When it comes to arranging care, there are so many different services available: nursing homes, assisted living facilities, specialist care homes, home care agencies, self-employed carers, regulated providers, non-regulated providers… the list goes on. While finding the right care provider can be a daunting task, the extensive offer means you are likely to find a solution tailored to your exact needs.
Types of Care Providers
Not only are there many options, but each and every one of these designated “types” of services will differ significantly on an individual basis as well. They might sit in the same name category but offer different services, and the quality of care within each type can also vary significantly.
However, we will outline some aspects typically shared among the services of home care, care homes, and private carers as a foundational reference.
Care Homes (and variants)
Care homes usually offer secure, purpose-built environments with 24/7 support and staff for maintenance and cleaning. They typically provide meals with a focus on nutrition, foster community, organise activities, and often feature dedicated care units. In essence, they streamline daily life, requiring minimal individual planning or coordination.
Although care homes as a whole offer many benefits, it is important to consider each person’s personality and preferences, as many individuals struggle with changing environments and routines late in life. Depending on the person’s needs, the support offered by most care homes might not suffice, as carers must divide their attention between all residents.
Home Care (and variants)
Home care enables individuals to stay in the comfort and familiarity of their own homes, preserving their routines and independence. This allows them to maintain relationships and keeps family and friends more involved in their care. For those with additional needs, such as dementia or neurological conditions, familiarity with their surroundings is crucial for their well-being. Additionally, home care eliminates concerns about managing their home, pets, or belongings. Studies indicate that person-centred home care positively impacts well-being and happiness, and reduces hospital admissions compared to care home placement.
Home care agencies, such as SweetTree, streamline the process of finding and arranging care, providing training, insurance and direct employment to carers. They arrange carer changes and introductions, coordinate with healthcare professionals when needed, and are held to stricter care industry standards.
Because of the flexibility and convenience home care provides, it is worth noting that it can become costly. In some cases, such as end-of-life care and other health conditions, you might be eligible for funding support through the NHS continuing healthcare.
Some people might also find it hard to get used to having a carer at home. For this reason, it is important to create the right space and time for introductions. If the agency allows for flexibility, it might be worth introducing the carer for a few hours a week and progressively increasing their hours as needed.
Private carers
Freelance carers usually offer flexible and cost-effective care with minimal commitment compared to care homes or traditional home care providers. If the relationship between the carer and the care recipient works well, it can be very positive and become a great addition to the household.
However, it is worth noting that carer employment would fall directly under the service seeker’s responsibility, which requires familiarity with the process and with any legal implications. It would also be the care recipient’s responsibility to arrange replacements during holidays or sick leave, often with short notice, adding additional mental load at an often-stressful time. Specialisation in the private carer sector is also slightly rarer, as many freelance caregivers do not undergo training for specific conditions or needs.
Finding the Right Care Provider for You
The benefits of each type of service are relative to each individual’s needs. For example, care homes can offer a sense of community for people who may be isolated, whereas some people might have a rich sense of community and friendship where they currently live, and moving into a facility with strangers might be more difficult for them. In care homes, people usually need to adhere to a set schedule, which might be a positive for those who would benefit from a more solid sense of routine, whereas it might be disruptive to someone who needs to live on their own terms for their wellness. As another example, one provider might provide carers with a specific training and approach, which others might not.
If these general traits are not enough to decide which service is best for your loved one, we have pointed out some additional tips below.
Useful Tips for Careseekers
Whether for yourself or a loved one, arranging care can be an overwhelming process. A consideration that can help lift some of the pressure is to see it as a journey, one that might likely need reassessing. Circumstances and needs might evolve along the way, so it might be helpful to view this move as a temporary transitional phase to begin with. It’s the starting point to your learning curve; for better or worse, you will learn what you and your loved one will need if your chosen provider is not suitable.
1. Write a List of Requirements
The pressure mainly stems from two reasons: the vast array of options and services on the market, and the associated risks, tied to physical safety and financial commitments. So instead of contrasting different care services, it might be helpful to focus on establishing specific needs your chosen service must meet—a list of requirements. This list should include essential elements such as necessary equipment, support for routines, space for personal belongings, cleaning assistance, required training for carers, or language preferences, to name a few examples. Additionally, consider the risks that concern you most, such as worst-case scenarios and potential insurance needs. These elements will guide your investment decisions and serve as a basic guideline during this journey.
If thinking about these so-called elements doesn’t come naturally, try deconstructing their routine. From waking up to going to bed, note the daily activities and what they need for each. Also, consider those worst-case scenarios affecting your peace of mind. For example, if the lights go out at night, could your loved one wake up and fall in the dark? Add this to your list.
2. Do Your Research
To start your research, identify whose voices matter in the decision-making process. The research journey can be lengthy, with multiple interactions with providers. Consider who can help with phone calls and who can ease the mental burden.
Using your list of requirements, start comparing what different providers offer and which ones align better with your specific needs. If you are unsure, we have put together a comparative checklist summarising the main questions to consider, which might be helpful.
3. Seek Advice
Lastly, it is always advisable to seek guidance from trusted external sources. For instance, organisations like the Care Quality Commission (CQC) offer a basic guide to regulated healthcare standards.
Additionally, SweetTree, with over 22 years of collective caregiving experience, serves as a valuable potential resource. We advocate for a gradual, personalised approach to crafting a care regimen tailored to the individual’s specific requirements. In our experience, domiciliary care offers a distinct advantage due to its inherent adaptability; adjustments can be made incrementally, ensuring that the care provided remains responsive to evolving needs.
This flexibility allows for smoother changes in established routines. Moreover, domiciliary care fosters a more personalised experience, as individuals get undivided attention from the carers, unlike the more divided focus usually found in institutional settings such as care homes. This focused attention enables carers to learn about your loved one’s needs in a way that would otherwise go unnoticed, which can be beneficial if you are precisely unsure about getting it right.
Furthermore, we strongly advise seeking financial guidance before engaging in any transactions. While private care companies offer essential services, they are nonetheless profit-oriented entities. Therefore, it is safer to seek comprehensive advice.