How to go about selecting live-in care for your most precious possession.
It’s an awful time for you – there’s no doubt about that. Deciding to opt for help with the care of your parent or relative can be a very stressful and emotional experience. In an ideal world, where work and other commitments didn’t shout their ridiculous demands louder than the whispered needs of your frail parent, sibling or child, you’d prefer to walk out of your day job and be there around the clock to ensure their safety and happiness. In the real world, you know that’s not possible, you have to go to work. You need help. And, perhaps, giving up your life to be a carer is not what your mum or dad would want for you either.
So, you’ve decided to look at the option of a live-in carer (https://otusliveincare.com/live-in-carer), because you want your relative to stay in the comfort of their own home. How on earth do you go about choosing who that person is going to be? How will you make sure that your relative is happy with the person that you have selected to be there 24 hours a day? There are many organisations who can supply care, but how will you choose the right one?
Here are our recommendations for choosing a live-in carer and for making sure your relative is getting the support that they need while you have peace of mind. If you find these tips useful, keep an eye out for futher tips we will be publishing in the coming months. Alternatively, call the Otus Live-in Care team on 01403 710119 for a no obligation chat. We’d be happy to answer any questions you may have.
1. Find someone who has previously dealt with the exact needs of your loved one. As you know, not all people needing care are the same – they don’t all require the same level of support. If your parent is suffering from dementia, prioritise tracking down a carer who has had experience of dealing with dementia patients before (https://otusliveincare.com/live-in-carer/bespoke-service). And, ask to see a testimonial from a previous client who had the same problems.
2. Go with a company supplying self-employed carers. Agencies can either employ directly or have a bank of self-employed staff. Where carers are self-employed, they tend to earn more and be more in control of when they work. This leads to a greater sense of job satisfaction. The happier your carer, the better the care they can deliver, and, the more likely they are to return, delivering consistency and continuity of care.
3. Ask to see references, DBS checks and the feedback of former clients for the specific individual. The agency that you choose to work with should have a watertight procedure for selecting their carers, including a huge range of background checks. This should include phone interviews, face-to-face interviews, validated references (at least three sources), and most importantly, checking that a valid Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) is in place, as well a check against the Protection of Vulnerable Adults (POVA) list. Ask about the process, look at the results and ensure that every part of the procedure has been completed.
4. Question their training and double-check that it has genuinely been done. Carers come from a range of different backgrounds, from ex-nurses to ex-registered care home managers. Make sure that the training the carer has is valid and up to date for your relative’s illness, and then ensure that you or the agency has verified that the training actually took place.
5. Make sure they have a back-up. What happens if the carer is sick or gets called away in an emergency? Check with the agency what their plan is for this scenario. Is it your responsibility to find alternative care, or will the agency supply a different carer? (https://otusliveincare.com/faqs)
6. Double-check their insurance status. The agency or carer should have comprehensive personal liability insurance in place. If you pay someone to work in your home it is good practice to ensure they have suitable insurance to cover any accidents or damage to property, just as you would for any self-employed person e.g. a plumber or an electrician.
7. Make the money arrangements now. Care of the elderly or the unwell is expensive. It is important to agree all costs up front, thereby alleviating any misunderstanding further down the line. Sort how and what you will pay for now. Including: car and travel costs, petty cash and expenses, what will be covered by you? How will food shopping be paid for? What will be the frequency and method of payments to the carer? Who should be invoiced? https://otusliveincare.com/live-in-carer/costs
Most importantly when you first start having discussions with the carer (any good live-in care agency will ensure that this happens before you get too far down the track) be open and ask as many questions as you like. Time spent at the beginning of this process will pay dividends in the long term, delivering peace of mind and ensuring the happiness of your relative.
