Caring for a child with a disability or autism can sometimes be a full-time job, but not all parents have the ability to stay at home permanently. Hiring a caregiver can help you fill in the gaps when either you or your spouse needs respite. Here are a few factors to consider when investing in non-medical home care for children with special needs. 

What Are the Benefits of In-Home Care?

In-home care allows your child to get the support they need in a comfortable, familiar environment. In-home caregivers often have special training or experience with children with disabilities, so they may introduce strategies to improve behavioral traits or learning comprehension. Your family can use these strategies even when the caregiver isn’t present. 

In-home care also provides opportunities for rest or other activities for the primary familial caregivers. You may need to run errands, work late, or simply avoid burnout. Every parent needs time for themselves, which can help them relieve stress and be better caregivers. 

How Can They Help My Child?

In-home care can provide structured activities for children based on their specific needs. For instance, they may provide sensory experiences like playing with a water table or age-appropriate help with schoolwork. 

Caregivers may also introduce routines like filling out a daily chart full of activities or providing rewards for chores completed around the house. Alternatively, they can simply help with daily tasks like meal preparation and personal hygiene. 

How Can I Hire a Caregiver?

Before hiring a caregiver, determine what type of help your family needs. Do you need someone to look after your child while you work, or do you just need an extra set of hands to help with housework? Additionally, how often do you need assistance, and what type of experience or services are necessary? 

Once you determine these needs, you can search for caregiving agencies to find qualified candidates. Look for people with experience dealing with children who have similar needs to your own, and introduce your child to see how well they get along. 

An in-home care agency can provide access to quality caregivers without a lengthy search and hiring process. Briggs Home Health in Norfolk, VA, provides non-medical home care options for adults and children with disabilities. They can help with many tasks, so services can be customized to each family’s individual needs. Visit the website for a full list of options, or call (757) 628-1011 for a non-medical home care consultation.