Hi Dawn

The duties of a home visit caregiver depend on an individual's identified needs. Often a doctor, a community careworker, the primary caregiver and, where possible, the patient, will have been involved in putting together an agreed care package.

Christine

There are different levels of homecare available, and while not all homecare agencies will offer all levels, it may be helpful to know the differences.  "Companions" are caregivers who simply provide supervision and stimulation for those persons who should not be left alone.  "Home attendants" or "personal care attendants (or PCAs)" are caregivers who will help out with more of the house-keeping chores and tasks (laundry, grocery shopping, etc.), as well as assisting with some of the basic activities of daily living such as bathing and dressing.  "Home health aides" are those caregivers who can assist with personal care as well as health care functions such as checking vital signs and monitoring symptoms.  When hiring a caregiver, it is important to discuss with the agency exactly what your loved one's care needs and expectations are.  Also, it may be helpful to get in writing from the agency what duties and tasks the aide is allowed and expected to do during a work shift. You might also want to check what types of caregiving your insurance will cover, if any.