If you’re considering in-home care for a loved one, you likely have many questions. Maybe you’re worried about a loved one living alone, or you’re realizing that caring for your spouse, parent, or child is more than you can safely or comfortably handle. You know you need assistance, but where do you start?
An in-home care assessment is one of the first steps to getting your questions answered and setting up personalized care for your loved one. At BrightStar Care, this home care evaluation is often called a “living room visit” because it takes place at home, where your loved one is most comfortable.
- What Is an In-Home Care Assessment?
- Why Is an In-Home Care Assessment Important?
- How Does BrightStar Care’s In-Home Care Assessment Work?
- How Home Care Assessments Benefit Clients & Families
- How to Prepare for a Living Room Visit
- What to Expect During an In-Home Care Assessment
- What Evaluations Happen After Home Care Begins?
- In-Home Care Assessment FAQs
What Is an In-Home Care Assessment?
“An in-home care assessment is a friendly visit with a nurse who specializes in home care to better understand your loved one's needs,” explains Susan Ehrlich, R.N., B.S.N., Director of Clinical Compliance at BrightStar Care.
This living room visit is designed to answer client and family questions and determine what kind of personalized home care is needed for an individual to remain as safe, comfortable, and independent as possible in their home.
BrightStar Care teams are specially trained to evaluate and design care plans for people of all ages with chronic health conditions, disabilities, and other short-term and long-term in-home care needs. Services range from companionship and personal care support, such as light housekeeping and assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), to skilled nursing, in-home therapies, and dementia care.
Why Is an In-Home Care Assessment Important?
Home care consultations with BrightStar Care are more than a formality; they are a learning opportunity for everyone involved.
“An in-home assessment allows the nurse to see an accurate, real-world understanding of how the person lives,” Ehrlich says. "It gives valuable insights into where the client needs support—for example, keeping track of medications, getting around the house, or following a prescribed way of eating—and what will work best for their unique situation.”
A BrightStar living room visit doesn’t obligate you to do anything. Ehrlich emphasizes that it’s not a sales call, but rather a comprehensive evaluation of the services and support your loved one needs to continue living safely, comfortably, and as independently as possible.
Ultimately, it’s a way for you to talk through questions and concerns and make sure that BrightStar Care is the right fit for your loved one’s in-home care needs.
How Does BrightStar Care’s In-Home Care Assessment Work?
The in-home consultation with BrightStar Care occurs after an initial phone or video intake call.
To get the most accurate picture, the client, close family members, and anyone involved in care decisions should attend the assessment. This approach helps identify both immediate needs and potential problems so that the BrightStar Care team can align expectations and goals.
This is also an opportunity for our team to evaluate important details, such as:
Home Safety Risks
Falls are the leading cause of injury and injury-related death for adults age 65+. When assessing home care needs, it’s important for our team to understand whether your loved one has certain health conditions or safety hazards around their home that could lead to falls.
Mobility & Activity Levels
A BrightStar Care nurse will assess your loved one’s ability to move around the home and perform ADLs, such as grooming, eating, and toileting. Based on these observations, the nurse can recommend the best level of home care services to help your loved one continue living as independently as possible.
Cognitive Issues
Your loved one’s ability to make decisions, keep track of time, remember appointments, or communicate with family members can impact whether they're able to live at home without assistance. Our nurses can suggest support services and other helpful resources to help manage these challenges so that your loved one can remain comfortably at home.
Medication Management
For skilled nursing and other home health services, our team will want to discuss medication management. Evaluating medications and understanding your loved one’s routines are part of the care plans our nurses develop to ensure effective use of prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines in treating health conditions at home.
Eating & Drinking Habits
Overall nutrition and hydration can make a big difference in maintaining health and independence at home. A BrightStar Care nurse will assess dietary preferences, nutrition requirements, fluid intake, and meal preparation capabilities to provide the best recommendations for your loved one’s in-home care plan.
How Home Care Assessments Benefit Clients & Families
BrightStar Care’s living room visit approach helps ensure we deliver the home care services you and your loved one need as part of a comprehensive care plan—and that you maximize the benefits of in-home care. The advantages of BrightStar’s in-home assessment include:
RN Oversight
With our nurse-led care model, registered nurses (RNs) provide clinical oversight from the start of care. Your loved one’s care team—which can include everyone from professional caregivers and home health aides (HHAs) to certified nursing assistants (CNAs) and therapists—are managed by one RN, offering seamless collaboration and support.
Personalized Care
Our home care assessments reduce guesswork and ensure your loved one's care plan is based on their unique medical history, current health and medical needs, and future health goals—not someone else’s.
