Before you agree on a start date, you need the caregiver's duties in writing. A verbal summary is not enough, because the first week will be measured against whatever was written, not whatever was said. This page walks through the check you can run on the list in one sitting.

Local option: New Plan Care gives families in the St. Louis area in-home help so a parent can stay home: companionship, help with bathing and dressing, meals, and overnight care. Call (314) 405-0887.

Step 1: Get the list in writing

  1. Ask the provider for its duties list. If it is posted online, save the page address.
  2. If nothing is posted, ask them to write the list and send it to you before you sign anything.

Source of the list: ______________________________

Step 2: Match each line to the parent's real week

On a sheet of paper, write the tasks your parent actually needs across a normal week. Include meals, bathing help, transport to appointments, light housekeeping, errands, and company. Then mark each task as covered, not covered, or unclear on the provider's list.

Gaps to resolve: ______________________________________________

Step 3: Find the medicine line

A non-medical caregiver may give medication reminders and pick up prescriptions as an errand. Medication handling stays with the family, the doctor, and the pharmacist. Check that the duties list says this, or says something close to it. If the list says the caregiver handles medicine in any way, stop and ask for a corrected page before you go further.

Medicine line as written: ______________________________________

Step 4: Check what is excluded

  1. Look for lifting, driving the parent's car, heavy cleaning, and personal care beyond the listed tasks.
  2. Ask who decides when a request falls outside the list, and how long that decision takes.
  3. Ask what happens to a task that the parent needs but the list does not name.

Exclusions and the answer for each: ______________________________________

Step 5: Initial the list before the start date

Both parties should initial the final list. The list is the reference when a question comes up in week three, so keep the signed copy with the care notes. If you want a plain sequence for the rest of the hiring steps, the Start Here page lays them out in five steps.

Family initials: ________ Provider initials: ________