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How do I find and hire in-home help for a parent?

Start by working out what help is needed, then find options through your local Area Agency on Aging, your parent’s doctor or a hospital discharge planner. Compare agencies and independent helpers, ask the same questions of each, involve your parent in choosing, and start small so everyone can adjust.

Updated October 2026.

The short version

  • Decide what kind of help is needed first.
  • Find options through the Area Agency on Aging and your parent’s doctor.
  • Ask every candidate the same questions.
  • Let your parent meet and choose.
  • Start small and review.

What kind of help?

  • Companionship and homemaking: company, meals, housekeeping, errands.
  • Personal care: help with bathing, dressing and getting around the home.
  • Health-related care: arranged through a doctor or care provider.
  • Practical services: grocery or meal delivery, rides, home repairs.

Think about the tasks that are hardest, not the label. See ADLs and IADLs for a way to list them.

Where to look

  1. Area Agency on Aging. Use the Eldercare Locator to find the one near your parent. See local services for older adults living alone.
  2. Your parent’s doctor or a hospital discharge planner.
  3. Friends, neighbors and local organizations who have used someone they trust.
  4. Agencies, or helpers you hire directly.

Questions to ask every candidate

  • What tasks do you do, and what do you not do?
  • Are your helpers screened, and how?
  • Who covers if the regular person is unavailable?
  • How do you handle an emergency or a change in how my parent is?
  • What does a typical week look like, and what are the rates and minimums?
  • Can we have a short trial and a written plan?

Make it theirs

People accept help more readily when they choose it. Let your parent meet the person, say what they want done and how, and agree a trial. Start with a few hours a week. See how to talk to a parent about accepting help.

Keep everyone informed

A helper changes the family’s picture, so agree who is the contact, what gets recorded and who hears about changes.

Where KinectedCare fits

KinectedCare is a privacy-first app for the whole family, free to start on iOS and Android. A CareTeam gives siblings, friends and neighbors one shared place for notes and updates, and your parent stays in charge of what is shared. It is not a medical device or an emergency service. A shared place for notes helps the family and any helpers stay on the same page, with your parent deciding what is shared.

Questions people ask

Should I use an agency or hire someone directly?
Both are common. Agencies usually handle screening and cover for absences, and independent helpers may offer more flexibility. Ask the same questions of each and decide with your parent.
How do I check someone is trustworthy?
Ask how they are screened, ask for references and speak with them, and start with a short trial. Your local Area Agency on Aging may have advice for your area.
Who pays for in-home help?
It varies a great deal. We do not give specifics. Start with your local Area Agency on Aging and Medicare.gov.
Is this legal, medical or financial advice?
No. It is general information. Ask a qualified professional about your situation.
Does KinectedCare replace emergency services?
No. KinectedCare is not a medical device or an emergency service. If someone may be hurt, call local emergency services first.

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