A caregiver helps seniors with personal hygiene, meals, and mobility. In the morning, she helps the senior wash up and eat breakfast. During the day, she cooks, cleans, and takes the senior for a walk. In the afternoon, she has free time. In the evening, she helps the senior get ready for bed. Her day follows a daily schedule. Atena employs caregivers for families in Germany and the Netherlands. In this article, you’ll see an example of a typical day with specific times. Every household is different, so the times may vary. However, the days in a given household are similar, so you’ll quickly get used to them.
What do you do in the morning?
Example: At 7:00 a.m., you’ll help the senior get up and wash. At 7:30 a.m., you’ll help him get dressed. At 8:00 a.m., you’ll have breakfast together. The senior drinks tea in the morning, not coffee. The family will tell you which medications the senior takes. After breakfast, you’ll make sure the senior takes their medication. Then you’ll clean up the kitchen and make the bed. The senior needs the most help in the morning. That’s why mornings are the busiest time in the household. The times and activities are listed in the daily schedule. In the morning, you’ll open it to see what’s on the agenda.
What do you do during the day?
Example: At 10:00 a.m., the senior goes for a short walk. You accompany him and offer him your arm if he needs support. Upon returning, the senior has a glass of water. At 11:00 a.m., you start cooking lunch. The senior enjoys soup and potatoes. Lunch is at noon. You sit at the table with the senior during the meal. After lunch, you wash the dishes and start the washing machine. Household chores are light. They include, for example, dishes, laundry, and grocery shopping. If there are items missing from the grocery list, you write a list and the family buys them. Not every day is the same. For example: The senior is tired in the morning and doesn’t want to go out. You’ll stay home and make him some tea. You’ll postpone the walk until the afternoon. If the senior isn’t feeling well, you’ll call the family and tell them what happened.
How much free time does a caregiver have?
Free time depends on the family and the senior. Therefore, we cannot specify exact hours for all households. The daily schedule shows when the senior is resting or sleeping. During this time, you have time for yourself. Example: The senior rests from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. During that time, you can call home, read the news, or lie down. At 4:00 PM, you’ll have coffee or tea with the senior. If the senior wants, you’ll watch TV together or play cards. After the break, you’ll continue according to the daily schedule.
What do you do in the evening?
Example: Dinner is at six. The senior usually eats a light meal in the evening, such as bread and cheese. After dinner, you’ll wash the dishes and sit down with the senior in the living room. The senior likes to watch the news on TV. At 7:00 p.m., you’ll help the senior wash up and get dressed for bed. At 8:00 p.m., the senior goes to sleep. You then get your things ready for the next day. Some seniors need help at night as well. It depends on the senior. If the senior doesn’t need help at night, you go to sleep too. In the morning, a new day begins according to the same schedule.
How do you prepare for a day like this?
You’ll receive the daily schedule before you arrive at the home. The schedule includes times and activities for a specific senior. Atena introduced a revamped digital daily schedule in January 2024. The schedule reflects the current situation in the home. You’ll also receive a detailed client profile. The profile describes the senior and their household. In the schedule, you can see when meals are served and when the senior rests. This way, you’ll know what to expect on your first day. You can read through the schedule at home, at your leisure.
How will Atena help you with this?
Atena places caregivers with families in Germany and the Netherlands. You’ll receive a daily schedule before arriving at the household. There’s no fee for job placement. You’ll have a formal employment contract, and you can call us at any time. If you’d like to know more about the daily schedule, please contact us.
