There is a lot to consider, but working through the process and identifying the right care services needed, the quality of your local homecare providers, and asking questions can help you make informed decisions and confidently move forward.
Essential Quality Standards in Homecare Services for Clients
One of the first things to do is review the home care agencies in your local area. We recommend a local provider because it is far easier to liaise with a care team and coordinators, organise support around families, or arrange additional care and all the help needed.
For example, Guardian Angel Carers often implement overnight care or visiting care when family caregivers are on holiday and use our incredible network of CareAngels to provide a flexible, tailored service adapted to the needs and wishes of each family.
There are several things to look out for when comparing homecare services:
- Communications – the best home care providers are friendly, accessible, professional, and highly experienced. They can advise, provide guidance, and support you while making important decisions or help you develop a detailed care plan.
- CQC Registration – all care companies should be registered with the Care Quality Commission, the regulator for the UK care sector. Independent providers are highly regulated and inspected to ensure they meet and maintain requirements around responsiveness, standards, and care worker training.
- Specialist Care – if you require specific types of support, such as dementia care or after a hospital stay, it is essential your home care provider has properly qualified, experienced, and capable carers with the correct training.
We believe an in-person chat with your shortlisted care agencies is a great opportunity to get a feel for the culture, approach, and style of the company and ensure you are 100% comfortable that the care team will look after you or your relative, as they would their own family member.
Questions to Ask When Choosing a Home Care Service
Meeting face-to-face allows you to ask as many questions as you would like. Below are a few questions you might wish to ask as a starting point if any of these areas aren’t covered in your meeting.
Costs and Contracts
It is essential you know the costs of the home care services you require, how the care service will work, and what help and assistance is included:
- Is there a contract between the care provider and the individual or family?
- Do you need to hire a carer for a minimum number of hours per week?
- How much are the care charges per hour, and is that liable to change?
- Does the care carry extra costs such as mileage?
- Will my care cost more overnight, at weekends or on bank holidays?
- Are there flexible payment options, and how often will I be billed?
- Are your carers all properly insured?
- Can we organise a trial period to see how things go?
Allocating a Home Carer
A great home care provider will look carefully at each customer’s needs, preferences, and individual care plans before deciding which carers are a good match for the individual or family – they consider multiple factors before making these assignments.
If you, or your loved one, practices a particular religion or has a specific cultural requirement, for example, it may be important to you that your carer respects this or understands the importance of catering to dietary needs and special holidays or celebrations.
Home care agencies can also consult with you to understand how the best care would look to you. For example, would you like a carer to have a key and let themselves in, or would you be uncomfortable with regular carers having access to your home?
Questions you could ask include:
- Are your carers all trained and qualified?
- Do they live locally, and can they come at the same time every day or week?
- How do you monitor quality standards?
- Can I organise care at any time or day of my choosing?
- Can families communicate with carers or their managers?
- Will I have the same carer at every visit?
- What happens if I have a problem or am unhappy?
- Can I request a specific carer with whom I have a good rapport?
Finding suitable carers can impact every element of feeling safe, supported, cared for and comfortable in your own home, so exploring any questions or concerns at this stage can be a great help in putting your mind at ease.
What Specialist Support and Care Can I Arrange Through a Homecare Company?
Every home care provider is different and might offer care and support for clients in several ways. The type of care you need will depend entirely on your requirements and preferences, and it is essential you have the right support while retaining an independent life, and autonomy in areas where you do not wish to have assistance.
Home care can comprise a full range of care services:
- Personal care – support with washing, bathing, and dressing.
- Domestic care – a helping hand with domestic tasks, shopping, and cooking.
- Companionship care – keeping you company and providing friendly visits on a regular routine.
- Specialist care – assistance such as post-hospital, stroke rehabilitation and palliative care.
Home care can vary from short-term care, with visiting care carers popping in for an hour a day to ensure you or your loved one is well, has remembered to take medications, and has a fresh meal and cup of tea to relax at the start or the end of the day.
Longer-term care can be anything from a morning to a full-day visit or live-in care where a trained, qualified carer works on a structured schedule to deliver personalised care adapted to your needs, offering continuity and support within your home.
The right home care provider for you will offer tailored care structure and walk through all the options to ensure you have reliable, high-quality care on a schedule that fits your needs and is adjusted to your requirements, wishes and preferences.