What Do Home Caregivers Do? A Full Breakdown of Services

If you're researching in-home care for the first time, you might be wondering: what do in-home caregivers actually help with?

The answer is usually a lot more than people expect.

This guide breaks down what home caregivers do, including personal care, household help, companionship, and support for more complex care situations.

You'll also learn the difference between home care and home health care, plus what Helpers on Herewith can and can't provide.

Key takeaways

• In-home caregivers provide non-medical support like personal care, household help, companionship, and specialized care support.
• Home care and home health care are different. In-home caregivers handle everyday support, while home health care covers medical services prescribed by a doctor.
• In-home caregivers support adults of all ages, including people recovering from surgery or living with chronic conditions or disabilities.

Home care vs. home health care: What's the difference?

Home care is non-medical support provided by a private caregiver at home. Home health care is medical care provided by licensed nurses or therapists, usually through Medicare or insurance.

The names sound similar, but the services are very different.

Home care covers tasks like meal preparation, bathing, errands, companionship, and help around the house. Caregivers on Herewith (called “Helpers”) provide this type of support.

Home health care requires a doctor's order and follows a treatment plan tied to insurance coverage. Licensed medical professionals provide services like wound care, physical therapy, injections, or medication management.

The two types of services can overlap. After a hospital stay, a home health nurse might stop by a few times a week while an in-home Helper helps with meals, mobility, personal care, and getting around the house.

Everyday help at home (IADLs)

IADLs, or Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, are the everyday tasks that help someone live independently at home. Grocery shopping, cooking, transportation, laundry, and managing medications all fall into this category.

When these tasks become harder to keep up with, a Helper can step in and help lighten the load.

Meal preparation and grocery shopping

A Helper can shop for groceries, prepare meals, and cook based on your loved one's preferences or dietary needs. They can also clean up the kitchen, restock the fridge, and portion meals out for the week.

If your loved one needs help during meals, Helpers can also assist with eating and drinking.

Light housekeeping and laundry

In-home caregivers help keep the home clean, organized, and easier to move around in. That can include laundry, dishes, vacuuming, changing bed linens, tidying up, or clearing clutter from walkways.

Many Helpers also help with light pet care, like dog walking or cleaning a litter box.

Medication reminders

Keeping up with medications can get confusing, especially after a new diagnosis or treatment change. Helpers provide medication reminders, pick up prescription refills, and help your loved one stay on schedule.

They can also let you know if medications are being missed.

Transportation and errands

Helpers can drive your loved one to and from appointments, pick up groceries or prescriptions, and accompany them on outings.

What makes transportation with a Helper different from a typical rideshare app

Unlike drivers booked through rideshare apps, your Helper is someone you’ve chosen specifically to support your loved one. They are tuned in to your loved one’s needs, providing companionship, help getting in and out of the car, and staying in the waiting room if needed during an appointment.

They can help with mobility and companionship throughout the outing, using either your car or their own. Plus, you can incorporate outings and errands seamlessly into their typical weekly schedule.

Technology help

For older adults who feel frustrated by technology, having someone nearby to walk through it patiently can help them stay connected with family, friends and appointments.

Home caregivers help your loved one with phone calls, tablets, video chats, streaming services, and TV remotes.

Personal care and activities of daily living (ADLs)

ADLs, or Activities of Daily Living, are the physical tasks involved in caring for yourself each day.

Bathing, getting dressed, using the bathroom, eating, and moving safely around the home all fall into this category.

Needing help with these tasks is incredibly common, especially after an illness, injury, or change in mobility. Helpers provide personal care with patience, respect, and sensitivity.

Bathing, dressing, and grooming

Support from a Helper with showering, dressing, grooming, hair care, and oral hygiene can help your loved one feel more comfortable.

Personality fit matters with personal care. On Herewith, you can chat with Helpers before booking to find someone your loved one feels at ease with.

Mobility and transfers

After a hospital discharge or just throughout the normal course of aging and changing needs, help with walking, balance, and transfers in and out of a bed, chair, wheelchair, or vehicle can help lower the risk of falls at home.

Helpers may also accompany your loved one on walks, errands, or appointments, providing extra stability outside the home, ensuring mobility aids are within easy reach and offering assistance as needed.

Eating and drinking support

Some people need extra help during meals due to weakness, tremors, swallowing difficulties, or reduced hand coordination. Eating independently can become frustrating, tiring, or unsafe without assistance.

In-home caregivers may help with eating, hydration, and mealtime support at home.

Toileting support

Toileting is one of the most personal parts of caregiving, and one of the hardest areas for many families to ask for help with. Helpers can assist with toileting, continence care, and hygiene while helping your loved one feel comfortable and respected.

Having a Helper your loved one trusts can make personal care feel less stressful for everyone involved.

Companionship and respite care

Loneliness can take a serious toll on older adults, especially after losing a spouse, stopping driving, or spending more time at home alone. Companion care gives your loved one regular social interaction and someone to spend time with throughout the week, providing social and emotional support to reduce the risks of isolation or depression.

