Family guide
Choosing a dementia home care caregiver
Choosing support for a person living with dementia begins with the person, not a list of labels. Ask what matters to them at home, which routines they enjoy and how they prefer to be included in decisions. Their wishes can guide a conversation about the help they want and the people they welcome into their space.
This guide is about choosing and planning home support. For questions about health, care or treatment, ask the care team or doctor. The dementia care service page provides a starting point for discussing a request with Alcove; the same questions can be put to any agency.
Describe the person and the request
Begin with the activities the person wants help with and the times that matter to them. Ask about language, privacy, music, meals, visitors and familiar ways of doing things. A short description of preferences can be more useful in a first conversation than a long list of assumptions about a diagnosis.
Include the person's own account wherever possible. Ask whether they want a relative or trusted person present during discussions, and who they want to receive updates. Agree on what information can be shared with an agency and revisit that choice if the situation changes.
Write down the help being requested and the household's questions. Ask the agency which activities fall inside its service and what it needs to know to discuss a suitable caregiver. If a task involves health care or treatment, ask the care team or doctor who should handle it.
Ask about experience and preparation
Tell the agency which parts of the routine matter most. Ask what relevant experience a proposed caregiver has, how the agency considers communication preferences and what preparation it provides for the requested role. If dementia training matters to the family, ask what it covers, who receives it and how the agency can explain it. Do not assume a particular course or qualification.
Ask how an introduction might take place and how the person at home can express a preference about the proposed match. Ask what options the agency offers if the arrangement is uncomfortable. A thoughtful conversation can include the person's need for privacy as well as the household's practical concerns.
Ask how the agency passes on the agreed routine and how it handles changes when the usual caregiver is unavailable. Who tells the household about a proposed change? What information is shared with a different caregiver, and how is the person's permission considered? Ask for the agency's process and any limits in writing.
Make a shared note
With the person's permission, keep a short note that includes:
- The activities requested and the times under consideration.
- Preferred language, routines, activities and ways of communicating.
- The people chosen to receive updates and their contact details.
- Questions about experience, preparation and changes to a match.
- The agency contact for concerns and updates to the plan.
Ask the agency how the household can update the note and how a concern is raised. The person receiving care may want to speak for themselves, or may want someone to help. Agree on an approach that respects their wishes and ask for another conversation when those wishes or the request change.
The Alzheimer Society of Canada offers information about dementia, and Home Care Ontario offers home care resources. For a family conversation about introducing help, see the guide to talking about home care.
Frequently asked questions
What experience should I ask about?
Describe the person's preferred routine and the help requested, then ask what experience a proposed caregiver has with similar requests. Ask how the agency decides whether that experience fits the role. If the answer is unclear, ask what information the agency can provide in writing.
Can the person meet a caregiver before a visit?
Ask the agency about its introduction options and ask the person at home what they would prefer. Discuss who should be present and how the household can share a concern after the introduction. Confirm any proposed arrangement with the agency.
How should the family handle a change in caregiver?
Ask the agency how it communicates changes and shares the agreed routine with another caregiver. Discuss the person's preferences about new visitors and who should receive updates. Ask what the agency can confirm for the requested period and what options exist if it cannot meet the request.
Sources
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