Looking for personal care services for a loved one? It can be a stressful process, so we're here to help you understand your options and make a plan.
First, we'll go over the types of personal care available. Next, we'll outline how to find personal care workers to visit your loved one at home. And, finally we’ll explore the questions you should be asking to find the right home care provider for your family.
There’s a lot to cover, so without further ado, let's jump into it!
What Are Personal Care Services?
Personal care services help your loved one maintain their daily routine, and do so in ways that respect their privacy and dignity. Feeling fresh and clean can set them up for the day with a positive frame of mind. These services are delivered in the comfort of their own home, rather than having to go into residential care.
They shouldn't suffer any shame, but it can be challenging to discuss this topic. To help get the conversation started, here's a helpful list of specific support available.
Hair and Personal Hygiene
We include this at the top of our list for a reason.
Maintaining personal appearance and dignity is important for older people who may be struggling with everyday care. Everyone likes to feel clean, tidy, and at their best. Ensuring that your loved one feels fresh is important - it will help them. It will help them feel healthy and positive, both mentally and physically.
A fully trained carer will help style hair (or schedule a hair appointment), help them shave, apply makeup, and other hygiene essentials, to make them feel fresh and feel good.
Washing
It's common to need help to bathe, wash or shower when your loved one has reduced mobility. Slips and falls can be more common. It's harder to get in and out of the shower easily, and it can become difficult to wash thoroughly. This in turn can lead to reducing their confidence in being able to wash alone and therefore they're more likely to avoid doing it.
Personal care that assists in washing, showering or bathing will help them, have a helping hand and build back up their confidence. It may also include suggesting small changes to their bathroom set up to make things easier and safer for them.
Getting Up and Preparing for Bed
Getting dressed and undressed can become a challenge as your loved one’s mobility reduces. Similarly, getting in and out of bed requires strength and mobility that might not be as easy as it used to be.
Again, it’s nothing to worry about. This is a normal part of aging. With help first thing in the morning and at bedtime, a carer will be there to assist your loved ones. Assisting with their morning and night-time routines, so you can be reassured they're getting around safely.
Foot Hygiene
Corns and bunions appear frequently as we age. And keeping good circulation with regular activity can be a struggle so looking after your loved one's feet is essential.
You should encourage high quality foot treatment if they aren’t as mobile as they were. A personal caregiver can provide regular foot massages and other foot treatments, which are all part of their ongoing care plan.
Tooth Care
We all know that regular tooth care is essential. Mouthwashes and brushing help reduce cavities and maintain healthy gums.
If your loved one requires help when brushing their teeth, a personal carer will help them. They will also help with scheduling regular dental visit.
Keeping Up With a Skin Care Routine
Your loved one's skin routine is really important to maintain. This can include applying lotion to their hands to keep them from cracking or applying medicated creams. A carer will provide this ongoing support to ensure they keep up their daily routine.
Toileting Help
Toileting, like many of the areas we’ve covered so far, these items, can understandbly be a sensitive subject. Your loved one may need help changing their catheter bag, changing continence pads or help using the toilet, commode or a bedpan.
If you think your loved one needs any of these services, don't hesitate to reach out. The carers are fully trained to deliver personal care that fully respects your loved one's privacy and dignity.
Medication Assistance
Personal care services cover helping with medication and occasional medical intervention. If your loved one requires these services, then we'll be able to provide a highly trained caregiver to assist in their daily medical care.
How Do You Find The Right Caregiver?
We recommend using a care provider rather than employing an independent carer or personal assistant.
If you employ a paid carer directly yourself, you have the legal responsibility of an employer. This includes arranging cover for their illness and holidays, dealing with disciplinary issues, no added protection of staff training, and vetting plus care in this way isn't monitored by CQC - the UK's care regulators.
By using a home care provider, all these potential issues are eliminated, and you have the reassurance that everything is being dealt with for you and your loved one with their best interests at the heart.
How to find the right caregiver - 3 step plan
1. First, List Out Your Needs or Wants
Go through the listed homecare services with your loved one. Pick out everything you both think they need a bit of extra support with or the areas they're finding a bit trickier now. Reassure your loved one when you speak to them and chat things through. If you’re looking for some tips on how to start the conversation, we’ve pulled together this handy guide to help.
Next, divide that list into needs and wants. This list will become your primary reference as you search for the right care providers in your area.
Check out the reviews and professional standards a care company has. Here are two to get you started:
2. Next, Search for Agencies
To find the right home care provider in your area, use the following sources
Referrals from friends, family, neighbours and trusted local contacts in your community, e.g. solicitors, nurse, doctor.
An online in-home care directory
Search Google using these phrases:
Home care service near me
Care at home
Personal care services
Home help service near me
3. Finally, Arrange an Assessment Visit
It's simple and free to arrange an assessment visit with a personal care provider. Plus, you're under no obligation to go with them. It's a great opportunity for you and your loved one to ask questions and find out a bit more about the company and whether they'd be a good fit.
Make sure you've got your list of needs and wants to hand for the visit, and consider asking the following questions:
How many carers will be supporting us?
How long will carers spend with us on each visit?
What training do you provide/require your carers to have?
Will we be tied into a contract?
Are you flexible if we need to increase/decrease the level of support?
What is your cancellation policy if we feel it’s not right for us?
What happens if I/the person receiving care goes into hospital or on holiday?
Will the carer agree to visit us in a specific time slot?
How will carers work alongside any care we currently have in place?
What is the cost of personal care near me?
You're All Set!
It's time to find the perfect personal care provider for your loved one.
If you need care for your loved one, we're here to help. Contact Abney & Baker to find a local team near to you today for a personal care services assessment.
Helping you to continue living independently and confidently in your own home.
By providing a range of support at home, we’re helping many clients across Bath & North East Somerset and West Wiltshire retain their independence and stay in control in the comfort of their own homes.
Remember we’re always here if you want to chat about your care options. Just get in touch:
Call 0333 043 4880 or Email enquiries@abneyandbaker.com