What Services Do Private Caregiver Provide?

Sange Thungon
September 15, 2025
10:00 am

Caring for an aging parent, a loved one with a disability, or someone recovering from illness can feel overwhelming for family members. While nursing homes and assisted living facilities are options, many families prefer the comfort of their own homes. In these situations, hiring a private caregiver is often the best choice. But what services do private caregiver provide?

Below, we outline exactly what private caregivers do based on the Private Care Services we provide, so you can decide if hiring a private caregiver is the right fit for your loved one.

Personal Care (ADL Support)

Private caregivers assist with assistance with activities of daily living so routines stay manageable and safe.

Bathing, dressing, and grooming: respectful help that maintains hygiene and confidence
Morning and evening routines: set-up, safety reminders, and gentle pacing

Personal care delivered at home reduces stress and often improves quality of life, because the person keeps familiar habits in a familiar space.

Medication Reminders

While private caregivers do not provide clinical medical care, they do support daily follow-through.

Timely medication reminders per the provided instructions
Simple organization (e.g., opening a new blister pack the family prepared)
Noting changes in appetite, sleep, or mood and updating the home care agency or family

This reliable prompting helps the care plan work as intended and keeps everyone on the same page.

Errand Assistance

Everyday tasks can become barriers to independence. Caregivers make life easier by handling light errands the family plans, such as quick grocery runs, pharmacy pickups, and mailing packages, so the household keeps moving without strain.

Mobility Assistance

Safe movement builds confidence. Caregivers:

Offer a steady arm for transfers and short walks
Help position chairs and clear pathways to minimize trip hazards
Encourage light activity that matches the person’s energy level

This day-to-day support helps prevent avoidable setbacks and supports the person’s goal to remain at home.

Meal Preparation

Nutrition fuels healing, mood, and strength. Caregivers plan simple menus with the family, prepare familiar foods, set the table, and tidy the kitchen afterward. Mealtimes can also double as social moments that lift spirits and encourage steady intake.

Light Housekeeping

A tidy space is a safer space. Caregivers complete light housekeeping tasks such as dishes, sweeping, laundry, fresh linens, and basic organizing. They also keep an eye out for small hazards and flag them so families can fix issues quickly.

Companionship

Human connection matters as much as task support. Caregivers provide conversation, play games or cards, read aloud, take short porch sits, and encourage calls with friends. These meaningful social interactions reduce loneliness and help each day feel purposeful.

Private Caregiver Services
Service	Description	Benefits
Personal Care (ADL Support)	Assistance with bathing, dressing, grooming, and daily routines in a respectful way.	Promotes hygiene, safety, and confidence while maintaining independence at home.
Medication Reminders	Timely prompts, simple organization, and observing changes in well-being.	Ensures adherence to care plans and keeps families updated.
Errand Assistance	Help with light errands such as grocery shopping, pharmacy trips, and mailing packages.	Reduces strain on the household and supports independent living.
Mobility Assistance	Support with transfers, walking, clearing pathways, and light activity encouragement.	Improves safety, prevents falls, and boosts confidence in movement.
Meal Preparation	Planning simple menus, preparing familiar meals, and keeping the kitchen tidy.	Supports nutrition, energy, and creates positive social mealtime moments.
Light Housekeeping	Basic cleaning, laundry, linens, dishes, and identifying small home hazards.	Keeps the environment tidy, safe, and more comfortable for daily living.
Companionship	Meaningful activities like conversation, games, reading, and social encouragement.	Reduces loneliness, lifts mood, and makes daily life more fulfilling.

Specialized Support (Non-Medical)

Every person is unique, so we tailor help to the individual. Non-medical personalized care can include:

Gentle structure for memory challenges (engaging in activities, consistent routines, calm redirection)
Post-hospital support focused on rest, nutrition, and safe pacing
Cultural and language alignment to make communication easy and comfortable

This is all non-clinical support. When a doctor orders clinical services, licensed providers handle those tasks separately.

Why Families Choose Private Care Over Facilities

One-to-one attention: Care revolves around one person’s preferences and pace.
Flexible hours: Buy only the time you need and adjust as life changes.
Familiar setting: Home comforts reduce confusion and anxiety.
Often more cost effective: Pay for targeted support rather than all-inclusive facility fees.

For many households, this combination delivers the right balance of independence and safety without the disruption of a move.

What A Good Home Care Agency Provides

Choosing an agency adds structure and peace of mind. A reputable home care agency will:

Build a written care plan with clear tasks, goals, and schedules
Perform thorough background checks and reference verification
Offer caregiver training, supervision, and scheduling support
Provide consistent communication with the client and their family
Replace staff promptly if schedules or needs change

This framework keeps care reliable and transparent from day one.

When To Consider Hiring a Private Caregiver

Call sooner rather than later if you notice:

New difficulty with bathing dressing or toileting
Forgotten meals, spoiled food, or a drop in hydration
Less mobility or hesitation to move around the home
Increasing isolation or low mood
Family stress from juggling work, children, and care duties

Early help prevents crises and supports safer routines at home.

FAQs

Are private caregivers nurses?

No. Private caregivers provide non-medical help. Clinical tasks belong to licensed providers. We coordinate with them when the plan includes clinical visits.

How long do services last?

As long as they are helpful. Some families need a few weeks post-discharge. Others choose ongoing support to maintain routines.

Can we change tasks or hours?

Yes. Private care is flexible. We update the care plan as needs and goals evolve.

How Home Care Powered by AUAF Can Help

Private caregivers deliver practical, compassionate support that keeps home life steady. From ADLs and meals to light errands, mobility help, organizing, and companionship, the right plan preserves independence and improves quality of life without a move to assisted living.

Home Care Powered by AUAF has been a leading provider of non-medical home care services in Illinois for over 30 years. Our Private Care Services include Personal Care, Medication Reminders, Errand Assistance, Mobility Assistance, Meal Preparation, Light Housekeeping, Specialized Support (non-medical), and Companionship. We listen first, create a clear care plan, and match a reliable caregiver who respects your routines. Our multilingual team communicates clearly, adjusts quickly, and makes home the most comfortable place to thrive.