What to Expect From Home Care: Your First Week, Step by Step

Starting home care usually takes a few days from the first call. The agency does a free consultation and in-home assessment, writes a care plan, matches a caregiver to your parent’s needs and personality, and schedules the first shift, often with a care coordinator present for introductions. Expect the first week to involve some adjustment. Good agencies check in after the first shift and again at the end of the week, and will change caregivers quickly if the fit isn’t right.

For many families, the hardest part of home care is starting it. Your parent may be nervous about a stranger in the house, and you may worry about whether you are making the right call. Knowing what each step looks like takes much of the anxiety out of it. Knowing what to expect from home care, from the home care assessment to the first day with a new caregiver, makes starting home care far less stressful for everyone.

This guide walks through the process as it typically works at a licensed agency, using Nona’s Home Care’s process as the example.

How quickly can home care start?

• 1. First call
  • What happens: Discuss needs, schedule, budget, and questions
  • Typical timing: Day 1
• 2. Free consultation and assessment
  • What happens: Care coordinator meets your parent at home or by video
  • Typical timing: Day 1 to 3
• 3. Service agreement and care plan
  • What happens: Review and sign the agreement; finalize the plan
  • Typical timing: Day 2 to 4
• 4. Caregiver match
  • What happens: Agency selects a caregiver based on needs, schedule, and personality
  • Typical timing: Day 2 to 5
• 5. First shift
  • What happens: Introductions, home walk-through, first tasks
  • Typical timing: Day 3 to 7
• 6. Check-ins
  • What happens: Calls after the first shift and at the end of week one
  • Typical timing: Days 4 to 10

After a hospital discharge, many agencies, including Nona’s, can move faster, sometimes within 24 to 48 hours. See Mom Was Just Discharged: Setting Up In-Home Care Quickly.

What happens during the home care assessment?

A care coordinator visits your parent (or meets by video) to understand the full picture:

• Daily routine: when they wake, eat, nap, and go to bed
• Help needed with bathing, dressing, toileting, walking, and meals
• Health conditions, medications, and doctors
• Memory, mood, and communication
• Home layout and safety concerns
• Personality, interests, language, and preferences for a caregiver
• Family involvement and who to contact for updates

The best assessments feel like a conversation, not an interview. Ask your parent to share what matters to them: how they like their coffee, which TV shows they never miss, the stories they love to tell. Those details shape the match.

What is a home care plan?

The care plan is a written summary of what the caregiver will do and how. A good plan includes:

• Scheduled days and hours
• Specific tasks for each visit (for example, shower Tuesday and Friday, lunch prep daily)
• Medication reminder times
• Safety precautions, such as fall risk or diet restrictions
• Emergency contacts and doctor information
• Personal preferences and routines

The plan should be updated whenever needs change. Ask how often the agency reviews it.

How does an agency match a caregiver?

Matching is where agencies differ most. Nona’s considers:

• Skills and experience: dementia, Parkinson’s, transfers, post-surgery care
• Schedule and location: a caregiver who lives nearby and can commit to the schedule long-term
• Personality and interests: a quiet presence versus a talker; shared hobbies, faith, or cultural background
• Language: Spanish-speaking or bilingual caregivers when helpful
• Your parent’s stated preferences, which are always respected

Consistency matters. Seeing the same one or two caregivers builds trust and means someone notices small changes. Nona’s near-zero turnover is a large part of why families stay.

How should you prepare for the first day?

• Tell your parent who is coming, when, and why, framed around their goals (“so you can keep gardening” rather than “because you can’t manage”).
• Be present for the first hour if you can.
• Write a one-page “About Mom” sheet: routines, favorite foods, topics she loves, things that upset her.
• Show the caregiver around: where supplies are, how the thermostat works, where the spare key is kept.
• Stock basic supplies: gloves, incontinence products if needed, and groceries for planned meals.
• Share the emergency list and your parent’s medication list.

If your parent is resistant, our guide Dad Refuses In-Home Care: 7 Approaches That Actually Work has scripts that help.

What is normal during the first week?

