Selecting the appropriate individual or organization to deliver care and support for you or a loved one is a significant decision. It requires finding someone who is compassionate, skilled, dependable, and above all, trustworthy.
In these pages, we offer guidance on essential aspects to consider while evaluating various care options.
Step 1: Compile a list of daily activities for which you would like assistance. Some examples include:
- Ensuring a pleasant start to your morning – getting up, enjoying a hearty breakfast, and preparing for the day.
- Seeking companionship, whether it’s for shopping trips or meeting old friends.
- Arranging for the collection of your medications from the pharmacy, possibly every two weeks.
- Keeping your home neat and organized to your liking.
- Handling laundry and ironing tasks.
- Cooking healthy meals.
- Assisting with bathing and helping you settle down for a restful night.
- Or, if you’re caring for a loved one, you might need someone to provide company for them, or a care worker who can stay overnight, giving you the chance to have some well-deserved rest.
Step 2: Explore Funding Options for Care and Support
You might qualify for financial assistance to cover the cost of a care worker. The amount of funding and who provides it will depend on the nature and extent of the care and support you require, as well as your financial situation.
If you need assistance with essential daily activities like personal care, medication management, and nutrition, consider requesting a community care assessment from the adult social services department of your local council. They are obligated to assess your care needs.
A professional, typically a social worker or care manager from the adult social services department, will visit your home to discuss your needs and goals for having a care worker. It’s important to understand that the assessment might differentiate between your ‘needs’ and your ‘wants’.
The council will determine if your needs are ‘eligible’, meaning they can be funded publicly. If you meet the criteria, a financial assessment will follow to decide if you are entitled to financial support for care costs and, if so, how much.
Step 3: Organizing Care and Support
Your local council might coordinate with private firms or charities to manage your care and support. Alternatively, you might choose to find a care worker yourself for reasons such as:
- The council has allocated a personal budget for you to purchase your own care and support.
- The council determined that you do not fulfil their eligibility criteria.
- You opt to independently arrange your care and support.
Step 4: Choosing Between a Care Agency or a Personal Assistant
- When seeking in-home care and support, you need to determine whether to directly hire a personal assistant or utilize the services of a domiciliary care agency.