Finding the right carer for you or for a loved one can be a difficult and arduous process – balancing the need for professional care, high-level expertise, and a carer that the person requiring care will actually like and respond to.
Here at Ivy Palmer, we’ve been operating as a live in care agency for long enough to know that no decision regarding full-time or temporary care is made lightly – and that the personality of your carer is just as important as the cost and their past experience.
To lighten the load on family members and to make the process as seamless and straightforward as possible, this article shares some of the key questions to ask any prospective carer or care agency. And we’re starting with a simple question – but one that is so often overlooked.
How many carers will be assigned to me / my relative?
Most live in care teams operate on a one-by-one basis – that is, there will only be one carer present at any one time. However, this question digs deeper than that and asks about how many will be put on the rotation to deal with or live with you or your parent/loved one.
One of the benefits of live in care is the fact that the individual requiring care gets to remain in surroundings that they are comfortable and familiar with. Here at Ivy Palmer, we take this one step further by allowing that individual to build a repertoire and relationship with their carer, rather than constantly sending a different person to their door.
What will a live in carer do all day / will they help around the house?
This is an interesting question because different agencies provide different levels of service across different packages and prices. For the most part, a carer should be equipped and prepared to do any and all housekeeping and around-the-house tasks that they can in order to support the individual who falls under their duty of care.
This can include but is not limited to helping them get out of the house and follow their regular routine, shopping, cleaning, cooking, preparing food, changing bedding, laundry, and more.
Are there short term packages available under your live in care provision?
This question allows you to dig deep and understand the different levels of live in care on offer. 24/7 live in care is the most in-demand service, however, there are cases where you might need short-term or temporarily live in care, for example after an operation or accident, or cases where respite care is required for a short time every day or week.
Here at Ivy Palmer, our services are flexible and can be matched to your individual needs. Simply reach out to us to discuss how our team of carers can support you, and we will let you know the different packages and ways that you can access live in care under an agreement that works for you.