Before the first visit, a short written agreement does more work than any conversation in the driveway. It is the part nobody enjoys and everybody is glad they wrote down later. For a non-medical helper who comes to Mom's house during the afternoon window, the agreement should be specific about hours, tasks, and what stays off the list.
Local option: New Plan Care gives families in the St. Louis area in-home help so a parent can stay home: companionship, help with bathing and dressing, meals, and overnight care. Call (314) 405-0887.
If you are still looking for a name to start with, the Local Help in St. Louis page is the place to begin.
Check the hours line first
Look for the exact start and end times, the days, and what happens when either side needs to change. Does a late arrival count as a missed visit? Is there a minimum block of time? Who calls whom when the plan shifts, and how much notice is expected? Read these lines twice, because the afternoon window is where a week either holds together or quietly falls apart.
Write down the errands, not just the help
A good agreement lists tasks in plain words: light tidying, meal prep, a walk around the block, a ride to the store, a pharmacy pickup as an errand. Medicine stays with the family, the doctor, and the pharmacist, and the agreement should say that plainly. Reminders and errands are the honest part of the offer, and the document should describe them that way.
Read the rate section line by line
Look for how the rate is set, how often it can change, what a cancellation involves, and whether holidays or extra time carry a different rule. You do not need a number here, just a clear rule for each case. If a line says as needed with no further detail, ask what that means before you sign.
Check who holds the keys and the calendar
Write down who has a key, how it is returned, and who is listed as the emergency contact. Note whether the helper will text the family group or only call one person. If you are hiring directly rather than through an agency, ask whoever handles your taxes or your mom's paperwork how the arrangement should be documented. That is a question for a professional, and this page cannot settle it for you.
Ask what happens on a bad day
Ask what happens when the helper is sick, when Mom has a rough afternoon, or when the usual person cannot come. A solid agreement names a backup or a process. If the answer is that you will figure it out, the paperwork is only half done.