The first week is mostly about people getting to know each other. Before any care starts there is a free home visit and a written care plan, so the carer arrives already knowing the routine, the medication and the preferences. Most families tell us the anxiety beforehand is worse than the reality, and that things settle within a fortnight.
A care manager visits, usually for around an hour, and goes through daily routines, medical history, medication, mobility, likes and dislikes, and what the family is worried about. The visit is free and there is no obligation.
From that, a written care plan is produced by a qualified care manager, covering exactly what happens at each visit and who to contact out of hours.
Wherever possible the carer is introduced before care begins, and for live-in care that introduction matters even more. It is a short, ordinary visit: a cup of tea and a conversation, not a clinical handover.
Early visits usually take slightly longer while everyone learns the house and the routine. Expect a certain amount of politeness on both sides. Personal care in particular often takes a few visits before it feels normal, and that is entirely usual.
It is normal to change things in the first fortnight: timings that do not suit, a task that turns out to matter more than expected, or an extra call at the weekend. The plan is reviewed as needs change rather than left as written on day one.
Tell us. If the carer is not the right fit we will change them, and if the level of support is wrong we will change that too. There is no minimum contract, so nobody is locked into an arrangement that is not helping.
It depends on the situation and the cover available. Call 01784 740078 and we will give you an honest answer for your area rather than a stock promise.
It helps a great deal if a family member is there for the first visit or two, but it is not essential.
Visits are recorded against the care plan, and the care manager is contactable if you want an update or have a concern.
That happens, and it is usually anxiety rather than a settled decision. Speak to the care manager before cancelling, because small changes often fix it.
Yes. Packages are scaled up or down as needs change, with a week's notice.
No commitment, just a conversation and an honest view of what would help. Call 01784 740078.
No commitment, just a conversation and an honest view of what would help. Call 01784 740078.
