If you're managing care for an aging parent or loved one who wants to remain at home, you understand the importance of finding the right balance: preserving independence while ensuring safety, comfort, and companionship. You're not the one providing daily care, but you are the one making sure it happens—which makes your role essential.

This guide is for care coordinators like you. We’ll explore practical ways to help your loved one live well at home, from safety upgrades to social engagement, and how Clara, a trusted facilitator of in-home care, can simplify the process of connecting with experienced, high-quality caregivers.

Make the Home Safe and Supportive

When coordinating care, start with the environment. A safe, accessible home forms the foundation of independent living. Look for common risks and make upgrades that reduce fall hazards:

• Improve lighting in hallways, bathrooms, and stairwells, especially with motion sensors or nightlights.

• Remove tripping hazards like loose rugs or cluttered rooms and hallways.

• Install grab bars in bathrooms and handrails on both sides of stairs.

• Simplify access with lever-style door handles, raised toilet seats, or a shower bench.

For added peace of mind, consider technology like voice-activated assistants, smart locks, or emergency response systems. Clara can also connect you with professional caregivers trained to monitor safety and support daily movement—an extra layer of protection.

Support Social and Mental Well-Being

Living at home shouldn’t mean being isolated. Social engagement and mental stimulation are crucial for emotional health. As a care manager, your goal is to ensure these needs are consistently met:

• Companionship care can help reduce loneliness. Clara can match your loved one with a caregiver who doesn’t just assist—they engage, listen, and build rapport. (See her for more on Companion Caregivers).

• Encourage hobbies or light activities. Whether it’s a card game, garden walk, or a shared TV show, caregivers can incorporate these moments into their routine.

• Help coordinate outings or video calls with family and friends. Clara caregivers can assist with transportation or tech support so your loved one stays connected.

Social connection contributes to better physical and mental outcomes, and with the right support, it’s absolutely possible to maintain even while living independently.

Keep Health and Medications on Track

Health management doesn’t have to fall entirely on your shoulders. Your role is to ensure systems are in place—and that someone is there to follow through:

• Pill organizers or automated dispensers can make medication management easier.

• In-home caregivers available through Clara can provide reminders, track adherence, and report changes.

• Monitor wellness indicators like appetite, mobility, and mood—especially when you can’t be there in person.

A reliable caregiver becomes your eyes and ears on the ground. Clara can help pair you with someone trained in chronic condition support or post-hospital care, so you can confidently manage health from a distance.

Preserve Dignity and Independence

One of the most valuable things you can do is help your loved one maintain a sense of autonomy—a critical part of self-determination. The right care plan supports their independence, rather than undermining it:

• Let them make choices. Involve them in care planning—from daily schedules to which caregiver they prefer.

• Empower what they can still do. Caregivers from Clara are trained to support, not take over. They encourage participation in daily tasks at whatever level your loved one is comfortable.

• Choose caregivers with emotional intelligence. Respect, privacy, and kindness matter. Clara helps match caregivers not just on skill, but on personality and values. You can learn more about choosing the right caregiver, here.

The result? Care that doesn’t feel clinical or intrusive. It feels like support, on their terms.

Know When to Bring in Help

Whether you’re just starting to organize care or reevaluating an existing setup, certain signs indicate it’s time to expand support:

• Missed medications or skipped appointments

• Noticeable changes in hygiene, eating, or household upkeep

• Increased fall risk or mobility concerns

• Social withdrawal or signs of cognitive decline

• Family caregiver burnout—even if you’re managing, not providing, direct care

Bringing in outside help can extend your loved one’s ability to live at home—safely and comfortably. Clara makes this step straightforward. As a facilitator of in-home care, Clara helps families like yours find skilled, vetted caregivers who fit both the practical and emotional needs of your loved one.

From light housekeeping and meal prep to companionship and transportation, Clara caregivers support the full spectrum of daily living—and they do it with warmth, professionalism, and reliability.

Clara Is Built to Support Family Care Coordinators

Helping a loved one stay at home doesn’t mean you have to do everything yourself. Clara is here to simplify your role as a care coordinator. We’ll help you:

• Understand your loved one’s care needs

• Match with experienced caregivers

• Adjust care as needs evolve

We believe high-quality care should be personal, flexible, and empowering. If you’re looking for a way to support your loved one’s independence without sacrificing safety or peace of mind, Clara is ready to help.

Visit clarahomecare.com to learn more or get in touch.