Choosing a home care provider for your loved one involves carefully considering the needs of your loved one, which type of care is best suited for their needs and how a provider can ensure that your loved one’s needs are taken care of now and in the future.
As every provider has different aspects of home care which they specialise in or focus on, it is important to find not only the best care provider in your local area, but the one that is best suited to take care of your loved one.
The best way to know that is to ask the right questions, and with that in mind, we have compiled a checklist of questions that you should ask and why these particular questions matter.
Before we explore the questions to ask any prospective care providers, there is also one question that you should ask yourself and your family.
Is Home Care Right For Your Loved One?
The ideal goal of domiciliary care is to ensure that your loved one can stay within their own home, and whether your loved one simply needs someone to visit a few times a week to check up on them or needs more intensive round-the-clock care, home care is often the right choice.
In general, home care is the best choice if:
– Your loved one would rather live at home or in a familiar setting.
– They can safely remain at home, or their home can be adapted so they can stay at home.
– They have a strong support network at home, with friends, family members and caregivers who can support them.
A lot of people can stay in their homes and benefit from home care. However, there are cases where residential care is more suitable, such as:
– If 24/7 professional care is essential to ensure your loved one lives safely, even with the support of a support network at home.
– If your loved one has a complex condition that requires round-the-clock specialist support. Whilst this can sometimes be provided at home, it is often safer to live in a specialist environment.
– If your loved one is socially isolated and would benefit from a structured living environment and residents they could socialise with.
Your experiences and the result of a needs assessment will often provide some clarity as to the right type of care, but your loved one must be at the centre of any care choice.
Checklist Of Questions To Ask Any Home Care Provider
There are a lot of questions to ask a home care provider, but for the benefit of simplicity, we have narrowed it down to ten. These ten questions will provide a significant level of insight, as well as provide scope for follow-up questions.
What Home Care Services Does A Provider Offer?
The first and most important question ensures that a care provider is able to offer the services that your loved one needs.
If your loved one has a progressive condition such as Parkinson’s disease or dementia, they will need support from a specialist carer who understands the condition, how it specifically affects your loved one, and the needs that will need to be managed.
Most importantly, ask if the provider has cared for anyone with your loved one’s needs before.
How Flexible Is A Home Care Provider?
In many cases, your loved one’s needs can vary, and it may be the case that your loved one needs more support one day and less the next.
It is important to establish if there are minimum or maximum lengths of visits, hours or the number of times a week a carer can visit.
This is particularly important for a condition such as multiple sclerosis, which can require more assistance some days due to flare-ups and less help other days when the condition goes into remission.
What Is Involved In How A Provider Sets Up A Care Plan And Can It Be Tailored?
Outside of the care needs assessment, providers will often have their own approach to assessing needs and onboarding people.
It is essential that an assessment takes place face to face, is comprehensive enough to give them an indication of your loved one’s needs, and ensures that family members can be involved in the process and subsequent reviews.
Will The Home Care Provider Continue To Support My Loved One If Their Needs Change?
Care needs change over time, and continuity of care has a huge impact on well-being. Therefore, it is important to ensure that if your loved one’s needs change, your provider can maintain continuity of care as much as possible.
When Are Care Services Available?
Some providers offer round-the-clock services, whilst others will only be able to provide home care visits during weekdays. Ask when they offer care services and what out-of-hours care is available.
Will My Loved One See The Same Carer Or Carers?
Much like how having the same provider can provide continuity of care, your loved one may benefit from seeing the same carer where possible, or having a rotation of carers that they are familiar with.
Similarly, it is also worth asking if you can request a different carer and the process for doing so.
How Are Carers Trained, Vetted And Regulated?
Ask about the certificates, training, vetting and continued regulation of carers operated by the organisation. Organisations such as the Care Quality Commission also regularly inspect providers to ensure the highest quality of care.
What Happens If My Loved One’s Regular Carer Is Unable To Visit That Day?
Contingencies need to be in place if the regular carer your loved one is assigned cannot make it due to illness, injury or planned time off.
Ensure that any changes are well-communicated and that there are no gaps in care.
Does The Home Care Provider Have Carers Who Speak Other Languages?
The key is to ensure that your loved one is comfortable and listened to. This means that if their first language is not English, a provider can provide support in their preferred language where possible.
What Happens During An Emergency?
There should be a clear process for carers to follow if there is an emergency, as acting quickly and decisively in an emergency will have a profound effect on the outcome of emergency medical interventions.
