Five-point guide to finding the right home care provider

Knowing where to start when researching home care providers can be a difficult and daunting task. Read our mini guide on how to find the right care to suit your needs. 

How can you possibly know where to start when it comes to researching home care? What are the options available, and what is most appropriate for the person who needs the care?

The reality is that you already know where to start, it’s with the person themselves. Use our five-point guide to starting your research, we hope that you find the content useful.

1.      Consider the needs of the individual

There is a wide variety of different plans and support options available, both from different providers and within a company, so make sure you give careful consideration to which is the most suitable for you. At Bluebird Care, we offer both domiciliary (hourly) and live-in care. We can tailor a care plan to each customer, allowing the individual to receive a specific and high-quality level of care.

This can be extremely useful for those with Alzeimer’s or Parkinson’s disease for example. It may be that help with household chores, medication and eating will be valuable, or simply just companionship to break up the day. You don’t need to know the answer for ‘what help do you need?’ before you call us. Just some information about the person and what they are like, and we can take things from there.

2.      Research the Company’s Reputation

There are a variety of different regulatory bodies for home care provision, and you can consult their websites before you tie yourself to a provider. Bluebird Care is regulated and inspected by the Care Quality Commission, or CQC. You can look up the latest inspection report for any provider on their website.

The website Working Feedback is also valuable, allowing you to read customer reviews of different care providers. This can be useful if you want to learn about the experience of clients who have used the provider for the same services which you are interested in. 

3.      Consider the change in care required over time

Whilst nobody can know exactly how an individual’s needs will develop and change in the upcoming years, it may be worth considering the expected trajectory when choosing a care provider. If you are anticipating the need for a higher level of care in the future, it is worth looking into whether or not the services a company offers align with this. This may relieve you of the hassle and issues of having to change provider in the years to come.

4.      Consider the importance of continuity

For some individuals, it can be greatly useful and stabilising to receive the majority of their care from the same carer. Some individuals come to think of their carer as part of their family, especially in the case of live-in care. This is where a person lives in with you 24/7 and is available to fit in with a person’s usual daily routine. It is a great alternative to a care home, allowing you to remain where you feel safe and happy – your own home.

As the person changes so will may the provider or type of care provided. You may find that the need care for reduces, as the person becomes more independent. You don’t need to remain continuously with one provider, but knowing who you can trust, or who can flex with you over time will provide much-needed peace of mind as time progresses.

5.      Identify what your budget is and how the care will be funded.

As you research the care and providers available in your area will start to build a picture of what would work for you. Identifying what funds are in place to pay for the care will mean that you can work back from the budget, and then build a plan around something you can afford. More information about sources of funding for care can be found here. Or you can also consult the AgeUK website: age.org.uk