ARRANGING CARE AT HOME
More and more people are choosing to receive care in their own home, as opposed to moving into a residential or specialist healthcare setting, as the benefits of care at home become better understood.
WHEN SHOULD I START CARE AT HOME?
Everyone is individual, and our comprehensive range of home care services are flexible to meet specific needs. It is proven that researching and planning care, as opposed to having to put care in place in a crisis, enables a person to respond more effectively and adapt to the new arrangement. It also affords you time to make sure you have a choice over how care is provided, and by who. Early intervention can lead to improved health outcomes, a reduction in hospital admissions and may delay health deterioration.
If you are having issues with mobility and are prone to falling, receiving home care can contribute to minimising falls and accidents that may result in hospital admission. Having an in-depth care plan in place, delivered by a highly trained and observant carer can ensure you are safe and well in the comfort of your own home.
We know through our experience of supporting individuals from babies and children, right through life to older age, that caring for a family member or loved one can take its toll on the family carer. Whilst family carers consider it a privilege to look after a loved one, there are many reasons why naturally they may need a break. Increasing care needs can escalate quickly and lead to the family carer feeling overwhelmed with the task of caring. It may also be that a family carer is happy providing some aspects of care, but would like support with others.
Some family carers may also be ageing themselves, which impacts on their ability to care. They may have work commitments that mean care and support is needed. We adopt a partnership approach to working with our families and provide the much-needed support to ensure their own health and well-being is maintained. Having a competent and compassionate carer who truly understands the needs of not just the person receiving care, but the needs of the wider family really does provide peace of mind and reassurance, for everyone.
HOW WILL MY CARE AND SUPPORT BE FUNDED?
When arranging care at home you will need to consider how you will pay for the care you need and whether there is any funding available to you. If you have an identified healthcare need, you may be entitled to healthcare funding through your local Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) or, depending on your financial circumstances, you may qualify for all or part social care funding. There may also be other Government funding that you may be able to access.
The first step when arranging care at home is to talk to your GP or local community health care team who will be able to advise on the type of funding you could be entitled to, and how to access it. If you are seeking funding through your local CCG or social services team you will need to have an assessment of your care needs, which will determine the level of funding you may be entitled to. Should you qualify for Government funding or funding from your CCG, you will have the option to choose a care provider yourself and manage the care arrangement through a personal budget and direct payments, or they will do this on your behalf. It is worth considering here that if they organise and pay for your care package, they will typically have a list of providers they work with, so your choice of provider will be limited to those on their preferred supplier list. We have many years’ experience of working with case managers, commissioning teams, local authorities and other professionals involved in procuring specialist home care to provide the right care at the right time, for all of life. If you do not qualify for any funding, you will be required to pay for the care yourself. This is known as self-funding care. There are many options as to how you can finance care yourself. There are care fees insurance policies that could pay your care fees over the longer term. It might be that you qualify for some funding to meet your care and support costs, and that you part fund the remainder privately. It is always prudent to seek independent later life financial advice before you commit to any such policy.
TYPES OF HOME CARE SERVICES
Home care services can be provided in different ways depending on your care and support needs, and the level of care you need. Our trusted and established home care services can be provided in the following ways:
HOURLY HOME CARE
Hourly care – sometimes called visiting care – is for those who need care and support with tasks of daily living or clinical care at certain times during the day. Care at home can be provided from one hour, to as many hours / visits throughout the day you require, one day or several days of the week depending on your care and support needs. For those who have complex needs, live-in respite care can be provided over a 24-hour period.
RESPITE HOURLY HOME CARE
Respite hourly care can be used for those needing a short-term arrangement after hospital discharge to rehabilitate or for when a family carer needs a break from their caring role. It is also an ideal service for families who wish to assess whether care at home is the right care choice for them.
CARE MANAGEMENT LOCAL TO YOU
Our responsive and reliable hourly care service local to you means we can put care and support in place quickly, and in many cases within 24-hours. Depending on your needs, a comprehensive assessment will be conducted by either a registered nurse or our local care expert. We can conduct the assessment at your home, in hospital or in any specialist care setting if you are awaiting discharge back home, enabling a plan of care to be developed that meets all your needs. Our approach to care planning ensures we capture all your preferences and wishes so you can live a contented life in the comfort of your own home. We take time to find the carer that would best meet your care and support needs, making sure they are closely aligned with how you wish to live your life. Once care is in place, our local teams made up of care and clinical experts provide you, your family and our carer with an abundance of on-going support. This gives you peace of mind that you or your loved one is receiving the very best home care.
ARRANGING A CARE AT HOME PROVIDER
It is really important when considering a home care provider that you recognise the differences between a regulated service provider, whose service is registered and inspected by the Government and an agency, who are unlikely to provide a regulated service, and whose carers will be self-employed.
There are four care regulatory bodies in the UK:
- Care Inspectorate in Scotland
- Care and Social Services Inspectorate in Wales
- Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority in Northern Ireland
FULLY MANAGED SERVICE OR INTRODUCTION AGENCY
When arranging care at home you will need to consider how much involvement you want in managing the care you receive. With a fully managed service, you will benefit from carers that are employed, expertly trained and receive high levels of management and clinical oversight, to ensure you receive a high-quality service.
If you choose an introduction agency, the carers are self-employed and once introduced to you, they will need to be managed, supervised and paid for by the family. If they need time off, or holiday, then you will need to arrange cover, which is not always easy and can cause issues with continuity of care for you or your loved one. We know many families like the peace of mind and reassurance, that comes from knowing their loved one is getting quality and continuity of care, that comes from using a fully managed service provider.
THE VALUE OF RECOMMENDATIONS
Many families who are arranging care at home for a loved one or family member for the first time will seek recommendations from those they know. It is also worth consulting your local authority social services team, to see who they consider to be a reputable provider, as they will have vetted providers to meet essential standards of quality and compliance.
There are also rate and review websites that cover care providers in the UK. Homecare.co.uk and NHS Choices receive online reviews from those who have used provider services and the UKHCA (United Kingdom Home Care Association) will also have a list of reputable providers for you to choose from.
ARRANGING CARE AT HOME CHECKLIST
Once you have decided on the type of provider that would best meet your needs, it is prudent to contact several home care providers to get an understanding of the care and support they provide, as well as how they operate to make an informed decision.
- Can you meet my care needs? Do you provide complex care or support with dementia?
- When were you last inspected? What is your current rating?
- How do you recruit your carers or care assistants? What checks and / or referencing do you do?
- Do you train your carers or care assistants? What training do they receive?
- Are your carers or care assistants employed or self-employed?
- Do you provide nursing care should I need it?
- If something goes wrong who do I call?
- Do you have local support?
- How do you match the carer or care assistant to my needs?
- What is the process for setting up a care package?
Get in touch with our friendly care experts about your care and support needs or contact a location near you. We provide impartial guidance and advice, so you make the right choice for you and your family.
