What to Expect in the First Week of Home Care

“I wish someone had told me what the first week would really be like,” reflects Janet, whose mother started home care three months ago. “I expected everything to be perfect from day one, but it’s actually a process of getting to know each other and finding what works best.”

The first week of home care is crucial—it sets the foundation for a successful, long-term care relationship. Understanding what to expect during this adjustment period helps families prepare mentally and practically, reducing anxiety and ensuring the smoothest possible transition.

Whether you’re arranging a few hours of daily support or comprehensive 24-hour care, the initial week involves much more than simply beginning care tasks. It’s about building relationships, establishing routines, and creating the trust that underpins excellent care.

Before Your First Day: The Setup

Pre-Arrival Coordination

Final Preparations (24-48 Hours Before)

Care coordinator confirms start time and carer details
Final review of care plan and any special requirements
Confirmation of keys, access codes, and contact information
Last-minute equipment or supply needs addressed

Family Briefing Your care provider should contact you to confirm:

Who will arrive and when
What documentation carers will bring
Any final questions about routines or preferences
Emergency contact procedures and out-of-hours support

Day One: The Introduction

The First Meeting Expect your first carer to arrive slightly early to allow time for proper introductions and orientation. This isn’t a rushed handover—it’s the beginning of a relationship.

What Your Carer Will Do:

Introduce themselves and present identification
Review the care plan with you and your loved one
Tour the home to understand layout and locate essential items
Discuss emergency procedures and contact information
Begin to understand personal preferences and routines

Family Involvement Plan to be present for the first visit if possible. Even if your loved one is mentally capable, family presence during introduction helps:

Provide additional context about preferences and routines
Ask questions you may have forgotten to address earlier
Reassure your loved one about the new arrangement
Establish communication patterns with the care team

Margaret’s daughter Sarah remembers: “I was nervous about leaving Mum with someone new, but the carer spent over an hour just talking with Mum about her photo albums and garden. By the time I left, they were discussing Mum’s favourite roses like old friends.”

Days 1-3: Building Foundations

Establishing Routines

Learning Individual Preferences The first few days focus heavily on observation and adaptation:

Morning Routines

Preferred wake-up time and method (gentle touch, music, gradual lighting)
Tea/coffee preferences and breakfast habits
Washing and dressing preferences and techniques
Medication timing and administration preferences
Morning activities and newspaper/television routines

Daily Activities

Meal preferences, portion sizes, and eating assistance needed
Mobility patterns and safe movement techniques
Favourite seating areas and comfort positioning
Interest in conversation, reading, or other activities
Rest periods and energy levels throughout the day

Evening and Bedtime

Dinner preferences and timing
Evening relaxation activities
Personal care routines and privacy preferences
Bedtime preparations and comfort requirements
Night routine and sleep patterns

Initial Challenges and Adjustments

Common First-Week Issues:

Timing Adjustments “The care plan said Mum needed help getting dressed, but we didn’t realise she likes to lie in bed for 20 minutes after waking before getting up,” explains David. “Once the carer understood this, mornings became much smoother.”

Communication Styles

Finding the right conversational approach (chatty vs quiet)
Understanding hearing or speech difficulties
Learning about topics that interest or upset your loved one
Adapting to cognitive abilities and memory levels

Physical Care Techniques

Determining preferred assistance methods for mobility
Understanding pain points or sensitive areas
Learning about specific medical equipment or aids
Adapting to individual physical limitations and strengths

Days 3-5: Finding Your Rhythm

Building Trust and Comfort

Relationship Development By day three or four, initial awkwardness typically gives way to growing comfort:

Signs of Positive Progress:

Your loved one begins to anticipate and welcome the carer’s arrival
Conversations become more natural and flowing
Personal care becomes less awkward and more routine
Laughter and shared moments begin to occur
Your loved one starts sharing stories or memories

Family Confidence Building

Increased comfort with leaving your loved one with the carer
Positive feedback from your loved one about the carer
Observation of gentle, respectful interactions
Evidence that care tasks are being completed thoughtfully
Good communication from carers about daily activities and any concerns

Mid-Week Assessment

Care Plan Review Around day 4-5, expect a check-in from your care coordinator:

Topics Typically Covered:

How the care relationship is developing
Any adjustments needed to care plans or routines
Feedback from both family and care recipient
Practical issues that need addressing
Confirmation that care goals are being met

Common Adjustments:

Timing modifications for daily activities
Care technique refinements
Communication style adaptations
Additional equipment or supply needs
Schedule tweaks for family visits or appointments

James, whose father receives morning care, shares: “By Thursday, Dad was asking when Sarah would arrive and had his newspaper ready to discuss current events with her. That’s when I knew the care relationship was working.”

