If you or a loved one are finding it difficult to manage everyday tasks on your own, you might be considering private care in the home. Private home care can provide specialist support, a helping hand, and a friendly face just when you need it most. This enables you to continue living a full and independent life in the place you love.
But what benefits can private care bring, and how do you go about arranging this type of care? We’ll explore what private care entails and where to look for private home help.
Why choose private care in the home?
Deciding on the most suitable form of care is an entirely personal choice that can be dependent on many factors. From medical care needs to personal preferences, all these aspects should be taken into account to make a fully informed decision.
There are many reasons why choosing private care in the home over other forms of care is proving to be a popular choice.
Here are some of the ways your loved one might benefit from receiving private care:
- Living independently in their own home
- Maintaining privacy levels
- Receiving personalised one-to-one care
- Flexibility around their schedules and daily routines
Fully managed home care providers such as Trinity Homecare provide a range of care services tailored to your loved one’s needs and preferences. If you are interested in finding out more about the live-in care services Trinity Homecare can offer, take a look at our nationwide live-in care guide.
What to consider when hiring a private home carer?
In order to make a fully informed decision about whether or not to opt for private home care, there are a number of points to consider. Here are the main considerations to bear in mind when organising private care in the home.
Care needs
Firstly, it is important to establish what your loved one’s specific care requirements are. Including these within the care plan will enable a carer to meet your loved one’s needs. By clarifying care requirements, an individual can be matched with or find a well-suited carer.
Some people require specialist support as they may be living with certain health conditions. For example, an individual living with dementia could benefit from a dementia care specialist with prior experience in handling the symptoms and managing medication linked to this condition.
Not everyone requires the same support from their carer. Whereas one person may want companionship and help enabling hobbies, interests, and social activities, another individual may need medical assistance or support with mobility. Detailing what it is your loved one needs help with is an essential part of care planning.
Types of home care
Home care encompasses a wide range of care services which means that it can be tailored to perfectly suit an individual’s requirements. There are a variety of different types of care that cater to diverse needs, from 24/7 management of chronic health conditions to hourly support as and when it is required.
Home care can be adapted to reflect changing care needs, unexpected circumstances and breaks in regular care.
Here are some of the different types of home care services you can choose from:
- Overnight care
- Complex care
- Dementia care
- Palliative care
- Urgent live-in care
- Post-operative care
- Companionship care
- Hourly care
Employed or self-employed
The care agency you choose can affect more than just the quality of care your loved one receives. You have a choice to make regarding your involvement in the hiring of a private carer. Some carers are self-employed and others are employed by a care agency. It is important to understand how this affects you.
If you and your loved one don’t mind the responsibility of registering as an employer and managing the hiring and payment processes, an introductory care service or privately advertising for a self-employed carer may be for you. This comes with the additional responsibility of creating a contract, managing their work, and ensuring that sick cover is in place.
However, should you wish to minimise your involvement and let a care agency take over the employment of a carer, seeking out a fully managed care agency is the best solution. By choosing this option, you pass the responsibility of recruitment onto the care agency, which also arranges cover if your regular carer is unwell or on holiday.
Carer checks
Depending on which type of care provider you opt for, checks and training may be covered. Fully managed care services have checks in place to ensure that they only hire the very best carers. Carers are typically DBS checked and have undergone thorough training to make it through the recruitment process. On the other hand, when hiring self-employed carers privately or not through a fully managed care agency, the responsibility of vetting carers falls to you.
In addition to in-house checks carried out on care employees, some care agencies are also regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). These checks make sure that the agency upholds specific standards outlined by this regulatory body and that the care clients receive is of the highest possible quality.
Where to find private carers?
Now that you and your loved one have decided on the type of care they wish to receive, where can you find a private carer? There are a number of channels to explore when looking for suitable candidates, here are a few of the main ones. You can also learn more in our guide on introductory vs fully managed care agencies.
Introductory services
Introductory services introduce the carer to the person receiving care. The carer works on a self-employed basis and is hired by the care recipient. The hiring, contract-writing, and day-to-day management of the carer is your responsibility as their employer. Additionally, organising coverage for the carer, should they fall ill or wish to take a break, is also your responsibility or that of your loved one.
On a positive note, introductory services offer flexibility and control over the care provided, as the carer is hired directly by the client. Introductory services are often less expensive as managing the carer falls to you rather than the agency.
Fully managed care services
Fully managed care services not only match a carer with a client, they also take over the management of the carer. Therefore, you or your loved one don’t have to register as an employer and leave the organisation of care to the experts. Fully managed care services are perfect for those wanting to limit their involvement in care management and reduce responsibilities.
Fully managed care services are also CQC regulated, which means that you can rest assured that your loved one is receiving the best care that conforms with industry standards. Trinity Homecare is a fully managed care agency holding an ‘Outstanding’ rating from the CQC.
Care job boards
You may have noticed care job advertisements posted online and on notice boards in the local neighbourhood. Self-employed carers looking for work post their details on care job boards in order to find customers.
Unlike fully managed care services or even introductory agencies, carers from job boards require vetting to ensure that they pass the checks and have the right qualifications for the job. This responsibility falls to you as the employer in this situation.
Social media
Similarly to notice boards, social media can be utilised in the search for the perfect private carer. This method also encounters shortcomings in the notice board pathway, as sourcing the carer, carrying out checks, and managing the care arrangement are the employer’s responsibilities. On the other hand, writing out an advertisement for a private carer allows you to personalise the job specification to suit your loved one’s needs.
Questions to ask a potential private carer
In order to find the perfect private carer, you will need to assess whether they are a suitable match for the role of caring for your loved one. Whether you go through an agency or private home care route, there are a few important questions you should ask the potential candidate:
- What training have you undertaken?
- What is your experience with…? (a specific health condition)
- How do you respond to an emergency?
- What is your availability?
- Are there any times you may not be available?
- Are you comfortable with pets?
- Can you cook?
- Why did you decide to become a carer?
- Describe your typical day as a carer.
How to arrange private care
If you and your loved one decide to choose private home help through a fully managed care agency, consider Trinity Homecare’s wide range of care services. Our care services provide individuals with personalised care to suit their care requirements, preferences, and daily routines, all in the comfort of their own home.
With an ‘Outstanding’ CQC rating, placing Trinity amongst the top 4% of all care companies in England, you can have the peace of mind that your loved one will fully benefit from one of our professional home care services.
If you have any questions or need help finding private carers for elderly individuals or indeed anyone requiring care, get in touch with our helpful and knowledgeable care team.
Arranging private care in the home with Trinity is straightforward.
Simply follow these five steps:
- Call our care team.
- Undergo a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your care needs and arrange a care assessment.
- After the assessment, a plan of care is created.
- A perfect one to one carer is found and placed.
- Care can be adapted at any time.
