Care Services

When selecting a quality home care service, consider the following:

• Accreditation and Ratings: Ensure the service is registered with the relevant regulatory body (e.g., CQC in England, CIW in Wales) and check its inspection ratings.
• Staff: Look for stable services that employ well-trained and experienced caregivers with minimal staff turnover.    
• Consistency of Care: A service that provides consistent caregivers allows for a better relationship.
• Contingency Plans : explore how services ensure continuity of care if staff are unwell or fail to arrive
• Reviews and Feedback: Seek out feedback from current or past clients to gauge the service’s reliability and quality of care.
• Response to Emergencies: Ensure the service has a clear protocol for handling emergencies or sudden health issues.
• Price: Unlike health services, care services are not free for all. They are means tested. If your loved one is self-funding, you will need to consider how much care is affordable and offers value for money.

The cost of home care services varies between services and locations and can differ at weekends and on bank holidays. Costs are often quoted on the basis of time slots, travel times, tasks etc.  Your loved one’s local authority can undertake a financial assessment to determine how much they will contribute towards a care package. Each UK country has its own funding criteriaYou can find out more about financing care services in our blog.

The right type of care service depends on your loved one’s level of need, their desire for independence, specific medical and personal care requirements, support from family and friends, and the suitability of their living situation for the type of care considered.

Reablement care is a good option if your loved one has suffered an illness or hospital stay and needs help regaining their independence. Reablement care can offer:

Increased Independence: Focuses on helping people regain the ability to perform daily tasks independently.

Improved Confidence: Supports the recovery process by boosting confidence in personal abilities.

Reduced Need for Ongoing Care: Aims to decrease the reliance on long-term care services.

Personalised Goals: Tailored to meet your loved one’s recovery goals and needs.

The length of respite care depends on your personal circumstances and your reason for requiring respite care. It can last from a few hours to several weeks or months, depending on the person and the caregiver’s needs, whether for a short break, a holiday, or an emergency.