Family Caregiver Guides
Guides for Families Navigating Home Care
Practical, judgment-free guidance for the questions families face before, during, and after bringing in home care — from recognizing it's time, to choosing an agency, to supporting yourself as a caregiver.
Deciding on Care
Figure out whether it's time for help, and how to choose the right provider.
How to Choose a Home Care Agency: Questions to Ask and Red Flags to Watch For
A practical guide to vetting home care agencies — licensing, caregiver screening, supervision, contracts, and the specific questions that separate a strong agency from a risky one.
Signs Your Parent Needs Help at Home: A Practical Checklist for Families
Not sure if it's time to bring in help? Here are the physical, cognitive, home-safety, and emotional signs families notice first, plus how to start the conversation.
Comparing Your Options
See how home care stacks up against assisted living, nursing homes, and adult day care.
Home Care vs. Adult Day Care: Which One Fills the Gap?
Adult day care and home care aren't competing options — they solve different problems, and many families use both. Here's how they differ and when each makes sense.
Home Care vs. Assisted Living: How to Decide Which Fits Your Family
Home care and assisted living solve similar problems in very different ways. Here's how they compare on cost structure, independence, safety, and social life.
Home Care vs. Nursing Home: Understanding the Real Differences
Nursing homes and home care serve very different levels of need. Here's how to tell which one actually matches your family member's situation.
Condition-Specific Care
Practical guidance for dementia, Parkinson's, stroke recovery, surgery recovery, and fall prevention.
Caring for Someone With Parkinson's Disease at Home
Parkinson's care at home centers on mobility, medication timing, and fall prevention. Here's what families and caregivers should know.
Dementia Care at Home: A Practical Guide for Families
Caring for someone with dementia at home comes with its own challenges around safety, communication, and routine. Here's what helps, and when to bring in additional support.
Fall Prevention at Home: A Room-by-Room Safety Guide
Falls are one of the most common and most preventable risks for older adults living at home. Here's a practical, room-by-room approach to reducing that risk.
Post-Stroke Care at Home: Supporting Recovery Day to Day
Recovering from a stroke at home involves physical, communication, and emotional challenges. Here's how home care and family support fit into the recovery process.
Post-Surgery Recovery Care at Home: What Families Need to Arrange
The days and weeks after surgery, especially for an older adult, often require more support at home than families expect. Here's how to plan for a safe recovery.
Caregiver Support
Support for the family members doing the caregiving, not just the person receiving care.
Caregiver Burnout and Respite: Recognizing the Signs and Finding Relief
Family caregiving is demanding in ways that are easy to underestimate until you're in it. Here's how to recognize burnout early, and the respite options that actually help.
How to Talk to a Parent About Needing Help at Home
This conversation is rarely easy, and it rarely goes perfectly the first time. Here's how to approach it in a way that respects your parent's independence while addressing real concerns.
Reference
Definitions and terminology used across our guides and state payment pages.
Types of Home Care Services
Not sure which kind of care fits your situation? These guides explain each type of home care service in plain terms.
Ready to talk to a provider? A local home care agency can help you figure out exactly what kind of support fits your family's situation.
Find a Home Care Provider