When you are beginning to look for home care for yourself or for a loved one it can be difficult to know what you should expect from carers.
Home care varies dramatically depending on both the needs of the individual and the provider who is offering care. Care provision can be a huge task and so you need to be sure that the provider is able to offer the care that your parent or loved one needs. It is fair to expect a high level of service from your home care provider and here we explore some of the things that you can expect when conducting your research:
Personal Service
Home care services should be and needs to be a personal service. The care needs to be tailored to the individual receiving the care and should not be a one-size-fits-all operation. Beyond this, the care should also be provided by a consistent individual. Having the same carer or the same two carers all of the time enables a rapport to be developed and will help to create a more comfortable caregiving experience for all involved. It is fair to expect the care provider to offer a consistent personal service with regular contact.
Domestic Support
For many, home care is largely about domestic support. As mobility decreases it can be difficult to look after a property to the standard desired and expected. But a home care service should be able to carry out these domestic tasks to a high standard to ensure that living conditions are kept up and the individual can remain in their home with the right level of independence and cleanliness.
Developing Contact
Over time the needs for home care will develop and more services will likely be required. While you may not consider all of these needs at the outset, it is important that you consider them for the longer-term. The home care provider that you opt for should be able to offer you a developing service of care that allows you to increase the provision as the need for home care increases. If you cannot expect this from the home care provider then this is not the right service for you. Developing care with the same provider is important because it enables the individual to keep the same carer and removes any necessity for significant changes that could be upsetting.
More Than Just A Job
Finally, it is fair to expect your home care provider to see their employment as more than just a job. Providing care can be challenging but it is also very rewarding and your home care provider needs to be enthusiastic in their role. The relationship between them and the individual will depend on their enthusiasm, so hiring someone who really enjoys caregiving is important.
When you are looking for a home care provider it is important to consider the needs and the potential future needs of the individual. Doing so allows you to find the right level of care. You should also set your expectations high so that you can ensure that the best possible care is given and a long-term relationship can be forged. Contact us at The Great Care Company for more information.