Is Home Care the Right Option for You?

By Sandra Ferreira, Technical Director at Lxiscare.

Is Home Care the Right Option for You?

When should you choose or hire a caregiver?

The decision to bring in a caregiver (see some recommendations below) should be made when a person partially or fully loses their independence and is no longer able to manage their daily activities on their own. The choice depends entirely on the family or legal guardian, and should take into account the person’s health condition. For older adults in particular, we strongly recommend a comprehensive geriatric assessment before choosing a caregiver. Lxiscare provides home care for seniors, patients and dependants in Lisbon, as well as Oeiras, Cascais, Sintra, Odivelas, Amadora, Loures and all municipalities on the south bank of the Tagus — areas with large communities of foreign residents and retirees — carrying out free, no-obligation assessment visits.

Recommendations for choosing a caregiver

Before choosing a caregiver, consider the person’s specific needs. Make a list of the daily activities the person needs help with, and what level of specialised skill the caregiver should have to support them. In cases involving limited mobility or dementia, what type of caregiver is most appropriate, and what experience is needed to handle these situations well? Live-in nursing support is sometimes necessary. Also work out whether meal preparation is needed, and make sure the caregiver has the right skills for that, if so.

Take the time to check a caregiver’s references carefully, making sure you can trust the person who may potentially be involved in the rest of your loved one’s life. Caregiver associations are a good starting point for finding the right person — and if you’re arranging care from abroad, working with an established agency like Lxiscare means someone local is doing that vetting for you.

Characteristics of a Good Caregiver

When choosing a caregiver for a family member, certain qualities make all the difference:

1. Patience and the ability to handle difficult situations calmly.
2. Genuine empathy for the person being cared for, not just task completion.
3. Specific training in elder care — in Portugal, many caregivers hold certification as Ajudante Familiar (Family Helper) or AAD, Assistente de Apoio Domiciliário (Home Support Assistant).
4. Punctuality and reliability — routine is essential for older people, especially those with cognitive decline.
5. Clear communication with the family and, when relevant, with healthcare professionals.
6. Discretion and respect for the privacy of the person cared for and their home.
7. The ability to recognise warning signs — falls, behavioural changes, signs of dehydration — and know when to contact the family or healthcare services.
8. Flexibility to adapt the routine to the preferences of the person being cared for.
9. Proven trustworthiness — verifiable references and, in the case of companies like Lxiscare, a proper selection process and ongoing team supervision.
10. Continuity — whenever possible, the same caregiver, to build trust and routine.

All of our caregivers are selected by Lxiscare’s Human Resources team according to strict criteria, and are subject to regular performance reviews. They have the right profile and the essential qualities to provide professional, attentive home care, and support for patients and dependants.

If you’re trying to work out the right kind of support for a family member in Portugal — even from abroad — contact us for a free, no-obligation assessment.