of a stay in placement calmer for everyone in the house.
Sort out the living space first
A live in caregiver needs a private room with a bed, storage and a working light. Add a fan or heater depending on the season, and make sure there is bathroom access that does not clash with the family routine in the morning. Comfort here is not a luxury, it directly affects how well someone works.
Write down the care routine
Medication times, meals, appointments, mobility limits, allergies, and the numbers to call in an emergency. Keep the page on the fridge or beside the bed. Families often carry all of this in their heads and forget how much a new person needs to learn in the first week.
Agree on off time
Rest matters. Set the hours the caregiver is on duty and the hours they are free, including one full day off each week. Placements that ignore rest tend to end early, and the person who suffers most is the family member receiving care.
Introduce the household slowly
Walk the caregiver through the house, show where things are kept, and introduce everyone including regular visitors. Explain the small habits of the person being cared for, the chair they prefer, the radio station they like, the time they usually nap.
Review after two weeks
Sit down and talk honestly about what is working. Two weeks is early enough to correct a routine and late enough to have a real opinion. Most placement problems we see could have been solved by one conversation in the first month.
Talk to us about your placement
If you are working through a decision like this and want a second opinion, phone or WhatsApp 060 884 3533. We are happy to talk it through even before you commit to a placement.
