Things to consider when choosing a home care provider
Choosing the right care provider for you or a loved one is one of the most important things you can do. It’s attached to so many emotions and can feel like an overwhelming decision to make.
Since the pandemic we’ve seen a significant increase in the number of people opting for homecare support but with it being such an important decision, it requires some research beforehand.
Here are our recommendations of things you should consider when choosing a home care provider.
1. Decide what kind of care you need
There are so many different home care options available so it’s important to get the right care for you or your loved one’s personal needs. Whether it’s full time at home care, complex care, hospital to home care or additional support with daily activities. Identifying the level of support that is required is the best place to start. It can be helpful to have a care assessment in the first instance to get a clearer understanding. Some care providers will offer this in the consultation phase, but it can also be carried out by your local council.
2. Identify what matters most to you
Care is such a personal thing and depending on the situation of you or your loved one, it can be a long-term lifestyle change. For that reason, it needs to be personalised and cater not just to important medical needs but to personal preferences such as how many times per week you’d like a carer to visit, the activities you’d like support with including hobbies and interests and their overall approach. Having a clear idea on these things will make it easier to recognise whether a provider is a good fit or not.
3. Speak to multiple providers
Identifying a shortlist based on your criteria and then speaking to a number of different agencies will help you get a feel for each of their approaches and make an informed decision. This is also a great opportunity to review their customer feedback and check their credentials to ensure you feel totally comfortable with everything you’re being told. There are online services which will verify the credibility of any care provider giving you that extra peace of mind. Ask as many questions as you want so that you have the fullest picture of their approach.
4. Find out what other services they provide
It’s a good idea to get an understanding of what other services a care provider offers should the needs of you or your loved one change. It may be that you require minimal support initially but having the option to increase this will reduce any disruption to care further down the line. Understanding what services a provider does and doesn’t supply will help to avoid any nasty surprises and ensure a consistent level of services in the long term.
5. Cost
No matter how you are funding your care plan, be it privately, though your local council or a mix of both, having a clear idea of the cost upfront is always a good idea. Getting an assessment of your needs is a great way to understand the potential cost at the time. You can be reassessed should things change at a later date. A good care provider will be transparent around cost and should be able to talk you through any funding options based on your personal circumstances.
Our Homecare division prides itself on provide a caring, sensitive service that supports service-users in their daily activities. Led by our Registered Manager, with over 20 years’ experience in Health and Social Care our team is made up by Lead Nurses, Nurse Trainers and Senior Carers.
Paterson health & Social Care is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and were awarded a ‘Good’ rating in all categories at our last inspection.
To find out about our homecare services and our approach please visit our web page.