A helper who sets up a tablet once is a different hire from one who keeps Mom's video visits working every week. Before you let anyone touch her device or her accounts, compare what each one actually promises in writing.

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.

Start with the job you are hiring for

Decide whether you need a one-time setup, a repeat visit when something breaks, or a standing monthly check. Then list what has to work: the device, the internet router, the television or screen she watches, the video app, and the account your family uses to call her. A helper who only sets up a tablet cannot promise a working call on the night the router resets.

Compare what they promise on paper

Put three or four providers side by side and ask each one the same questions. How is a visit booked, and how long does it run? Is the bill per visit, a package, or by the hour? What is the response time when a call freezes or the app stops loading, and is that promise in writing? Does the helper stay available for a set period after setup? Give each answer its own row so the differences show.

Check how they handle logins and access

Ask who owns the accounts after the work is done, and how passwords are stored and shared. A careful helper will not ask for a password over an unexpected phone call and will not need to keep access once the job is finished. Ask how your family removes their access at the end, and confirm it on the screen before you pay for the final visit.

Ask about the people who come into the home

If the helper will be in Mom's home, ask whether they are insured and whether the company runs background checks on the people it sends. Ask for two references from people who used the same kind of help you are buying. Call them and ask what went wrong, not just what went well.

If you need a name in the St. Louis area, the Local help page lists where to start looking.