If you or someone you care about is finding it difficult to manage at home, or if you’re preparing to leave hospital and you know you’ll need support, then a care at home service could help you stay safe, comfortable and independent.
In this post we’ll provide a step-by-step guide to getting the support you need in the home. We’ll also outline exactly what you should expect from your care at home support.
What Services Can Care at Home Provide?
Care at home support can help you maintain your independence and wellbeing by providing:
- Personal care – You can get support and help with personal tasks such as dressing, bathing, and using the toilet. The carer will provide respectful support that is tailored to your needs and prioritises your comfort and dignity.
- Mobility support – A caregiver can support you as you move around your house and garden, to help prevent falls. This can include support with using hoists, wheelchairs, and other mobility equipment.
- Medication support – Your qualified carer will ensure you take your medication safely – at the right time and the right dose. Carers are trained and monitored to ensure they are safe to support with medication at all times. In addition, all carers are required to keep clear records of your medication. This enables everyone involved in your care to be aware of where you are in your treatment plan.
- General household tasks – Care at home can also include support with general household tasks, including cooking, cleaning, washing, laundry, and so on.
How to Get Care at Home – Step 1: Choose a Home Care Provider
First, you need to decide who you’re going to contact for home care support. You have a few options here:
- Contact your local council or your GP to see if care at home services are available in your area.
- See if the NHS offers care home services. If you’re currently in hospital, you can ask about NHS trusts and other local authorities that could support you when you get home.
- Search the Care Quality Commission’s directory of private homecare agencies.
- Look for charities that offer home care support in your area.
If you’re based in Surrey, Crossroads Care Surrey can provide the care at home support you need through their Crossroads Direct service, to help maintain your independence and wellbeing. Learn more about Crossroads Direct home care support.
Step 2: Assessing Your Care Needs
Once you’ve chosen your home care provider, get in touch with them. Let them know what sort of support you’re looking for, and they will arrange an assessment of your needs to ensure that they can provide the support you need.
They should arrange for a face-to-face meeting. They’ll ask you a number of questions about different areas of your life to ensure that they can get a thorough idea of the type of support you may need. They can also identify additional support to help you maintain further independence and they may also ask to speak to your doctors, as well as some members of your family.
Step 3: Personalised Care Plan
Once your home care provider has developed a clear idea of your needs, they’ll work with you and your family to craft a personalised care plan.
This plan will outline:
- The exact type of care and support you need
- Specify a care schedule that works best for you.
Depending on your circumstances, your home care specialist might visit you a few times a day, or they might stay with you round the clock.
Your care needs may change over time, so your personalised care plan should be flexible enough to keep meeting your needs as time goes on. It’s important that you communicate any changes in your lifestyle so that you care plan is always up to date.
Step 4: Meeting Your Care at Home Providers
Depending on the home care provider you choose, you may be supported by a dedicated caregiver or a small team of carers. The next step is to meet your caregivers and start building a relationship. During these initial visits, they’ll take time to understand:
- Your needs
- Your preferences
- Your routines
- What you enjoy and what you’d like to avoid
- Shared interests to help create a genuine connection
Your home care providers should feel like trusted partners in your care. These first meetings are designed to ensure compatibility and give you confidence that your caregivers are the right fit for you
Step 5: The First Visit, and Beyond
Your care at home provider might arrange for a trial period, to ensure that you and your caregivers get along. They should also monitor your ongoing care service, with regular assessments and support meetings to ensure that you continue to get the support you need.
Your care at home provider should also provide you with a means of getting in touch if you ever have any questions or concerns about your care. They may also have an out of hours service that you can contact should you have any issues outside of their working hours – it’s a good idea to ask about this when choosing your provider.
Meanwhile, occasional reviews will help your caregiver adjust your care plan as your situation evolves.
Ways to Pay For Your Care at Home
There are a number of ways individuals can fund or pay for their care at home. This includes:
- Your local council might provide a “personal budget”. This is a set amount of money they’ll allocate towards your care and support needs, which can include care at home costs. To see if you qualify, you can ask your council for a needs assessment.
- Your local NHS trust may be able to provide some care at home support. If you’re currently in hospital, for example, you can ask about any local authorities that could support you when you get home.
- You can pay for your own care at home support by either seeking a private provider or paying a charity like us for our care at home services for adults or for children and young adults.
- If you need to pay for your own care at home support, you may be eligible to receive certain benefits, including direct payments, Attendance Allowance, and Personal Independence Payments. Find out how to apply if you’re under State Pension age, and if you’re over State Pension age.
- You may also be able to apply for certain grants and discounts to help with the costs of care at home support.
Personalised Care at Home Support for the Surrey Area
Crossroads Care Surrey provide bespoke support within the home with their Crossroads Direct service.
Experienced carers provide personalised support to help you maintain your independence, wellbeing and dignity in your home.
Learn more about care at home services for adults or for children and young adults, or for more information call 01372 677 831.
