A little preparation can make an at-home healthcare visit calmer, safer, and more efficient. The exact instructions depend on the service, but several steps are useful for almost every DarDoc home visit.
Confirm the basic details
Before the appointment, check:
The person receiving the service
The service being delivered
The date and scheduled time
The full address
The correct telephone number
Building, parking, or security instructions
Any service-specific preparation
If you have moved, changed hotels, or entered the wrong unit number, contact DarDoc before the professional begins travelling.
Keep your phone available
The visiting professional or DarDoc Care Team may need help finding the entrance, passing security, locating parking, or confirming the unit.
Use a number that will be answered around the appointment time. If someone else will receive the professional, share that person’s name and telephone number with DarDoc.
Prepare a clean and suitable space
Choose a well-lit area with enough room for the service.
Depending on the appointment, you may need:
A clean table or work surface
A comfortable chair or bed
Access to a power outlet
Good lighting
Privacy
Space away from pets and heavy household activity
A place for the professional to wash or sanitise their hands
The professional may adjust the setup if a safer arrangement is needed.
Have identification ready
Some clinical services require an Emirates ID, passport, or another valid identification document.
Identification can be necessary for laboratory processing, prescriptions, regulated clinical records, or verifying the person receiving care.
Prepare your health information
Be ready to share relevant information, including:
Allergies
Current medications and supplements
Pregnancy or breastfeeding status
Recent procedures or hospital visits
Diagnosed conditions
New or worsening symptoms
Previous reactions to treatment
Recent test results or prescriptions when relevant
Do not assume that information shared during an older booking has automatically been reviewed for the current service.
Follow service-specific instructions
Blood Tests may require fasting, hydration, or a particular collection time. IV Therapy may require a suitability review. An online consultation may require recent measurements or documents.
If you could not follow an instruction, tell the professional before the service starts. Do not hide it because you are worried the appointment might need to change.
Preparing for Newborn Care
For a newborn caregiver’s first shift, prepare:
Diapers and changing supplies
Feeding supplies
Sterilisation equipment
Expressed milk or formula instructions
Baby clothing and blankets
Bathing or hygiene items
Sleep space
Medication instructions from the baby’s doctor, if applicable
Emergency contacts
The baby’s current routine
Show the caregiver where everything is kept. Explain what normally settles the baby, how feeds are prepared, and how you would like updates during the shift.
If the baby has a medical condition, was born prematurely, or recently left NICU, share the relevant discharge instructions and the treating clinician’s contact pathway.
Preparing for Adult and Elderly Care
For an adult or older person receiving care, consider:
Mobility aids
Fall risks
Bathroom access
Medication schedule
Meal routine
Communication preferences
Emergency contacts
Existing care instructions
Relevant discharge documents
Tell the professional about confusion, reduced mobility, swallowing difficulty, recent falls, or a meaningful change in the person’s condition.
Pets, children, and household activity
Keep pets away from the service area unless DarDoc has confirmed otherwise.
Try to reduce avoidable interruptions during clinical procedures. If children are present, arrange supervision when possible.
If someone is acutely unwell
An at-home booking is not a substitute for emergency care.
If the person develops severe breathing difficulty, chest pain, loss of consciousness, signs of stroke, uncontrolled bleeding, a seizure, or another potentially life-threatening symptom, contact emergency services immediately. Do not wait for a scheduled DarDoc appointment.
A final five-minute check
Before the professional arrives:
Confirm the address.
Put your phone on loud.
Prepare identification.
Gather relevant records and medications.
Clear a safe service area.
Good preparation gives the professional more time to focus on you and the care you requested.