Top tips for 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.

You may be researching care for yourself, or someone you love. Not only do you want to ensure you/your loved one will receive a high-quality of care, but that the care received is the best option for the peculiarities of your/their condition. Unless this is something you have done before it can prove very overwhelming. When evaluating the merits of different home care providers, it may be useful to consider the following:

Explore the Variety of Options Offered

Every individual’s circumstances are different, so, of course, the nature of care required by different individuals varies. 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 can tailor a care plan to the client’s condition, allowing each individual to receive a specific and high-quality level of care. This can be extremely useful for those suffering with Alzeimer’s or Parkinson’s, though such a tailored approach may not be necessary for those just looking for companionship, for example.

Research the Company’s Reputation

There are a variety of different regulatory bodies for home care provision, so check the reviews online before committing. An example of such a body is Care Quality Commission, or CQC. 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. 

Take Into Account Individual Development

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 offer align with this. This may relieve you of the hassle and issues of having to change provider in the years to come.

Consider 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’, as voiced by one of our carers, Claire. Exploring whether or not this continuity is a possibility may be a useful way to distinguish between care providers.