Days 5-7: Establishing Confidence

Routine Solidification

Settled Patterns Emerging By the end of the first week, successful care arrangements show clear patterns:

Care Recipient Indicators:

Relaxed anticipation of carer arrival
Willingness to accept help with personal care
Engagement in conversation and activities
Maintained dignity and personal autonomy
Expressed contentment or positive comments about care

Family Comfort Levels:

Confidence in leaving loved one with carer
Reduced anxiety about care quality and safety
Positive communication with care team
Trust in carer’s judgement and capabilities
Relief at reduced care burden

End-of-Week Review

Comprehensive Assessment Most quality providers conduct a formal review at the end of the first week:

Review Components:

Face-to-face meeting with care coordinator
Feedback from care recipient, family, and carer
Assessment of care plan effectiveness
Identification of any ongoing challenges
Planning for the coming weeks and months

Documentation Review:

Daily care notes and observations
Any incidents or concerns recorded
Medication administration records
Family feedback and suggestions
Care goals progress assessment

Special Considerations for Different Care Levels

Hourly or Part-Time Care

Building Limited but Meaningful Relationships With fewer hours together, relationship building requires more intentional effort:

Maximising Connection Time:

Carers arrive a few minutes early to ease transitions
Consistent scheduling with the same carers when possible
Clear communication books for information sharing
Focus on quality interaction during care tasks
Family involvement in bridging care visits

24-Hour Care Transition

The first week of 24 hour home care services involves additional complexity:

Multiple Carer Integration:

Meeting and adjusting to different carers across shifts
Ensuring consistent care approaches between team members
Managing communication between shift changes
Adapting to different personalities and care styles
Coordinating family interaction with multiple team members

Household Integration:

Carers settling into living arrangements
Establishing household routines and boundaries
Managing shared spaces and resources
Balancing care needs with family privacy
Creating sustainable long-term arrangements

Eleanor, whose husband receives 24-hour care, recalls: “Each carer had a different approach, which initially felt unsettling. But by the end of the week, I realised this actually provided wonderful variety for my husband. The day carer was chatty and energetic, the evening carer was calm and soothing, and the night carer was reassuringly vigilant. Each brought exactly what was needed for their shift.”

Managing First-Week Emotions

Common Family Feelings

Normal Emotional Responses:

Guilt about “handing over” care responsibilities
Anxiety about stranger care quality compared to family care
Relief at reduced care burden mixed with sadness about need for help
Uncertainty about whether the arrangement will work long-term
Gratitude for professional support mixed with grief about changed circumstances

Care Recipient Emotions:

Initial shyness or resistance to accepting help
Gradual appreciation for companionship and assistance
Possible sadness about needing care
Growing trust and comfort with care arrangements
Relief at maintained independence and dignity

Building Emotional Comfort

Strategies for Success:

Open Communication

Share feelings and concerns with care coordinators
Encourage loved one to express preferences and concerns
Regular check-ins about comfort levels and satisfaction
Honest feedback about what’s working and what isn’t

Gradual Trust Building

Start with shorter care periods if possible
Increase care hours gradually as comfort develops
Maintain family involvement while allowing care relationships to develop
Celebrate small successes and positive interactions

Patience with the Process

Understand that perfect care relationships take time to develop
Allow for personality differences and gradual adjustments
Focus on overall progress rather than daily variations
Trust that professional carers are experienced in building care relationships

Red Flags vs Normal Adjustment

When to Be Concerned

Serious Issues Requiring Immediate Attention:

Any signs of rough handling or disrespectful treatment
Medication errors or safety oversights
Carers arriving late repeatedly or not following basic protocols
Your loved one expressing fear or significant distress about care
Fundamental misunderstanding of care needs or medical conditions

Normal Adjustment Challenges

Expected First-Week Issues:

Initial awkwardness in personal care situations
Minor timing adjustments and routine refinements
Personality matching that takes a few days to settle
Communication style adaptations
Equipment or technique fine-tuning

When to Give More Time vs When to Act:

Minor personality clashes: give 3-4 days to improve
Significant safety concerns: address immediately
Routine timing issues: normal adjustment, discuss with coordinator
Care technique preferences: provide feedback and allow adjustment time
Communication problems: worth addressing early but allow learning time

Setting Up for Long-Term Success

Week One Lessons for the Future

Building on First-Week Foundations:

Document what works well to maintain consistency
Identify preferred carers for ongoing assignments
Establish communication routines that work for your family
Create backup plans for carer illness or holidays
Plan for regular care plan reviews and adjustments

Sustainable Expectations:

Understand that great care relationships continue to deepen over time
Expect seasonal adjustments and needs changes
Plan for ongoing communication with care management
Anticipate and prepare for care needs evolution

Looking Forward

By the end of the first week, families typically feel cautiously optimistic about their care arrangements. The initial anxiety gives way to growing confidence, and the benefits of professional care support become apparent.

Susan, three months into home care for her father, reflects: “That first week felt overwhelming—so many new people, routines, and adjustments. But looking back, it was just the beginning of the most positive care experience we could have hoped for. Taking time to get it right in the beginning made all the difference for the months that followed.”

Your First Week Checklist

Day 1:

Be present for initial introductions
Tour the home with carer
Review care plan and preferences
Exchange contact information
Discuss emergency procedures

Days 2-3:

Observe care interactions
Provide feedback on preferences
Allow relationship building time
Note any needed adjustments

Days 4-5:

Participate in mid-week review
Address any concerns with coordinator
Confirm care goals are being met
Plan for weekend arrangements

End of Week:

Complete formal first-week review
Document what’s working well
Plan any necessary adjustments
Confirm ongoing care schedule
Celebrate successful transition

The first week of home care sets the stage for what can become a treasured relationship that enhances quality of life for everyone involved. With patience, open communication, and realistic expectations, this initial period becomes the foundation for months or years of excellent care support.

Care onboarding

What to Expect in the First Week of Home Care