What happens after the Care Conversation?
Starting a conversation about care for a loved one can feel overwhelming, but it’s the first step toward ensuring they get the support they need. At Home Instead Epping Forest, we understand how daunting this can be, but we’re here to guide you through what happens next.
In this blog, we outline the journey, from the initial enquiry to creating a care package that evolves with your loved one’s needs.
Our survey findings
We recently conducted a survey that revealed these insights:
- One in five families haven’t had conversations about care or later life planning because they don’t know where to begin.
- One in ten are concerned about researching care topics, finding it overwhelming or unclear.
It’s clear that having guidance and a clear process is essential to make this journey less stressful, and at Home Instead Epping Forest we want to support you at every step.
1. The first step: making a care enquiry
When you make an enquiry, you’ll speak with Vicky Claxton, our Operations Manager at Home Instead Epping Forest. Vicky will guide you through a series of key questions to understand your loved one’s needs and provide clarity about our services. For example, she might ask, “Has your loved one received care before?” or “What areas do they need the most support in?”
At Home Instead Epping Forest, we pride ourselves on providing a minimum of one-hour care calls, ensuring that every visit is meaningful and not rushed. From personal care and light housekeeping to companionship and accompaniment to appointments, our tailored care packages are designed to fit your loved one’s needs.
2. The Care Consultation
Next, one of our experienced team members will visit your loved one to conduct a Care Consultation. This is a collaborative process, where family members are welcome to join if the client feels comfortable.
The consultation will cover:
- Personal background: daily routines, hobbies, and past experiences.
- Health and wellbeing: medical history, mobility, and personal care needs.
- Environment: a full risk assessment of the home.
- Preferences: favourite activities, food preferences, and lifestyle choices.
This process allows us to create a person-centred care plan tailored to your loved one’s needs and preferences. We will also use this time to review services and the details of the care contract.
3. Matching clients with Care Professionals
At Home Instead Epping Forest, we carefully match our clients with our team of friendly Care Professionals based on shared interests and personality traits.
Stephen’s Experience
Stephen, a client from Loughton, with a passion for East End markets and West Ham football, was matched with Amanda, who shares his love of local history and football. Their care sessions quickly turned into moments of genuine connection, including outings to Stephen’s favourite spots and lively discussions about the East End.
This thoughtful matching process often leads to lasting friendships, amongst clients and care professionals, making care a joyful experience for everyone involved.
4. Care Packages
At Home Instead Epping Forest, our care packages are also designed to adapt as clients’ needs change, ensuring they continue to receive the right support throughout their care journey.
Susan’s Experience
Susan and her husband, Mark, from Theydon Bois, started with two-hour weekly calls for light cleaning and a relaxing “spa day” for Susan. As her needs grew, morning and evening visits were introduced for personal care and meal preparation, along with medication reminders for Mark. Eventually, live-in care was arranged, allowing them to stay together safely in the comfort of their home.
A journey of care and companionship
From the first care enquiry to adapting to changing needs, at Home Instead Epping Forest we’re here to support families every step of the way. We will guide you through the process with compassion and expertise, helping to make what can feel like a difficult journey a much smoother and more reassuring experience.
At Home Instead Epping Forest, we’re dedicated to helping older adults stay safe and healthy in the comfort of their own homes. If you’d like to know more about the services we provide at Home Instead Epping Forest visit us here and don’t hesitate to give us a call on 01992 666 777. We’d be delighted to share the ways we can support you and your loved ones.
‘Names have been changed to protect anonymity’
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