Finding the right care provider for you can be a daunting task. However, one way to make it easier is to have a clear idea of what you want — and need — from your care. By asking yourself a few key questions and assessing your priorities, you’ll be able to select a home care service or care home that’s a great fit for you.
In this article, we’ll cover home care vs. moving to a care home, and what to look for when choosing a home care provider.
Home care vs. care home
Before choosing a care provider, you’ll need to decide whether you’d like to move to a care home or access care in the comfort of your own home. Each option comes with its own advantages and disadvantages. To help you decide, ask yourself the following questions:
- Can your needs be met by a home care provider?
- Would you prefer to live at home?
- Would you stay nearer to friends and family with home care?
- Do you require 24/7 care?
- Is independence extremely important to you?
Home care might be cheaper. It can also help you stay close to relatives, give you more control over your care, allow you to stay with any pets, and keep you in an environment you know and love. On the other hand, moving to a care home might be a choice if you want, staff that are always on hand, company and organised activities. There will also be fewer admin tasks (you won’t need to worry about paying utility bills, preparing meals, and doing household chores).
Choosing a home care provider: questions to ask
If you’ve decided to access care at home, you’ll need to choose a provider. Different providers can offer different services, so you’ll need to make sure they can meet your needs and offer the type and level of service you’re looking for. Think about the following questions:
- Do you require 24/7 care? Is this something the provider offers? Is it affordable?
- What tasks or activities do you need help with?
- How highly rated is the provider you’re looking at?
- How does a provider recruit their staff? Do they have care qualifications and have they had garda vetting checks?
- What training do staff have? Will they be qualified to deal with any special conditions?
- Is it possible for you to meet your care workers in advance?
At Caremark, we offer a free consultation so we can listen to what you need and want, then put together a bespoke care plan. If you’re based in Ireland, take a look at our services. We can provide everything from everyday care to live-in care, so take a look at our FAQs or contact us to learn more.
