What to Expect From Your First VA Home Care Visit

You've been approved for VA home care. That's excellent news for you or your veteran family member. But if you're feeling a little nervous about having someone you've never met come into your home, you're not alone.

That uncertainty is completely normal. You're about to welcome a caregiver into your personal space to help with intimate daily activities. You don't know what they'll be like, how long it will take, or what they'll need from you.

HomeAide Home Care has been providing VA-contracted home care services in Alameda County for 25+ years. We've conducted thousands of first visits through our partnership with the VA Palo Alto Healthcare System. This guide walks through exactly what happens before, during, and after your first VA home care visit so you know what to expect.

Before Your First Visit: How to Prepare

The VA care coordinator will contact you 2-3 days before your first scheduled visit. They'll confirm the date, time, and which caregiver has been assigned to your case. If that time doesn't work, let them know right away so they can reschedule.

Your caregiver will arrive at the scheduled time for an initial assessment visit. This first appointment takes longer than regular visits because it establishes the foundation for your ongoing care relationship.

What to Have Ready

Gather these items before your caregiver arrives:

• Current medication list (prescription and over-the-counter)
• Recent medical records or care instructions from your VA doctor
• List of medical conditions, allergies, and dietary restrictions
• Your daily routine preferences (wake time, meal times, bedtime)
• Questions or concerns you want to address

You don't need formal documents. A handwritten list works perfectly. The goal is giving your caregiver accurate information about your health and preferences.

Preparing the Veteran

If you're a family member coordinating care for a veteran parent or spouse, have a conversation with them before the caregiver arrives. Explain who's coming, why they're coming, and what will happen during the visit.

Veterans who understand the process beforehand feel less anxious when the doorbell rings. Let them know the caregiver is there to help them stay home safely, not to take over their life or invade their privacy.

Involve the veteran in decisions about their care preferences. When they feel like they have control over the process, they're more likely to accept help.

Setting Up Your Home

Walk through your home and identify which areas the caregiver will need to access. Typically this includes the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and main living areas.

Clear any obstacles from hallways and doorways. Turn on lights in darker areas. Make sure emergency exits are accessible. The caregiver will do a more thorough safety assessment during the visit, but basic preparation helps.

You don't need to deep-clean your house. Caregivers understand that people needing assistance may struggle with housekeeping. That's part of why they're there.

HomeAide's Pre-Visit Coordination

Before your first visit, a HomeAide coordinator will call you to introduce themselves and confirm details. This call covers your veteran's specific needs, any special considerations, and answers quick questions you might have.

This coordination call ensures the caregiver who arrives at your door already knows the basics about your situation. They won't be walking in completely blind.

Who Arrives and When

Your assigned caregiver will arrive at the scheduled time. At HomeAide, a registered nurse supervisor often accompanies the caregiver on first visits to provide clinical oversight and ensure the care plan gets customized appropriately.

The caregiver will knock or ring the doorbell, then introduce themselves by name. They'll show identification and verify they're from the VA-contracted agency assigned to your case. Don't hesitate to ask for ID if they don't offer it immediately.

Expect a call 15-30 minutes before arrival time. Caregivers contact you if they're running late due to traffic or a previous appointment running over. If your scheduled appointment time passes with no call, contact your VA care coordinator.

The First Visit Walkthrough: What Actually Happens

Your first VA home care visit follows a structured process. The caregiver needs to gather information, assess your home environment, and customize the care plan to your specific situation. Here's what happens step by step.

Step 1: Introductions and Rapport-Building (15-20 minutes)

The caregiver introduces themselves and shares a bit about their background, training, and experience. This isn't a formal interview, just a conversation to help everyone feel more comfortable.

They'll ask the veteran about their life, interests, family, and daily routine. What do you like to do? What's a typical day like for you? What kind of help would be most useful?

This conversation helps the caregiver understand the veteran as a person, not just a care recipient. Good caregivers build relationships based on respect and genuine interest.

Step 2: Home Safety Assessment (20-30 minutes)

The caregiver walks through your home with you to identify potential safety hazards. They look for fall risks like loose rugs, poor lighting, cluttered walkways, or bathroom grab bars that need installation.

They'll check accessibility in key areas. Can the veteran safely get in and out of the shower? Are kitchen items within easy reach? Is the bedroom setup safe for nighttime bathroom trips?

This assessment isn't a home inspection. The caregiver notes safety concerns and may suggest modifications, but they're not there to criticize your home. They're identifying ways to make daily activities safer and easier.

