What to Expect on Your First Day as an In-Home Care Helper

Here’s what to expect and how to prepare for your first booking with senior clients on Herewith

Written byJill Tomasetti

PublishedMarch 11, 2025

What to Expect on Your First Day as an In-Home Care Helper

How to prepare for your first day as a caregiver

Now that you’ve been booked by your first senior care client on the Herewith platform, it’s time to get ready for your first day on the job. We’ve put together a quick checklist with everything you need to have a great first day of work and most importantly, to get paid.

Starting an in-home care job as a Herewith Helper

Step 1: Download the Helper mobile app

If you haven’t already, you’ll need to download the Helper mobile app. For iPhones tap here or For Androids tap here.

With the mobile app, you will clock in and out for tasks and shifts, track your pay, get live updates on bookings, search for jobs, and chat with clients on the go. We recommend taking a few minutes to explore the app before you arrive for your first shift, so everything feels familiar and easy.

Get help downloading the Herewith mobile app.

Step 2: How to prepare before your first day as a caregiver

Download the Helper app on your mobile device
Use the app to chat with your clients and make sure you have all the info you need for your task or shift
Use the app to add a bank account where your pay will be deposited (learn how to set up your payment preferences)

Step 3: Caregiver onboarding: What to do on day one of your senior care job

Arrive a couple minutes early so you can clock in on time
Review our guide on clocking in and out using the Helper app
Clock in using the Helper mobile app. We recommend that you enable your location settings to make it easier to clock in and out
Plan to introduce yourself and get comfortable with your client and any family members that may be present
Ask for a tour of the space where you’ll be working, noting where supplies are kept and if there’s any important info that your client may not have included their Help Request

Step 4: At the end of your task or shift

Use the mobile app to clock out of your task or shift so you can get paid
If the person who booked you is a family member of the care recipient, send a quick chat to them on the app, letting them know how the day went
If you enjoyed working with the client, let them know they can rebook you!

Where to find the address for your first senior care booking

Before you apply, jobs and tasks show the city or town as well as an approximate distance to you, but not the specific address.

After you’ve confirmed a job or a one-time task, the booking details will be updated with the worksite address.

Go to Bookings
Ongoing job addresses: look under Ongoing Jobs and scroll horizontally to find the job you want to see. Tap on the card to see full details for that job

Task addresses: scroll to Upcoming Tasks. Tap on each task to see more details