When you've helped your adult child with daily activities for years, you know their routines, preferences, and the kind of support they need. You may have developed a system that works well for both of you.
However, circumstances can change. Work becomes more demanding, your own health needs attention, or your child begins needing help at different times of the day. You may wonder if someone else could share some of the responsibilities.
Bringing in outside help raises practical questions about what a caregiver is able to do, how care can be scheduled, and what to ask a provider before arranging anything. Those are the questions this article works through.
What Can a Non-Medical Caregiver Help With?
Non-medical caregivers help with everyday activities rather than medical treatment. Depending on the individual's needs and care plan, support may include bathing, dressing, using the restroom, preparing meals, light housekeeping, medication reminders, transportation, and help moving around the home.
Companionship can be part of the arrangement, too. A caregiver might spend time talking, reading, playing games, or enjoying a familiar hobby with your adult child.
The goal is to provide help where it is needed while respecting what your child can and wants to do independently.
Cherished Companions offers in-home care for adults with disabilities. Its listed services for this group include transferring and mobility assistance, bathing, incontinence care, cooking, grocery shopping, assistance with physical activity, homemaking, medicine reminders, and transportation for doctor's visits.
How Does In-Home Care Work for Adults With Disabilities?
In-home care takes place in the person's own home and follows a care plan based on their daily needs and preferences.
Some adults need help with a few activities during scheduled visits. Others may need assistance at several points throughout the day or during the night.
Cherished Companions provides in-home care in Chagrin Falls and the surrounding region on a range of schedules, including daytime and evening, overnight, live-in, and 24-hour care. Its live-in care and overnight care pages both describe support for adults with disabilities. Because these arrangements provide different levels of coverage, discuss when your adult child needs help and ask which schedules are available for their situation.
Non-medical care does not replace skilled nursing or medical treatment. If your child needs medical procedures or other clinical support, speak with their healthcare provider about the appropriate services.
Helping With Personal Care and Daily Routines
Your adult child may have strong preferences about how daily tasks are done, especially if you have helped them establish a routine over many years. Share those preferences with the care provider, and involve your child in planning their care as much as possible.
Caregivers can also help with everyday household tasks, including cooking, grocery shopping, meal cleanup, and light housekeeping.
If your child needs assistance eating or has difficulty chewing or swallowing, discuss those needs with their healthcare provider and the care agency before arranging help. Some situations require a clinical assessment or a specific care plan.
For more information about everyday household and meal support, see the agency's homemaking services page.
Providing Mobility Assistance at Home
An adult with a physical disability may need help standing, walking, transferring between a bed and chair, or moving around the home.
Cherished Companions lists transferring and mobility assistance among its services for adults with disabilities. The type of assistance a caregiver can safely provide will depend on the individual's needs, the care plan, and the equipment involved.
If your adult child uses a wheelchair, walker, or other mobility equipment, explain their usual routine and any instructions provided by their healthcare team. Ask the agency what assistance its caregivers can provide and whether additional training or equipment may be needed.
If you are concerned about falls, changes in mobility, or the safety of a transfer, consult a qualified healthcare professional. A caregiver can help with daily activities, but medical assessment and treatment should come from the appropriate clinician.
Offering Companionship and Social Connection
Care at home is not limited to physical assistance. For an adult who spends much of their time at home, having someone to talk with or share an activity with can be an important part of the day.
Companionship might include reading, playing games, working on a hobby, or spending time together as part of a familiar routine. The right activities will depend on your child's interests, preferences, and communication style.
Companionship is one of the services Cherished Companions lists, and it can be discussed when a care plan is developed. You can learn more in the agency's post on companionship and preventing isolation.
Can In-Home Care Give Family Caregivers a Break?
If you provide much of your adult child's daily care, arranging outside help may give you time to work, attend appointments, rest, or spend time on other responsibilities.
You may only need a few scheduled hours each week. In other situations, your family may want to explore longer periods of care.
Think about which responsibilities are most difficult to manage and when additional help would make the greatest difference. Then ask the care agency which scheduling options are available.
Bringing in a caregiver does not mean you have to stop being involved in your child's care. It can give you more flexibility while your child continues receiving support at home.
What Should You Ask When Choosing a Care Provider?
Before arranging care, explain your adult child's needs in detail. A provider should understand the daily tasks involved, any mobility or communication needs, and the activities your child wants to continue doing independently.
Ask about the caregiver's experience with similar care needs, what training is provided, and how the agency develops and updates care plans. If your child needs help with transfers or uses mobility equipment, ask specifically how the provider determines whether its caregivers can safely assist.
It's also worth asking how schedules are managed, how families can share concerns, and what happens when a regular caregiver is unavailable.
Your adult child should have a voice in these conversations whenever possible. Their comfort with the caregiver and preferences about daily routines are important parts of finding an arrangement that works.
For more guidance, read the agency's post on choosing the right caregiver.
How Cherished Companions Supports Adults With Disabilities
Cherished Companions provides non-medical in-home care in Cleveland and throughout Northeast Ohio, including care for adults with disabilities. Its listed services for adults with disabilities include transferring and mobility assistance, bathing, incontinence care, cooking, grocery shopping, assistance with physical activity, homemaking, medicine reminders, and transportation for doctor's visits.
The agency offers a free in-home assessment to discuss individual needs and develop a personalized care plan and schedule.
If you're exploring care for your adult child, call (855) 724-3747 or visit cherishedagency.com to learn more about the services available to your family.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider with any questions regarding a medical condition.
