There are certain things to keep in mind for your first visit as a Care Pro. Bring a charged cell phone with your ID, and any documents given to you by the office. You should also know the address, time, and who you will contact if you don’t have the needed information.
It is also important to know your Care Plan. You should become familiar with the expectations given your assignment.
You should always rely on your office for assignment instructions and expect to carry out the instructions given. The office should give you everything you need for an assignment.
If you are told you need to go to a first visit, the office should give you the client address. You should also know the expected start and end times for the visit. It is important to know what you are expected to do (what is in the Care Plan), any special household instructions, and who to contact if you have questions.
You should come prepared to do your job and follow office instructions. You are not expected to guess what supplies you will need. Your office will let you know if you are expected to transport any supplies, and will inform you during the hiring process for that expectation.
Job candidates interested in positions as caregivers in Norcross should have the following answers before making their first client visit, rather than arriving first to the client’s home and having to make the journey to the office.
The Office will give you the client assignment and it is your responsibility to perform the assignment.
Importance of a Charged Cell Phone and ID
There may be a situation where your GPS or other directions to the client’s location is on your cell phone and you must contact the Office for further assistance and/or clarification.
It is also possible the Office may require you to have ID to ensure the Care Pro arrives and presents himself/herself to the Client in an appropriate manner.
Some (or all) of the Care Plan instructions may be on the ID.
First Visit, Many Things to Remember
It is understood that you may feel overwhelmed on your first visit due to many different reasons such as learning to take care of a client by remembering/interpreting the Care Plan in the client’s environment, meeting the client for the first time, remembering different preferences, etc.
It is recommended that the Office provide a checklist to Care Pros to assist in the planning and performing process.
Things to do Before your First Client Visit
To help yourself and simplify your first visit, complete the following:
- Confirm client address
- Confirm your start time
- Bring your ID
- Review the Care Plan and/or assignment instructions
- Know the process to contact the Office
- Plan your route and expected travel time
- Confirm you do not have other client visits scheduled that will limit your ability to perform this first visit
The above list should be sufficient. Preparation is required by the Care Pro to simplify the visit.
What Should You Not Bring Into a Client Home?
Do not take your personal office to a client’s home.
You should not take for granted that you can work anywhere in your client’s home. Aim to leave your client’s personal space as clean and as clear as you found it.
Bring only what you need to do the job, and do not bring anything that could create a distraction or make the client or a family member uncomfortable.
Also, do not take anything with you that you intend to use to do the job, unless you are allowed to do so.
There may be many reasons why you are not permitted to use a particular item. The Care Plan and office instructions are your guide.
You should not permit family members or friends to go with you on client visits, unless they are invited to assist you in your professional capacity.
You must contact the Home Instead Lawrenceville office, if you have questions about what you should take on a visit.
What if You Don’t Have All the Information to Do Your Job?
You should not be afraid to ask for the information you need to do your job.
Clients and colleagues often expect that instructions given to Care Pros are clear and complete. But there are times when a routine or task is described in a way that is not understandable or leaves questions unanswered. Sometimes colleagues ask you to do something that you believe is not documented in a Care Plan.
Do not attempt to identify and carry out processes on your own. You are not allowed to make assumptions or come to your own conclusions about a process.
First define what is unclear or missing.
If you do not know what to do, do not simply say, “I do not know what to do.”
Go to the office with the information you have and describe what you have been asked to do and what is not understood.
If you describe a process in a way that is meaningful and understandable to you, the office has something specific to answer.
When Care Pros have questions about what is expected of them in the workplace, they should direct their questions to the Lawrenceville-area Home Instead team. Care Pros should not depend on their own conclusions or assumptions.
What if I don’t know where the client lives?
Check the address and route before you go. If you don’t see the address or think you will be late, follow the office’s communication procedure. You don’t need to wait for the time to start to do this.
What if the client wants me to do something I was not instructed to do?
Ask what the responsibility will involve. Then contact the office and explain what the client asked you to do. Do what the office tells you to do.
Where can I find information to apply for a caregiver job in Norcross?
Current Home Instead caregiver job openings is a good place to start. You can learn about the office by asking questions when you fill out an application. To find the caregiver job openings in Norcross, contact the office to learn about expectation for first visit caregiver prep, what they expect you to bring, and Care Plans. To prepare for your first visit with a client, bring only what the office expects you to bring. You should know what the Care Plan involves and where the client lives. You should contact the office if you have questions.
About the Author
Kelee King has been part of the Home Instead team since 2018 and brings a strong understanding of senior care and caregiver support. As Chief Operating Officer, she provides leadership and guidance to her team while helping families and caregivers receive attentive, dependable support.
