Bringing Care Into The Home

Young or mature illness in all its forms brings difficulties.  It is widely recognised that treatment at home improves a patient’s health and helps with the longer term effects.  But for many the problem is finding the right support.

Home care comes in many forms:

• Personal care, including washing or dressing
• Housekeeping or domestic work, such as vacuuming
• Cooking or preparing meals
• Nursing and health care
• Companionship
• Grocery shopping

Care in your home needs to be flexible.  Your needs will not be the same as the next person.  So the support needs to be flexible.  Think about the help and support that will be best for you –

• Flexible care in short bursts during the day
• Short breaks to help a family carer get out and about or relax
• Long-term 24-hour care
• Help with mobility

The list is varied and specific to each individual’s needs.  Helping Hands, the leading home care team in the south-west, will come and speak to you about your needs.   From this informal chat, a plan will develop.  They appoint a care manager for you who arranges setting up the plan.  Over time, your needs will change but the care manager will then change the arrangements to suit you.  You are special.  The plan is bespoke.

Flexible and reliable

You need care every day or night.  You know the saying ‘time and health waits for no one’.  A team like Helping Hands are always there.  Total reliability is another need for you.  Make sure the arrangements deal with this.  Think about Christmas for example.  Your care needs to be the same this day as every other.  Health has no holidays.

Now What About The Cost And Money?

It’s a natural question that every body asks.  There will be a monthly cost, which needs planning.  Support is available from the local authority or the NHS.

The local authority can offer a direct payment package, which gives you the choice about your care support and provision.  Include your family carer in the application.  This package is voluntary, so you need to agree or request this payment.  Look at the NHS Choices web site (http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/Pages/direct-payments-personal-budgets.aspx)  where there is a wealth of help and information.  Helping Hands are able to help with information and guidance.

It is important that you keep Helping Hands informed at all times.  They can help with every application you make.

If the family is caring for you then you might be able to claim an Attendance Allowance.  Helping Hands will be able to guide you but you can also look at this website.http://www.ageuk.org.uk/Documents/ENGB/Factsheets/FS46_Paying_for_care_and_support_at_home_fcs.pdf?epslanguage=en-GB?dtrk=true 

Care In The Home Is The Way Forward.

There is a general shift in care provision throughout the UK including Devon and Cornwall.  Health experts find that patients improve with care delivered in the home.

When considering home care, it is important for you and your family to consider these key points-

• Review agency references
• Look at the testimonials on Helping Hands web site
• How do they replace a care worker who is ill or out of action?
• How do I complain if the service provided is unsatisfactory?
• What has the Care Quality Commission reported about the agency?
• Are the carers trained and is this continuous?
• How is security and safety dealt with?

There will be many more points that come from the informal chat.  Do not be afraid to ask as the agency should freely tell you.

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Thinking of extra help to make sure you love living at home or to take care of a loved one?

Get in touch for confidential, caring, professional and no-obligation advice.
Call Helping Hands Care, on 01395 264 767.

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