Companionship can make it easier for seniors to stay engaged in the activities they enjoy, like going on walks, sharing meals, doing hobbies, going out, or just sitting and talking for a while.

Companion care also fits easily alongside other caregiving tasks around the home.

Support for family caregivers

Caring for a loved one can take up a huge amount of time and energy, especially if you're balancing work, parenting, or your own health needs at the same time. Taking regular breaks is part of staying healthy yourself.

On Herewith, you can book a Helper for a few hours, a full day, overnight care, or ongoing support. Respite care gives you time to rest, catch up on responsibilities, leave the house, or just take a breath for a while.

Specialized in-home care services

Some forms of non-medical caregiving require more experience, especially when memory loss, dialysis, recovery care, or end-of-life care are involved.

Helpers with specialized training can provide support at home alongside nurses, hospice workers, family caregivers, and other care providers.

Memory care

Caring for someone with Alzheimer's or dementia can become more unpredictable over time, especially as memory loss starts affecting safety, communication, and daily habits.

Helpers with memory care experience can provide calm, consistent support at home while helping reduce confusion and stress for everyone involved.

Extra caregiving help can also be useful in assisted living or memory care settings when your loved one needs more attention than staff can consistently provide.

Post-hospital and recovery care

The first few weeks after a hospital stay or surgery are usually the hardest. Getting around the house, keeping up with appointments, preparing meals, and managing everyday responsibilities can feel exhausting while your loved one recovers.

Having reliable help at home can reduce stress and prevent setbacks.

Dialysis care

More people are choosing home dialysis, especially when regular trips to a clinic become exhausting or difficult to schedule.

On Herewith it’s possible to book Helpers to assist with home hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, provide transportation to appointments, and stay nearby during treatment and recovery afterward.

For people without a live-in Care Partner, this kind of support can make home dialysis much more manageable.

End-of-life and palliative care

When your loved one is nearing the end of life, extra help at home can give you more space to focus on spending time together instead of managing everything on your own. Helpers may work alongside hospice or palliative care teams, providing non-medical care and extra support at home.

Having another trusted person there can also make long days, overnight care, and difficult transitions feel less overwhelming.

In-home care for adults of all ages

In-home care isn't only for seniors. Helpers also support younger adults recovering from surgery, living with disabilities, managing chronic conditions, or needing temporary help at home.

Common situations where in-home care can help include:

• Recovery after surgery or hospitalization
• Transportation and support after outpatient procedures like colonoscopies, cataract surgery, or dental surgery
• Ongoing help for adults living with chronic conditions or disabilities
• Short-term support after an injury, illness, or medical procedure
• Transportation to appointments and help getting settled back at home
• Recurring support with errands, meals, mobility, and household responsibilities

On Herewith, you can book support as needed without contracts or long-term commitments.

What in-home caregivers don't provide

Helpers provide non-medical care only.

There are a few important limits to keep in mind:

• Administering or dispensing medications
• Medical procedures like wound care, injections, or catheter care
• Monitoring vitals like blood pressure or oxygen levels
• Making medical decisions or speaking with healthcare providers on your loved one's behalf

If your loved one needs medical care at home, a home health nurse or licensed medical provider is the right fit.

Many families still use in-home caregivers alongside home health professionals, to help with non-medical tasks.

How to find a Helper on Herewith

Getting started on Herewith takes just a few minutes. Post a Help Request with your schedule, care needs, and budget, and Helpers in your area can apply. From there, you can review profiles, check experience and certifications, and chat with Helpers before booking.

There are no contracts, hourly minimums, or long-term commitments. You can book a Helper once, set up ongoing support, or adjust care as your needs change.

If you're still deciding what kind of care makes sense for your situation, you can explore the full range of in-home care services on Herewith.

Families also ask

What is a non-medical caregiver?

A non-medical caregiver provides help with personal care, household responsibilities, transportation, companionship, and other forms of in-home support without performing medical procedures. On Herewith, non-medical caregivers are called Helpers.

What's the difference between home care and home health care?

Home care is non-medical support hired privately by you or your family. Home health care is medical care provided by licensed nurses or therapists, usually through Medicare or insurance. The two are often used together.

What are ADLs and IADLs?

ADLs, or Activities of Daily Living, include physical self-care tasks like bathing, dressing, eating, mobility, and toileting.

IADLs, or Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, include responsibilities like cooking, grocery shopping, transportation, laundry, and managing medications. Helpers can assist with both.

Can Helpers support adults who aren't seniors?

Yes. Helpers support adults of all ages, including people recovering from surgery, living with disabilities or chronic conditions, or needing temporary support at home after a procedure or hospital stay.

Do I have to sign a contract to use Herewith?

No. Herewith does not require contracts, hourly minimums, or long-term commitments. You can book a Helper once or set up ongoing care based on your schedule and needs.