5 things to look for when sourcing care for a loved one
The realisation that yourself or a loved one needs part or full-time care can be challenging on an emotional level, but also in a practical sense. Whether the changes have occurred gradually over time or care is needed after a sudden injury or illness, it’s important to take time to carefully consider what your next steps will be.
The process can be understandably overwhelming – but with some forward planning and an informed approach it’s possible to navigate it with peace of mind and confidence. Here are five things you need to consider when looking for care.
1/ Your loved one’s wishes
First and foremost, it’s important to have a candid (yet supportive) conversation with your loved one about their need for care and how they would like to move forward. It may not be possible to accommodate all their wishes, but having an idea of what they are comfortable with and anything they are concerned about will help to guide you as you source the right type of care for them. Resistance to change and in particular worries about having to leave the family home or loss of independence are natural and normal. Although it’s understandably upsetting to have these types of conversations with someone you care about, it’s usually possible to find a compromise which your loved one will feel comfortable with and adapt to over time.
2/ Financial requirements
There are different types of care available in the UK – some of which are offered free of charge via the NHS or your local authority. Eligibility criteria for these types of care are strict and subject to assessment from medical professionals and in some cases, social workers. The level and quality of care offered also varies greatly depending on your local authority, and your personal circumstances. For this reason, private care is often favoured by individuals and their families – but in most cases private care must be fully or partially funded by the person and/or their family. Care costs can add up quickly, especially if you require specialist care, long-term support or daily visits. Before exploring different private care providers, it’s important to have an idea in mind about what you can afford both now and in the future. Where long-term care is required, you will need to ensure that you have sufficient funds to cover the cost for however long the person is expected to have care needs for. It’s also important to think about whether your loved one’s care needs might change and what the financial implications of that may be. You can find out more about paying for care and care funding options here.
3/ CQC registration and rating
The CQC (Care Quality Commission) is England’s independent regulator of health and adult social care. All reputable private care companies must be accredited and assessed by the CQC. The CQC monitors and inspects the support care companies offer which covers a variety of criteria, then gives them a rating based on this. If they find a care company in need of improvement, they have the power to force them to take appropriate action to make things better. There are four ratings – Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement and Inadequate. Once you know what type of care your loved one requires and have a budget in mind, be sure to check each company you consider’s CQC rating, opting only for Outstanding or Good where possible. If a company’s CQC rating is not advertised, ask to see it or search for it.
4/ Genuine testimonials
Great care companies will have lots of testimonials from past and current clients they can share with you to demonstrate that they really do offer high quality support and satisfy the aspects of care that matter to you the most. Impartial reviews can be found on social media and other independent platforms such as TrustPilot, rather than solely through the care company’s own website.
5/ Your gut feeling
Often you will have a ‘gut feeling’ when you speak to a care company which indicates whether they are right for you. Although you should take into account the practical, financial and logistical aspects of the decision making process, your gut feeling is often a strong indicator of whether an option is right for you or your loved one. Sensitive support with care needs from ComfortPlus At ComfortPlus we’re passionate about bringing care right back to basics – offering sensitive, compassionate support for the people we work with. We carefully match our care professionals to each person and develop tailored care plans perfectly suited to your needs.
