There are lots of things that you may be thinking about or considering what it is you need when it comes to preparing for home care. For most people, home care is requested during a time where you or a loved one may in quite a bit of difficulty and require care as a necessity, which may be distressing for all of you. But with tailored support from our dedicated care teams, we can reassure you that you will be looked after exceptionally and in the way that you prefer.
Home care is for anyone that needs additional support to carry out activities of daily living and who want to remain living in their own home, rather than moving into residential care or a nursing home.
There are many different reasons why people may need home care. For some, it may just be for weekly support with light household duties, collecting shopping and picking up prescriptions. For others, it may be round-the-clock assistance with personal care, getting dressed and keeping mobile in and around the home. Whatever the reason, there is no task too big or small that we can’t help with.
Many associate home care with support for the elderly. Whilst this is true for a large number of our customers, we also support lots of people below the age of 65 that have long-term health conditions such as cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome and brain injuries, who may need support with rehabilitation, getting to and from work or socialising with their friends.
How do I prepare for home care?
Preparing for home care can be quite a difficult conversation to have for those that are very independent, and even more so if they don’t agree that they need extra support. It’s important that you all talk about home care together and all understand each other’s viewpoints and concerns.
Usually, home care is required at a crisis point or in an emergency when someone has suddenly fallen ill, requires additional support, or has just been discharged from hospital. Our specialist care teams are very aware that it may be a period of uncertainty and worry, which is why they will work with you to ensure that a person-centred package of care is put into place, taking into account off all your needs and wishes.
If you or a loved one is unsure, a great way to begin home care is to start with a couple of hours per week to help out with things like cleaning, taking out the bins and preparing meals. This is the perfect opportunity to meet some of our local carers and get used to them being in your home, whilst having regular support that fits in with your schedule.
You can then build on this with more calls throughout the day and evening, and possibly even move on to live-in care from a full-time live-in carer.
What do I need to provide?
Helping Hands are a fully managed care provider, which means that we will take care of everything from setting up your package of care to recruiting and selecting the right carer for you. Unlike introductory agencies who only introduce you to a carer, you won’t have to manage their pay, holidays or employee rights – we do all of that for you, taking the stress and worry out of having to replace your carer at short notice due to absence or ensuring they have the correct training and background checks to be a carer.
Depending on whether you choose visiting or live-in home care, you will need to provide the following things before your care commences:
Personal details – When you make your initial enquiry with us, we will need to take your personal details to begin to arrange your support plan. They include:
Vital details such as name, address, date of birth and next of kin
Any health conditions you’re living with and the support you require, including personal care, mobility, hearing & eyesight and night time care needs, alongside clinical care needs
Medical information including medication and other professionals involved in your care
An idea of how much care you would like
Whether you have a Power of Attorney and if you have mental capacity
A method of payment, including any funding you receive – Our customers choose to pay for their care in a variety of different ways. Some choose to pay monthly via Direct Debit, whereas others have part or full funding from their local authority or from the NHS. We will need to take these details from you before your care starts, and this will be discussed with you during your initial assessment over the telephone with one of our care specialists.
A bedroom (live-in care only) – You will need to have a spare bedroom for your live-in carer with a bed and furnishings, so that they can live comfortably in your home with you but have a private area of their own. Before your care commences, a local live-in care manager will discuss this with you and double-check that there is an appropriate bedroom for your carer when they visit you in your property.
What’s the process for arranging home care?
Arranging home care starts as soon as you get in touch with us. That can either be via telephone, email or our Livechat service on our website and follows the steps below:
Step 1: Speak to our team
Our team of experts are here seven days a week to talk you through the options and costs and get to know about your care needs. They will then arrange a home visit with a local care manager.
Step 2: A free home care assessment
Your local Helping Hands care manager will visit you to discuss your requirements face-to-face and learn about the type of care you’re looking for. They will then agree your support plan with you and when your care will start.
Step 3: Matching you with a carer (live-in care only)
We’ll help to match you with a carer, providing you with a selection to choose from that meet your preferences and have the necessary skills.
Step 4: Care begins with extra support
We’ll make all the arrangements for the arrival of your carer (live-in care only) or for your first visit from a local carer. After that, your care manager offers regular reviews, carer supervisions and extra support as is needed.
How do I contact you?
There are different ways to contact us to suit you – whether you’re researching care at home on your laptop or you’re at work and are using your mobile phone to look for care in your parents’ local area. You can contact us via the following:
Telephone – The best way to speak to us is via telephone; that way, we can quickly get to know all of your requirements and we can explain the different options available to you in more detail. Call us on 0330 037 6958 today.
Email – You can email us at careenquiries@helpinghands.co.ukand one of our customer care specialists will get back to you within 24 hours to request further information or arrange a telephone call at a time that suits you.
LiveChat – If you’re in a rush and not able to speak to us via telephone, you can access our LiveChat service on our website in the bottom left-hand corner. This is a great way to speak to a customer care specialist without using the telephone, and we can ask you everything we need to know there and then, even arranging a home visit from a local care manager too.
Facebook – You can also contact us on our national Facebook page by messaging us directly. Visit our Facebook page here.
Page reviewed by Kathryn Mahon, Regional Clinical Lead on November 23, 2021
