Advice & Support

Facing the need to organise home care for the first time can be a worrying and distressing time, so here is some general advice if you are about to commence the journey of looking for help and want a better understanding of some of the key issues.

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My mum’s got all her things around her, she’s got more freedom and 1-1 with the carers. She sleeps better, eats better, is more content and can go out when she likes.

Rated 9.9/10 on homecare.co.uk

Read all 195 reviews

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We have been so pleased with the care provided by Unique Senior Care. My mother has a core of four carers for days and nights, all of whom go above and beyond. The carers are so kind, professional and work incredibly hard to provide Mum with a comfortable and happy environment.

Caroline H (Daughter of Client)

The carers are superb and couldn't be improved upon. The coordinator is excellent and support from the office has clearly improved - we get far less 'last minute dot com' and this is important for my daughter. The care transforms my daughter's life.

J J (Mother of Client)

Set up care for elderly neighbour who was not very mobile and needed help with daily care. Unique Senior Care Solihull provided exactly the kind of care that she needed and she couldn't be happier.

Karen H (Friend of Client)

I have found every helper to be kind, caring and more than happy to do whatever to make our lives easier. My husband often doesn't want to have a shower but they are very good at persuading him, which is excellent.

I T (Wife of Client)

The office is most supportive and easy to contact. This has greatly reduced our stress and gives us continuance. We have been dealing with care agencies for many years. Unique is by far the best.

Martin L (Relative of Client)

The carers are a breath of fresh air for my mother and brighten her day considerably! The staff are friendly and supportive and have been so willing to provide extra help and advice as my mother's needs have changed.

Gillian W (Daughter of Client)

What is live-in care and how does it work?

All too often, organising care can be at a moment of crisis owing to a sudden illness, hospital discharge or an accident such as a fall. This can often lead to the wrong care decision being made.

We know that over 70% of people want to remain living in their own homes as they grow older and often a move into a residential care environment can have a negative impact on a person’s wider health and well-being.

High quality ‘non-medical’ home care can enrich your life and enable you to live independently where you are most comfortable, happy and surrounded by the things you love ie your own home.

Home care is also good for the wider family as they are able to focus less on the stress of managing the day to day care arrangements and can spend more quality time with their loved ones.

What is non-medical care?

Most home care companies only provide non-medical care which means anything that is not ‘invasive’ or require nursing intervention, such as administering injections, changing wound dressings, cutting nails, and taking vital sign measurements.

Your Care and Support plan

You should expect your care provider to provide you with a detailed care plan that takes into account your background, normal routine, lifestyle and needs. As your circumstances and needs may change over time, the care plan should be regularly reviewed to ensure the service is still suited to your needs.

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What are the different types of home care service?

  • Hourly Care

    Your care provider will agree a care plan with you or your loved one that may include one or more calls per day to provide care and support.

  • Live-in care

    Your care needs may be better supported with a live-in carer who lives with you (and your partner) in your home and is available as and when agreed to assist with your daily needs, which could include companionship, personal care, or home help.

  • 24 hour care

    In certain circumstances live-in care may not be appropriate, but around the clock 24 hour care may be the solution where a team of carers provide the necessary support on a shift basis that ensures a carer is available to you for 24 hours per day.

Who pays?

There are a number of potential funding types in England – details are as follows:

Local Authority

Following a care needs assessment which is normally completed by a social worker, you will also need to complete a financial ‘means test’ assessment. If your assets are less than £23,250 (excluding your home) your local authority may fund and provide your care or in some circumstances you may be required to pay for a proportion of the costs.

NHS Funding

In certain circumstances you may be eligible for NHS funded care – which is non means tested. This is often referred to as ‘CHC’ – continuing health care and is generally only made available to those with very complex needs or who are nearing end of life.

Local Authority - Direct Payment

If you are approved for local authority funding, you can choose to take a ‘direct payment’ which would result in you receiving the agreed/assessed funding amount directly into your bank account, so that you can then source your own care provider/s and manage the relationship with them directly.

Self-funding/Private Pay

With entitlement to local authority funded care being increasingly difficult to secure, more and more people are paying for their own care privately. In this instance you are free to choose your own care provider and agree the care support plan that best meets you or your loved ones needs.

a carer with client sitting in font of a dressing mirror on the West Midland live in care page

Who reviews the quality of care being provided?

If you are in receipt of a local authority funded package of care, their providers will be subject to regular quality audits that are completed the local authority.

Additionally, any registered care provider that is providing a ‘regulated service’ is regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

A regulated service is deemed as personal care such as bathing, showering, hair washing, shaving, oral hygiene and nail care or toileting and continence management.

CQC regularly inspect providers and provide detailed reports on their key finding’s which can be found at https://www.cqc.org.uk/.

More questions...

Not always, and this will depend on the complexity of your needs and how often you require a visit. Also, if you are a couple and are both considering a residential care home, you will be paying for two rooms at double the cost.

Yes - many care providers have highly experienced and trained care teams who are able to provide home care for those living with specialist needs. These can include Learning disabilities, dementia, Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis, Motor-neurone Disease, those who have suffered a stroke or have acquired brain injuries.

Yes - when families are informed that their loved one has a confirmed diagnosis of dementia, this can be devastating – and a hugely worrying time. However, those living with dementia can live independently at home, particularly if they are being cared for and supported by people who are experienced and fully understand the condition.

When considering a potential care provider, ask them to explain what specialist dementia training their carers receive to ensure they are able to manage the challenges of caring for someone with dementia. Also, what other expertise and resources are available within the organisation such as Dementia Champions or Memory Support specialists. Do they have experience working with Admiral Nurses and/or third-party specialist organisations such as the Alzheimers Society?

Yes, all home care staff should be fully insured for both personal and public liability. As your prospective care provider to confirm this.

All home care providers have a responsibility and duty of care to ensure they are fully complying with all Public Health and Government guidance on infection control including the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and regular PCT and/or Lateral Flow testing.

Ask your prospective care provider to confirm what measures they are taking to ensure you or your loved one’s safety.

Yes - care providers have a statutory obligation to undertake a criminal record search (DBS) on all carers prior to employing them – and these should be reviewed every 3 years.

Employers should also request professional and personal references.

Yes - the United Kingdom Homecare Association (UKHCA) is the professional association for home care providers and focuses on supporting our members to improve their business performance and the quality of their care services. Most good companies will be members of UKHCA.

Still have questions?

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