Choosing the right care for you
Choosing the right care for you
At Intrust Care, we understand that thinking about care is a big decision.
We will always recommend that you take the time (wherever possible) to look into your care options and choose the care that fits you best as an individual.
To help you choose the right care for you, we suggest the five following steps:
1. Have the conversation
The first step should always be an honest conversation. Whether you are wanting to look at care for yourself, or want to discuss the option of getting care for a loved one, open and honest communication is key. Trying to understand worries, fears and hesitations around receiving care can help everyone in the long term.
You will want to discuss the type of care you think you is needed, and see what your loved one’s views are too. Care can be a sensitive topic for many, so having your thoughts written down prior to the discussion, can be helpful for some people. You might want to think about any barriers or difficulties that could impact upon your care, and discuss these with your loved ones also.
2. Get a needs assessment
Needs assessments are free and anyone is able to ask for one.
To get a needs assessment for yourself or a family member, you need to contact social services at your local council, either by telephone or online.
Needs assessments help to see if social services are able to help with any equipment you may need, such as walking frames or hoists, as well as adjustments to your home (such as handrails, or a walk in shower). They also assess whether you would benefit from care, either at home or from moving into residential care.
To find out more about needs assessments and funding your care, please visit our cost of care page.
3. Think about the type of care you would prefer
Once a needs assessment has been completed, you will have a better idea of any help you or your loved one may be entitled to (either in regards to equipment, or funding your care). For most people, the two options are home care or moving into residential care. This will be a personal choice completely dependent on care needs, personal preferences, cost and a person’s individual situation.
Try to find out more about the differences between home care and residential care homes (the pros and cons of each), and look at the financial differences as well. You can take a look at our home care or care home blog post where we look at how each option compares.
It is no surprise that we will always champion care at home. We truly believe that being in a familiar, comforting environment, surrounded by loved ones (including pets), benefits a person’s physical and mental wellbeing. Home care services are what we would recommend for our own loved ones and that’s why we recommend them to others as well.
4. Choose a care company
If you are comparing home care services we recommend looking at the following:
- CQC Ratings
The Care Quality Commission is a regulatory body that has the responsibility of monitoring and inspecting all care providers in England. Once an inspection has been carried out, a rating is given and a report is written about the care provider and their standards of care.
- Websites
Look at the care service provider’s website and try to get a feel for them as a company. Does what they say, and their values match with your own feelings about the type of care you would like to receive, or that you want for your loved one?
Contact the care company and speak to a senior member of the team. Ask any questions that you have, and see if you think the company can provide the care that you are looking for. Most home care services offer a free assessment. This provides you with a fantastic opportunity to get to meet some of the team face to face.
- Reviews
Take the opportunity to read reviews that have been written about the home care provider. You can find reviews on Google, Trust Pilot, Homecare.co.uk and Facebook business pages. All you need to do is type the name of the care services provider and look for the reviews.
If you are choosing a care home
If you are choosing a residential care home, all of the above still applies.
The other thing that we suggest in this case, is to visit the care homes that you are looking at. This will give you a sense of the location and surrounding area, and of course, the home itself. Look around the care home and speak to the staff and residents. What is the atmosphere like? Does it feel homely?
All of these things will help you to decide on the right care for you.
Please visit the CQC website for our most recent report and the Trust Pilot website for our latest reviews.
5. Take the time to decide
We appreciate that in some cases care is needed rapidly and there may be less time than would be ideal, to make a decision.
If however, you are able to sit down and really think about your options, we recommend doing so. Don’t try to make an important decision on your own, make sure you speak with friends and family. Sometimes having an outside observer give their thoughts and opinions can help you to make up your mind.
Don’t panic if you have chosen a home care provider, and you’re not happy with the care you are receiving. It is possible to swap to another care service provider. We regularly get new clients moving to us, as they are not happy with their current care provider. It might seem like an impossible task but the move can be done seamlessly, quickly and professionally.