Our 72-hour matching process is a structured path from a first conversation to a confirmed caregiver plan within three days. Families describe the help they need, we review those needs against available caregivers, and nothing starts in the home until you approve the fit.
This page explains each stage in order so you know what we will ask, what you can prepare, and how a match is confirmed. The same sequence applies whether you want a few daytime hours or a more continuous plan. It is a care-coordination process, not a medical evaluation, and it does not replace guidance from a physician.
What the 72-Hour Timeline Covers
The 72-hour timeline covers intake, needs mapping, caregiver screening, your review of a shortlist, and confirmation of a first visit. It is a planning window, not a diagnosis visit, and the clock works best when one family member can answer follow-up questions the same day.
Some families finish sooner when the schedule and care type are already clear. Others use the full three days when several relatives must agree, the home situation is complex, or you want time to compare more than one caregiver.
Families who want local service context first can browse our Detroit home care hub and then return to these matching steps when they are ready to start.
Step 1: The Intake Conversation
The intake conversation is how matching begins: you tell us who needs help, where care will take place, and what a typical day looks like. You can start by phone or online, and a coordinator follows up if any detail is missing.
Expect practical questions about mobility, overnight needs, language or cultural preferences, pets, household access, and who else will be in the home. We also ask what kind of help you want first, such as companion care for presence and daily activity, or hands-on help with bathing, dressing, and meals.
If memory changes are part of daily life, say so early. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, and it often affects communication, routine, and safety at home. The CDC overview of Alzheimer's disease and dementia offers plain-language public background for families. We do not diagnose conditions or recommend treatment. We only use what you share so the caregiver match fits real life at home.
Step 2: Needs Mapping and Care Type
Needs mapping turns your intake notes into a clear picture of schedule, skills, and home setting so we can choose the right type of support. The goal is a workable first match, not a clinical care plan.
A person who mainly wants conversation, errands, and a steady presence may align with companion support. Someone who needs help with bathing, grooming, or toileting may need personal care. Families coming home after a hospital stay often need a short, structured ramp-up through hospital discharge care.
If a loved one lives with Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia, we look at familiar routines, evening changes you already notice, and how much cueing or supervision you provide. That information helps us consider memory care at home rather than a generic hourly match. If you also want an independent clinical or research conversation, you can look up NIA-funded Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers on your own. Those centers are public resources and do not review or endorse this matching process.
Step 3: Caregiver Screening and Availability
Caregiver screening and availability checks come next so we only propose people who can work the hours you need and who match the skills you described. This is an internal review of our caregiver roster, not a public job board.
We look at schedule fit, language, driving or errands, comfort with pets, experience with similar home situations, and whether the role is daytime, overnight, or a live-in block. If you need around-the-clock presence, we consider whether rotating shifts or 24-hour live-in care is more realistic for your household.
We also note backup coverage. Matching is not only about one person. It is about having a plan if a caregiver is ill or a family member needs a break through respite care.
Ask your coordinator what screening steps apply to the caregivers on your shortlist so you can review them directly. We will not invent credentials or list outside vendors on this page.
Step 4: Your Shortlist and Introduction
Your shortlist is a small set of caregiver options we believe can meet the schedule and home situation you described. You review those options and tell us who you want to meet or who you want to start with.
A typical shortlist includes a brief profile, relevant experience in everyday language, available hours, and any constraints, such as no overnight shifts. You can ask for a phone introduction, a video introduction, or a brief in-home meet-and-greet before paid care begins, depending on timing and comfort in the home.
If nobody on the first shortlist feels right, say so. The 72-hour window is meant to produce a workable match, not to pressure you into accepting the first name you see. A second pass is normal when personality, language, or household rules need a closer fit.