From the moment we knock, you’re already home.
At Patient Care Of Houston, we believe the first visit is less an inspection and more an introduction between new friends. Below is the simple road-map we share with every family so there are no surprises—only reassurances.
- The Call Before the Knock
About 24 hours ahead, your assigned Care Coordinator phones to confirm the time, parking instructions, and any special entry details (gate codes, barking dogs, favorite tea). We also ask for a “comfort item” list—grandmother’s quilt, the Dodgers throw, the stuffed giraffe that must sit on the left side of the sofa—so the caregiver can greet the home as well as the person.
- Who Shows Up
Two team members arrive:
- The Care Coordinator (the match-maker)
- The Pre-selected Caregiver (the daily helper)
Both wear charcoal-gray polos with our teal pine-tree logo, photo ID badges, and bright smiles. No scrubs, no stethoscopes—this is non-medical care, and we dress like welcomed guests, not clinicians.
3. The 45-Minute “Living-Room Conversation”
We start in the heart of the home—usually the living room—because sofas put people at ease. Topics covered:
Safety walk-through: loose rugs, favorite chair height, night-light placement.
We never open drawers or medicine cabinets unless invited; respect is our first protocol.
Life story: Where did you grow up? What music makes you dance?
Daily rhythm: Early bird or slow starter? Coffee before conversation?
Privacy preferences: Knock before entering the bedroom? Shower robe color?
- Paperwork Without the Papercuts
Five signature pages, clipped on a teal clipboard:
- Service agreement (plain English, 10-point font)
- Emergency contacts
- Preferred hospital (just in case)
- Photo release (only if you’d like us to text you cute moments)
- COVID/flu comfort preferences (masks, distancing, etc.)
We bring the pen; you supply the stories between signatures.
- The “Try-It” Task
Before we leave, we complete one small requested task together—fold yesterday’s laundry, water the African violets, or stir the soup—so you can see our touch in action. If it doesn’t feel right, we reschedule with another caregiver, no questions asked.
- The 24-Hour Check-In
The next business day, the Care Coordinator calls: “How did yesterday feel? Anything we should tweak?” Changes are made within hours, not weeks.
- What We DON’T Do
- No medical procedures (we’re happy to sit with the hospice nurse, but we don’t give injections).
- No cleaning solvents that smell like hospitals—only fragrance-free or your favorite lemon polish.
- No surveillance cameras inside the home (unless the family installs them).
- No long-term contracts—services pause with 48 hours’ notice.
- Packing Up After the Visit
We take our shoes off at the door, but we leave behind:
- A magnetized “Care Calendar” for the fridge with the caregiver’s photo and direct line.
- A handwritten note on the kitchen table—usually a quote the senior mentioned loving.
- A small pine-tree sachet for the sock drawer, so the scent of fresh forest lingers as a promise we’ll return.
FAQ Families Ask the Most
Q: What if Dad doesn’t like the caregiver?
A: We bring a backup profile card to the first visit. Swapping is painless and free.
Q: Do we have to be there the whole time?
A: Stay as long as you’re comfortable, then slip out for coffee. We’ll text when we’re finished.
Q: How soon can services start?
A: Same week, sometimes same day if paperwork is complete.
Closing Thought
Home care works best when it feels like an extension of family rather than an interruption of routine. Our first visit is simply the opening chapter of a story we’ll write together—one cup of tea, one shared laugh, one safe step at a time.
Ready to open the door? Call us at 800-555-TEAL or reply to this post. We can’t wait to meet the person—and the place—you call home.