Whilst the exact timescales for starting a package of home care can vary on a case-by-case basis, transitioning to a long-term package of support is typically a much more desirable alternative to long stays in hospital or periods in residential care where it is not appropriate.
Generally, home care takes from a few days to a few weeks from initial contact, as an agency and the local council will undertake a needs assessment to determine what your loved one needs help with.
This will include a discussion with your loved one, alongside any family members or caregivers who can be involved in the process, as well as an assessment of whether their home is safe or can be made safe for them to live in whilst receiving care.
The hope that friends, family members and carers have is that there is a gradual transition of care as someone needs it. However, there are far too many instances in which a care package needs to be provided and implemented as a matter of urgency.
Thankfully, there are providers who can work very quickly to set up an emergency package of care, often getting care underway in less than 24 hours.
How does it work? When is it available? Why is it used? And when is the earliest time that home care services can be implemented?
What Is Emergency Home Care?
Emergency, urgent and immediate care are three types of domiciliary care and support packages that are provided at short notice, often within less than a day.
This can range from urgent community response teams who provide urgent care within two hours whilst a care plan is finalised and implemented, to an urgent transition or alteration of an existing care package.
Is There A Difference Between Emergency, Urgent, And Immediate Care?
Whilst the terms are often used interchangeably, there are differences between the three types of care as defined by the NHS:
- Emergency care is for life-threatening situations.
- Urgent care is immediate treatment in situations which are not life-threatening.
- Immediate care is care that is needed as soon as possible, irrespective of cause.
In all three cases, care is required immediately because the risk of further injury or the deterioration of someone’s condition is so high that they cannot wait for a conventional discharge and needs assessment.
Why Is Emergency Home Care Needed?
The most common reason why your loved one may need emergency care is in order for them to be safely discharged from hospital following an accident, illness or injury that makes it clear that they need additional support to avoid being readmitted.
If your loved one is ready to be discharged but cannot safely go home, an emergency care package can be set up whilst more permanent arrangements are prepared.
However, there are other reasons why your loved one may need home care urgently.
They Require Intermediate Care
In some cases, home care is not required as a long-term solution, but is instead a necessity to help your loved one get back to health and avoid reinjuring themselves.
This is often known as intermediate care or convalescent care, and typically consists of personal care, help with food, washing and other help around the house, as well as physiotherapy and nursing care as required.
These care packages need to be set up before someone is discharged, so the carer is ready to help by the time your loved one arrives.
An Unpaid Caregiver Is Unavailable
Whilst many families want to take care of their loved ones, there sometimes comes a point where their needs are such that an unpaid caregiver can no longer provide them with the care they need.
Sometimes this is a short-term disruption, such as an illness or emergency of their own, but in other cases it is due to no longer being able to provide an appropriate level of care if their needs escalate.
Ideally, this would be recognised ahead of time and provide ample opportunity for a care package to be arranged or a carer’s assessment undertaken.
However, some situations, such as those involving a carer breakdown, need to be managed immediately.
Urgent Care Is Needed To Avoid Hospitalisation
Setting up a care plan immediately is sometimes required in a crisis situation to avoid someone being admitted to hospital. Sometimes, urgent care response (UCR) teams can respond to emergencies like this in as little as two hours.
These types of injuries include:
- Falls without a head or bone injury, but impactful enough to require help and assistance.
- An acute infection that needs to be treated quickly, such as a chest infection.
- The deterioration of a chronic health condition, such as rapid-onset dementia.
How Do You Arrange Emergency Home Care?
Arranging emergency care is thankfully very simple.
Step 1 – Contact Us For A Consultation
Get in touch with our home care agency, and we will discuss the needs of your loved one, as well as the service areas we would need to cater for.
Step 2 – Emergency Needs Assessment
We will expedite arranging an assessment of your loved one’s needs to ensure they are perfectly supported as soon as possible. This can sometimes involve providing urgent care now, whilst finalising other parts of the plan.
Step 3 – Agreeing To An Immediate Care Plan
Because time is of the essence, we will implement a care plan that can be put into place immediately and, once confirmed, will arrange for a carer to head to your loved one’s home to start taking care of them.
How Quickly Can Emergency Home Care Be Implemented?
From the first call or contact with a care agency to a carer being in place, emergency care can be implemented extremely quickly. In some cases, it can take less than two hours, although in most cases the timescales are closer to 24 hours.
These timings can vary depending on:
- How much specialised care is needed.
- Whether arrangements for live-in carers need to be set up.
- The risks of staying in the home and the need for adaptations.
- The availability of carers.