Step 3: Care Plan Review and Customization (20-30 minutes)

Your VA doctor authorized specific services and a certain number of hours per week. The caregiver reviews this care plan with you and explains what the VA approved.

Then comes the important part: customizing that generic plan to your actual life. Maybe the VA authorized help with bathing, but you shower at night, not in the morning. Maybe you prefer meals at different times than the standard plan assumes. Maybe you have specific ways you like things done.

The caregiver adjusts the care plan to match your routine and preferences. The goal is fitting help into your life, not forcing you to adapt to a rigid schedule.

Step 4: Preferences and Boundaries Discussion (15-20 minutes)

This conversation covers the details that make care feel personal instead of institutional.

Personal care preferences: How do you like to be addressed? Do you prefer a certain shower temperature? What clothing do you like to wear? What's your breakfast routine?

Dietary needs and meal preferences: What foods do you enjoy? What do you avoid? Any allergies or restrictions? Do you eat at specific times?

Activities and companionship: What do you like to do during the day? Watch TV? Read? Go for walks? Play cards? Work on puzzles?

Boundaries and off-limits areas: Which parts of your home are private? What topics are uncomfortable to discuss? What routines must stay the same?

Communication style: Do you prefer quiet companionship or conversation? How should the caregiver remind you about medications without nagging?

The veteran controls these decisions. The caregiver adapts to their preferences, not the other way around.

Step 5: Questions and Answers (10-15 minutes)

The caregiver asks if you have any questions or concerns about the care plan, schedule, or services. This is your opportunity to clarify anything that's unclear.

Common questions during first visits:

• What happens if the regular caregiver is sick or on vacation?
• How do I contact someone if I need to change the schedule?
• What if my needs change and I require different assistance?
• Who do I call in an emergency?
• What should I do if something isn't working out?

Write down your questions beforehand so you don't forget them during the conversation.

Step 6: Schedule Confirmation and Next Steps (10 minutes)

The caregiver confirms the regular care schedule. Which days will they visit? What times? How many hours per visit? When does regular care begin?

Regular care typically starts within 2-3 days of the first visit. Some veterans begin the next day if the schedule allows.

The caregiver provides contact information for the 24/7 coordinator line. HomeAide's coordinators are available around the clock, so you're never alone if a problem comes up.

Your first visit typically lasts 90 minutes to 2 hours. It's longer than regular visits because it establishes the foundation for your ongoing care relationship.

After the First Visit: What Comes Next

The first visit is complete. The caregiver has left. Now what?

The regular care schedule begins within 2-3 days. Your caregiver will arrive at the agreed-upon times to provide the services outlined in your customized care plan.

The first few visits remain an adjustment period. Both the veteran and caregiver are learning each other's rhythms, preferences, and communication styles. Relationships take time to develop.

If something isn't working, speak up. Call the care coordinator and explain what needs to change. Maybe the caregiver arrives too early and disrupts the veteran's sleep. Maybe the veteran prefers a different approach to a certain task. Maybe the schedule needs adjustment.

The care plan isn't locked in stone. It adjusts as needs change. Veterans recovering from surgery might need more assistance initially, then less help as they regain strength. Others experience declining health and require increasing support over time.

HomeAide's nurse supervisor checks in after the first few visits to ensure care is going well. They address any concerns and make care plan adjustments as needed.

You have a 24/7 coordinator number for urgent issues. If the caregiver doesn't show up, if there's a medical emergency, or if you need immediate assistance with something, call that number. Someone will respond.

Common First Visit Concerns

"What if my dad and the caregiver don't click?"

Personality compatibility matters. HomeAide matches caregivers to veterans based on personality, interests, and communication style, but sometimes the fit isn't perfect.

Give it a few visits. Rapport takes time to build. Many veterans feel guarded during the first visit and warm up after the caregiver proves themselves trustworthy and respectful.

If the personality mismatch persists after 3-4 visits, request a different caregiver. Call the coordinator and explain what's not working. They'll assign someone whose personality better matches the veteran's temperament.

Caregiver changes happen. Good agencies prioritize the veteran's comfort over forcing a relationship that isn't working.

"How do I know the caregiver is safe to have in my home?"

Every caregiver working through VA-contracted agencies undergoes thorough background checks. The VA requires criminal history screening, reference verification, and credential validation before any caregiver enters your home.

