3 Things You Should Know About Home Care
Are you researching home care and wondering what some of the pitfalls can be? Any change can be fully of uncertainties, and it is normal to want to know how you can avoid the same mistakes others have experienced in the past.
Our clients and their families often comment that researching care can present a minefield of information. At Severn Vale Home Care as well as providing our clients with the best quality visiting and live-in care, families often tell us they value our impartial advice and support at what is an often a worrying time.
Richard has been a care professional over the last 4 years and has put together his ‘tips for the road’ to help navigate your journey for care at home. We hope his insights are useful in helping you negotiate the maze of complexity that can surround care. In Richard’s words ‘it never feels easy’.
Richard offers his unique insight and opinion on caring for the elderly at home. Below are 3 learning experiences he has gained from working with clients and their families, which we hope you find helpful.
Our clients and their families often comment that researching care can present a minefield of information. At Severn Vale Home Care as well as providing our clients with the best quality visiting and live-in care, families often tell us they value our impartial advice and support at what is an often a worrying time.
Richard has been a care professional over the last 4 years and has put together his ‘tips for the road’ to help navigate your journey for care at home. We hope his insights are useful in helping you negotiate the maze of complexity that can surround care. In Richard’s words ‘it never feels easy’.
Richard offers his unique insight and opinion on caring for the elderly at home. Below are 3 learning experiences he has gained from working with clients and their families, which we hope you find helpful.
Richard’s 3 Tips for the Road
1. Referrals for Care
If you are initially consulting your GP (as most people needing care do in the first instance) you may well be referred on by your GP for further investigation.
If you are being referred to another medical professional– be it a consultant, radiographer, – then don’t assume that the referral has actually been made. This is said and with no disrespect to busy hard working NHS professionals, but occasionally it is possible to end up waiting weeks to find out that the referral was sent but has been mislaid in the system– and so the whole process has to start all over again.
Whilst this situation is rare it is important to be persistent. For example, finding out what method of referral has been used, getting copied in and requesting regular updates to see it has been acted upon. Through adopting this approach receiving a timely outcome is more assured.
If you are being referred to another medical professional– be it a consultant, radiographer, – then don’t assume that the referral has actually been made. This is said and with no disrespect to busy hard working NHS professionals, but occasionally it is possible to end up waiting weeks to find out that the referral was sent but has been mislaid in the system– and so the whole process has to start all over again.
Whilst this situation is rare it is important to be persistent. For example, finding out what method of referral has been used, getting copied in and requesting regular updates to see it has been acted upon. Through adopting this approach receiving a timely outcome is more assured.
2. Care At Home or Care Home?
A big question for many families nowadays that creates dilemmas, both ethical and practical for all involved, is evaluating whether care at home or a care home is best for the individual concerned? This is irrespective of cost considerations at this point. What is the most appropriate care for my loved one? A service that supports at home, surrounded by familiar surroundings and memories or a care home where a different type of care is available.
Well, I confess to a clear bias in this respect, and I am comfortable in that bias in that I believe strongly that we should do all we can to support someone in their own home for as long as is humanly possible. A place that the person needing care is familiar with, that they may have known for decades and shared with family and friends has to be the first priority, (in my opinion). Many people I speak to tell me that they do not wish to be uprooted and move to a care or nursing home, however luxurious the surroundings. I will be writing more about this subject in future blogs.
Well, I confess to a clear bias in this respect, and I am comfortable in that bias in that I believe strongly that we should do all we can to support someone in their own home for as long as is humanly possible. A place that the person needing care is familiar with, that they may have known for decades and shared with family and friends has to be the first priority, (in my opinion). Many people I speak to tell me that they do not wish to be uprooted and move to a care or nursing home, however luxurious the surroundings. I will be writing more about this subject in future blogs.
3. Be brave. Ask for help sooner.
A final thought for today….
One thing I do know from my own experience is that often clients or families struggle for months or even years through difficult times. Often people think ‘There are people worse off than ourselves’. Our clients and their families often say to us I wish I had researched home care sooner and perhaps started having a small amount of help months before the situation worsened, as our clients describe the help and care we provide as invaluable.
Perhaps you are looking after a partner and even putting your own physical health at risk before reaching out and introducing the right sort of help for your unique situation. Our clients tell us that an earlier intervention can give you and your family confidence to know everyone is supported and looked after. This might mean knowing that you are not coping alone. It can also be reassuring to the wider family to know you are being visited regularly – and kept safe and there is someone on hand who can take action if you are in difficulty. Clients love to see one of our smiling carers arrive as this gives them peace of mind, tailored support, and regular companionship. Worth thinking about!
Perhaps you are looking after a partner and even putting your own physical health at risk before reaching out and introducing the right sort of help for your unique situation. Our clients tell us that an earlier intervention can give you and your family confidence to know everyone is supported and looked after. This might mean knowing that you are not coping alone. It can also be reassuring to the wider family to know you are being visited regularly – and kept safe and there is someone on hand who can take action if you are in difficulty. Clients love to see one of our smiling carers arrive as this gives them peace of mind, tailored support, and regular companionship. Worth thinking about!
Let us know Your Thoughts
What do you think is the hardest part of sourcing good quality care? If you are researching care, please do let us know about your unique situation and any challenges you are experiencing.
Should you or a loved one need care please do call Severn Vale on 01905 950 409 / 01684 211 033, a member of our friendly management team would be delighted to help you.
