You can get help with all sorts of everyday tasks through in-home care. But you do have to pay for it all—by the hour.

If you’re on a budget and need help prioritizing, think about things like: What affects your quality of life most? Are your safety and hygiene secure? What can other people help with? How long will each service take?

Below, we’ve organized tasks according to type, to help you choose the services you need most:

Safety

A home safety check is important because it helps prevent falls. Some agencies will conduct this, or a family member can, using this checklist from the CDC.

Other fall safety measures include having an aide in the house while you shower (or having an aide help you shower) and scheduling your care for the time of day you need help getting in or out of bed or a wheelchair.

Health and Nutrition

In-home care aides can help you maintain your health by:

• Preparing nutritious meals. Ask if the aide can cook double and freeze one for later.
• Picking up prescriptions and providing medication reminders. You can buy reminder gadgets too. An aide can help you set one up.

Other services include grocery shopping, driving you to doctor appointments and checking food expiration dates.

Hygiene and Grooming

You can decide how often you want the house cleaned, need the laundry done or want a shower. Things you’ll probably want every time the aide comes, if you need them, include:

• Getting dressed
• Incontinence care
• Help with toilet hygiene
• Help with oral hygiene

Finance and Home Upkeep

Perhaps you can hire a neighborhood kid to do your yard work, water your houseplants and maybe even clip coupons. You’ll probably need an adult—either an aide or family member—to help you pay bills and arrange home repairs.

Companionship

Companionship is important for quality of life. And for people with dementia, having someone present may be a necessity.

Aides can play games, read out loud and watch movies. They might drive you to social and entertainment events and attend them with you. And they’ll care for your pets so you can maintain that companionship source.

Volunteers from your place of worship or another local organization may also be available to pitch in. Other places to socialize include senior centers and adult day-care centers.

Other Quality of Life Issues

Additional services that may be important to you include:

• Helping make and keep track of appointments
• Running errands (with or without you)
• Taking you shopping