HomeAide caregivers complete dementia training, first aid certification, and ongoing continuing education. They're trained professionals, not untrained companions.

All caregivers carry professional liability insurance. The agency maintains bonding and insurance to protect both caregivers and clients.

Nurse supervisors oversee caregiver performance. Melissa Neylan, LVN, founded HomeAide specifically to ensure clinical oversight of home care. With 25+ years in nursing, she maintains the quality and safety standards that come from decades of healthcare experience.

If a caregiver makes you uncomfortable for any reason, report it immediately. Safety concerns get addressed right away.

"What if my veteran is resistant to care?"

Resistance to home care is common, especially when veterans value their independence. Nobody wants to admit they need help with daily activities.

HomeAide caregivers receive training on building trust with resistant clients. They start slow. Maybe the first few visits focus on companionship and light housekeeping rather than intimate personal care. As trust develops, veterans become more comfortable accepting assistance with bathing, dressing, and other personal tasks.

Family involvement helps. When adult children or spouses explain that accepting help allows the veteran to stay home instead of moving to a facility, many veterans become more receptive.

Give it time. Resistance often decreases after 2-3 visits when the veteran realizes the caregiver respects their dignity and isn't trying to take over their life.

"What areas of the home are off-limits?"

The veteran and family control boundaries. Caregivers only access areas needed to provide care. If certain rooms are private, say so during the first visit.

Most caregivers work in the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and main living areas. They don't need access to home offices, craft rooms, or other personal spaces unless those areas are relevant to care.

Closed doors stay closed. Caregivers respect privacy. They knock before entering bedrooms or bathrooms. They don't open drawers or closets unless the veteran asks them to retrieve something.

Establish these boundaries during the first visit. Caregivers appreciate clear communication about what's expected and what's off-limits.

"How much independence will my veteran lose?"

The goal of VA home care is maintaining independence, not replacing it. Caregivers assist with activities the veteran struggles to do safely on their own. They don't take over tasks the veteran can still manage.

If the veteran can dress themselves but needs help with buttons or shoes, the caregiver helps with those specific tasks. If they can prepare simple meals but struggle with cooking that requires standing for long periods, the caregiver handles meal preparation while encouraging the veteran to make choices about what they want to eat.

Good caregivers encourage as much independence as safely possible. They're there to support aging in place with dignity, not to create dependence.

Veterans make their own decisions. Caregivers don't dictate schedules, meals, or activities. They adapt to the veteran's preferences and provide assistance where it's needed.

How HomeAide Makes First Visits Smooth

Twenty-five years of providing VA home care services through the VA Palo Alto Healthcare System taught us how to make first visits less stressful.

The pre-visit coordination call prepares both veteran and caregiver before they meet. Nobody walks in blind. The caregiver already knows basic information about the veteran's needs, and the veteran knows who's coming and when.

HomeAide caregivers receive specialized training in dementia care, veteran-specific needs, and building trust with new clients. They understand that first visits feel awkward and work to put veterans and families at ease.

Nurse supervision sets HomeAide apart from agencies that operate without clinical oversight. A registered nurse supervisor often attends first visits to ensure the care plan gets customized appropriately and all medical considerations get addressed.

The 24/7 support line means you're never alone. If you have a question at midnight, someone answers. If the caregiver doesn't show up, you call the coordinator and they handle it. If an emergency arises, help is one phone call away.

Flexibility in care plans allows adjustments as needs change. The initial care plan is a starting point, not a permanent contract. HomeAide adapts as veterans recover from illness, experience declining health, or simply discover they need different types of assistance than originally planned.

Local Alameda County focus means caregivers know the area. They understand the neighborhoods, the local VA system, and the community resources available to veterans. This isn't a national corporation parachuting caregivers into unfamiliar territory.

Ready for Your First Visit?

Your first VA home care visit establishes the foundation for ongoing care. The caregiver assesses your home, customizes your care plan, and begins building a relationship based on trust and respect.

The visit takes about 90 minutes to 2 hours. You'll discuss preferences, establish boundaries, ask questions, and confirm the regular care schedule. The process gets easier after the first visit once everyone knows what to expect.

If you have questions about what to expect from VA home care through the VA Palo Alto Healthcare System, HomeAide Home Care can help. Our team has 25+ years of experience providing VA-contracted services to Alameda County veterans.

Call (510) 247-1200 to speak with a coordinator, or visit our veterans page to learn more about Homemaker and Home Health Aide program services available through the VA.