Improved Safety at Home
BrightStar Care nurses receive specialized training to identify home safety and security risks that families might overlook. For example, they may recommend installing grab bars in the bathroom or storing medications in a safer location. A home risk assessment can help prevent falls, medication errors, and other accidents, giving you and your loved one greater peace of mind.
Confidence for Family Caregivers
As a family caregiver, you encounter many overwhelming decisions and tasks every day. Seeking out home care services means you no longer have to face these things alone, and our in-home assessments can help you gain confidence and feel more secure in making informed decisions about your loved one’s care.
Better Long-Term Outcomes
The BrightStar Care team provides regular evaluations to ensure your loved one’s home care services continue to support their lifestyle and health needs. As their needs change, we can make adjustments to their care plan, leading to improved quality of life, fewer hospitalizations, and greater independence over time.
How to Prepare for a Living Room Visit
Remember, the goal of an in-home care assessment with BrightStar Care is to:
- Determine if home care services are right for your family’s needs
- Develop a care plan that provides the appropriate level of support for your loved one
Keeping these things in mind, there are a few ways you can prepare for your living room visit.
Gather Documents
Collect important documents and information, including medication lists, medical history, insurance information, emergency contacts, and any applicable legal documents, such as a power of attorney or advance directives.
Talk with Your Family
Take some time to discuss concerns with your loved one and other family members. What challenges are you facing? What has changed to prompt your interest in home care? What would make care feel more personalized for you and your family? What role do friends and family members play in supporting your loved one? Making a list will help everyone get the information they need and feel that their questions and concerns are heard.
Find a Good Date & Time
When you schedule the living room visit with BrightStar Care, be sure to choose a time when you, your loved one, and anyone else involved in their care are available to participate. This will help everyone involved feel heard and as though they’re an ongoing part of your loved one’s care.
Prep Questions Ahead of Time
Note the questions you have—and any other details you want to share—about your loved one’s needs before the team arrives for the assessment. That way, you and your family can focus on getting to know the nurse and understanding BrightStar’s services, rather than searching for information or trying to remember what you wanted to ask.
What to Expect During an In-Home Care Assessment
Living room visits often reveal a very different picture than a quick virtual interview and can help you, your loved one, or other family members understand that things may not be exactly as they seemed.
For example, Ehrlich recalls an assessment that turned out very differently from what she expected. The family believed the client needed only basic supportive care, but when Ehrlich visited, she saw he was unable to use the stairs, take a shower, or do laundry. He needed more care than his family realized. BrightStar then designed a care plan to meet his unique needs.
It can go the other way, too. Sometimes, the family assumes a loved one can’t live independently at home. However, a trained nurse may identify key services that allow the client to maintain independence while remaining safe and comfortable.
It’s important to go into in-home care assessments with an open mind and the understanding that the recommendations provided by BrightStar Care aren’t an obligation. Our local care teams can work with you and your family to determine the best solutions for what you need.
What Evaluations Happen After Home Care Begins?
An in-home care assessment is not a one-time event, but rather an ongoing process that adapts services to your loved one’s changing health needs, Ehrlich says.
Members of the care team will conduct ongoing health evaluations to monitor your loved one for changes in physical strength, balance, memory, and mood. They’ll also evaluate whether medications are effective or causing side effects.
If you, your loved one, or another family member notice a change in condition, share it with your BrightStar team. Everyone involved can contribute vital information and support that promote your loved one’s well-being and continuity of care.
Frequently Asked Questions About In-Home Care Assessments
Who performs an in-home care assessment?
At BrightStar Care, a registered nurse (RN) leads the home care team and conducts the in-home assessment. The nurse will supervise and update the care plan to ensure your loved one receives the care and support needed to remain independent, safe, and comfortable at home.
How long does an in-home health assessment take?
An in-home assessment with BrightStar Care—also called a “living room visit”—can take an hour or two, depending on the situation.
How often are care evaluations updated?
BrightStar Care nurses regularly assess home care clients and will update plans of care as lifestyle and health needs change.
Does a home care assessment mean my loved one will lose independence?
Not at all. In fact, a comprehensive home care assessment can help your loved one continue living independently longer by ensuring they receive the in-home support they need.
BrightStar Care® Is Ready to Meet You Where You Are
A free BrightStar Care in-home assessment can bring clarity and confidence to family caregivers and the people they care for. This living room visit provides information you may not be aware of and helps you understand the different ways you may be able to support your loved one in their own home.
Our home care evaluation isn't a sales visit and doesn’t obligate you to use BrightStar Care. It’s an opportunity for our local care team to understand the services your loved one needs and for you to understand what services BrightStar Care can provide to meet those needs.
If you’re ready to schedule a free consultation for home care services, our experienced local care teams are ready to help. Find a location near you, contact us online, or call (866) 618-7827 to learn more about how BrightStar Care® offers A Higher Standard®.