How to find the best private carer

Practical advice on finding a private carer

What is private home care? 

Private home care is usually one-on-one, personalised care for older people delivered in the comfort of their own home. This could be visiting care or live-in care, and will focus on providing the support they need to live safely and comfortably in the home they know and love. The job of a private caregiver will depend on the specific health and care needs of the individual, but might include:

• Assistance with daily tasks like personal care and meal preparation
• Medication management
• Home help and housekeeping 
• Specialist support for conditions like dementia or Parkinson’s disease 
• Running errands or pet care
• Helping with transport to and from appointments or social engagements

Companionship to avoid loneliness and support emotional wellbeing

Do I need private home care?

When considering whether or not private home care is for you, it helps to begin by determining the type of care you need, what skills your private carer might need, and the potential costs related to this.

Our friendly Care Professionals offer flexibility, so you can choose whether you need visiting care to pop in several times a week, or live-in care so there is always someone around for companionship and in case of emergencies. Whether you are struggling to maintain your hygiene practices and need daily personal care, have been diagnosed with a complex health condition that requires medication management, or have mobility issues and need assistance getting around safely, we can design a care plan that suits your needs and preferences.

How to get started arranging private home care 

Organising a Care Needs Assessment through your GP or local council is often the best way to start when it comes to arranging care. This helps determine what kind of care is recommended for your needs, how often you require it, and how much of the fees might be covered for you. Whether you are looking to arrange care through your local council or private care through a service like Home Instead, a Care Needs Assessment is a great way to learn more about your own needs and see what options are available to you. 

If you have concerns, are unsure about where to begin, or are curious to learn more, our friendly team is always happy to discuss the details of arranging home care on a no-pressure phone call, and can talk you through the process.

Why Home Instead?

With Home Instead, you never need to worry about the elements of hiring a private carer. We take care of checking carer qualifications, doing DBS checks, finding respite care if your usual carer is off, and other recruitment tasks that could cause you stress. We go the distance to understand your unique needs and pair you with a Care Professional who has the experience to help you, and a personality to complement yours.

We are proudly rated 9.6 on Homecare.co.uk, with many of our locations also rated “outstanding” by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Our experienced, dedicated Care Professionals can work with you to design a private, bespoke care routine that prioritises the things that are most important to you.