Watch: How To Research Home Care Providers?

When considering care for a loved one you may not know where to start.

We are passionate about helping people find the right home care provider and support for their parents as they enter their later life. Our Director Jennie Bardrick has provided some useful tips on how to find the best home care providers in your area.

Click here: How To Have A Conversation With Your Parents: How To Research Home Care Providers?

Where to research home care

A good place to start is the internet. There is a wealth of information online, and research is key to gaining knowledge about home care providers in your area and ultimately making a good decision.

We would recommend researching care providers using the website www.homecare.co.uk – this offers a ‘trip adviser’ like service but for homecare, with independent reviews written by actual clients using care services. You simply add your postcode in the requested field and a list of your nearest providers will be given. A review rating is given out of 10 and you are then able to read actual reviews which have been written independently by service users.

In addition, the Care Quality Commission is the industry regulator and its website is also a good source of information. Each provider that has been inspected and you will find a section about their service, including feedback from their staff and clients. Here is the link to the local home care providers in Havering.

Phone to speak to potential care providers

After having done some initial research on the internet, I would recommend deciding on a couple of your favourites.

The best next step would be to call their offices to gain some more information. You will probably be asked for some information about your current situation and you will have the opportunity to ask any questions your may have.

At this point, you can ask them to book a meeting to discuss further. This could be informal, like a coffee, or a bit more formal such as an assessment, which would normally be at your loved ones home. I would recommend meeting 2-3 providers if you have the time to do this as this gives you some comparisons and you can make an informed decision.

Booking your home care assessment

Most companies will provide a free care needs assessment where you can find out more and discuss what is required for your loved one. You will get an opportunity to learn more about the company and ask any questions about their service. After this they will develop a care plan tailored for your loved one and then it is up to you if you would like to proceed with the service.

To find out more about home care please contact our office on 01708 609 364 or email [email protected]