Some adjustment is expected. Common first-week experiences include:

• Your parent being polite but guarded, or telling you “I don’t need her”
• The caregiver learning routines and asking many questions
• Small mismatches in how things are done (“that’s not how I fold towels”)
• You feeling unsure about stepping back

Most of this resolves in one to two weeks as trust builds. Give specific feedback early, to the caregiver or the care coordinator, so small issues are fixed before they grow.

What if the caregiver isn’t the right fit?

Sometimes the chemistry is not there, and that is no one’s fault. Tell the agency right away. A good agency will ask what is not working, adjust the plan, and introduce a different caregiver quickly, with no penalty. At Nona’s, families can also change or cancel shifts with 24 hours’ notice, and there are no minimums or deposits, so the arrangement can adapt as you learn what works.

Red flags that need an immediate call to the agency: no-shows, repeated lateness, phone use during care, ignoring the care plan, or any concern about safety or respect.

How will you know home care is working?

By the end of the first month, families usually notice:

• Your parent is eating better and taking medications on time
• Fewer near falls and less worry at night
• Your parent looking forward to the caregiver’s visits
• You sleeping better and returning to your own life

If those changes are not happening, revisit the care plan and hours with the care coordinator. Our overview of what a home caregiver actually does is a helpful benchmark.

How should you introduce the caregiver to your parent?

First impressions matter, especially for a parent who is unsure about accepting help. A thoughtful introduction can turn a nervous first day into the start of a good relationship.

• Be there if you can. Being present for the first visit helps your parent feel safe and lets you share routines in person.
• Use friendly language. Introduce the caregiver by name, as someone who is there to help around the house or keep your parent company, rather than as a nurse or supervisor.
• Start with something easy. A cup of coffee, a walk, or a favorite TV show gives them a chance to talk before personal care begins.
• Share a few personal details. Tell the caregiver about your parent’s career, hobbies, family, and favorite topics.
• Give your parent some control. Let them show the caregiver around the kitchen or explain how they like things done.

If your parent has dementia, keep the introduction simple and calm, and avoid overwhelming them with explanations.

What should families do at the end of the first week?

After a week of home care, take a few minutes to check in with everyone involved. Ask your parent how they feel about the caregiver and the schedule. Ask the caregiver what they have noticed and what would make the visits go better. Then talk with the agency about any adjustments.

Common changes include moving the visit time, adding an extra shift, updating the care plan with new preferences, or clarifying tasks. Small fixes in week one prevent bigger problems later. Knowing what to expect from home care also means knowing that the first few weeks are a time of adjustment. Most families find that by the end of the first month, the routine feels natural and the caregiver feels like part of the team.

What questions should you ask the agency during the first week?

The first week is a good time to confirm how the agency will support you going forward. Ask who your main contact is and how to reach them after hours, how call-outs and backup caregivers are handled, how often a supervisor will check on the care, and how the care plan will be updated as needs change.

Ask how you will receive updates and invoices, and what to do if you have a concern. Clear answers now make it easier to resolve small issues before they become big ones.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to be home during the caregiver’s first visit? It helps but isn’t required. Many agencies send a coordinator to make introductions.

Can we meet the caregiver before care starts? Often, yes. Ask the agency about a meet-and-greet before the first shift.

What should I tell a new caregiver about my parent? Routines, preferences, health conditions, fall risks, and what makes your parent happy or upset. A one-page profile works well.

Can I change caregivers if it isn’t working out? Yes. Tell the agency right away; a reputable agency will make the switch quickly.

Is there a trial period for home care? With no long-term contracts or minimums, every week at Nona’s effectively works as a trial.

What to expect from home care: a quick summary

Starting home care usually takes a few days: a consultation, a home care assessment, a written home care plan, a thoughtful caregiver match, and a first shift with introductions. The first week is an adjustment period for everyone, so expect small changes to the schedule, routines, and care plan as the caregiver gets to know your parent.

To prepare for a caregiver, write down routines, preferences, and emergency contacts, clear space for supplies, and plan to be present for the first shift if you can. Give honest feedback early, and ask for a new match if the fit is not right. Licensed in-home care costs $40 to $50 per hour depending on the level of care. For more detail, read what a home caregiver actually does and 12 questions to ask before hiring an in-home caregiver.