Our guide to having a positive 'care conversation'...
If you’re the person faced with finding care for a loved one, it can be daunting, and we understand that even approaching the topic with the person needing support, can be tough.
Very often, care services are sought at crisis point, when those requiring guidance are most vulnerable. In these instances, family members, friends or representatives (such as POA’s) are then attempting to put support in place urgently, sometimes feeling desperate to do so – often without really knowing what the wishes of the individual concerned, really are.
At Home Instead Exeter & East Devon, we believe that raising awareness around the topics that matter with regard to later life planning, is key to individuals having not only their needs met, but their wishes fulfilled too. This belief forms the foundation of our ‘Care Conversations’ initiative and also encourages us to continue with our free Community Talks and ‘Planning for Peace of Mind’ Event programme.
In our experience, the best decisions are made once clients and their families are fully informed about the care choices available to them. Some will be resistant, others scared, perhaps even offended at the suggestion that they do or may need care, companionship, or support. However, with a delicate and reasoned approach, what always emerges is the fact that preparing for the unforeseen, knowing that there is a plan in place, gives huge peace of mind to all concerned.
Doing research via trusted sources such as homecare.co.uk, checking out options and perhaps even setting up a small amount of support in the form of companionship visits, can ease a person into the idea of ‘care’, whilst feeling independent and in control – which is so important. This approach also means that as, when and if needs change or increase, the home care provider and the Care Professional team are a familiar and reassuring point of contact, rather than an unknown entity.
We would encourage those seeking care to talk, to discover what all parties need and want from a support service, and to then do their research. Those new to the care journey will have many initial and ongoing questions. To support this, we have created a useful ‘Home Care Checklist’ to enable the easy comparison of the services available. Click HERE to access your copy.
We consider ourselves to be different in many ways but one advantage that’s often noted, is that our Care Professionals don’t wear uniforms. This means that when supporting a client in the community, our Care Professional’s appear as a trusted friend, not as a ‘carer’.
In the privacy of home this can also work in a positive way, as in our experience a medical uniform can be unsettling, sometimes reinforcing the message that a person is in need of care, impacting on their sense of independence.
As the only southwest home care provider rated as officially ‘outstanding in ALL areas of inspection’ by the CQC*, we are confident that we can provide the perfect plan for all concerned. Time, ‘Care Conversations’ and forward planning are vital, in order to prepare for the best outcome.
If you would like to talk to a member of our team regarding your own needs and wishes, or those of a loved one or private client, please don’t hesitate. We are happy to help. Contact us on 01395 200600, take a look at our website HERE, find out more about our team HERE or follow us on Facebook, to discover why we are different.