Deciding to get some help around your home is a big step, and it’s essential that you find the right care provider to work with you. No matter if you are looking for some help with gardening once a week, or more intensive daily care, you have a choice about the person who is helping you in your home.
Your in-home care provider should provide you with what you need, while making you feel comfortable and safe. To help you make the most informed choice, we’ve put together a guide on how to choose the right in-home care provider for you.
Be clear on your needs
You have the power to dictate what your in-home care consists of so think about what you really need; do you want help weeding or planting things in the garden? Do you need someone to help with laundry or vacuuming?
When considering what you need, be specific. The more specific you can be with your needs, the better equipped you are to express them to a care provider. You decide what you think would help you continue to live safely, happily and independently at home, so make a detailed list before you start to talk to care providers.
At Focused Health Care we tailor each of our In-home Care Packages to the specific, individual needs of our clients. We can help with things like cooking and cleaning, home and garden maintenance, transportation and socialising, along with rehabilitation and medical care.
Get familiar with the process
Before embark on the journey of finding the right carer, familiarise yourself with the process and each of the steps you need to follow to make sure you get the right in-home carer for you.
There are a few ways that you can access in home care, and each has a different process.
The most common ways to access in-home care are:
- My Aged Care: government supported funding, for Australians over 65.
- NDIS funding: government supported funding for Australians living with disability.
- DVA funding: for veterans.
- Self-funded care: you can cover the costs of in-home care using your own funds.
Crunch the numbers
Once you’ve got an understanding of the process, and what your specific needs are it’s important to understand what funding is available to you and what care you can access under that funding. Make sure to also consider additional costs, like administration fees.
Some people choose to subsidise government funding with their own funds to access additional services.
Rigorously investigate experience and qualifications
In-home care is a deeply personal experience, and you want to make sure that your carer has the qualifications, personality and work experience that will suit your needs.
Some in-home care staff are university educated, some have certificates or specialty training in certain areas. Your needs are unique to you, so make sure that you ask your care provider lots of questions to make sure they’re the right fit.
Also make sure that your provider meets government safety and quality standards.
Is there anything else I need to do?
Here are some other things to help you find the right in-home care provider:
- Talk to your family and friends and get their advice.
- Investigate different options, so that you feel confident in your choice.
- If you are already accessing in-home care, understand if you are able to change or leave your current provider, if there are any exit fees and if there is a waiting list for your new care provider.
At Focused Health Care, we are run by Registered Nurses and we understand your needs from both a care and clinical perspective. We have many years of experience and provide carers who are experienced, flexible and respectful.
Get in touch to talk to us about your needs and we’ll help you find the right carer so you can stay safe and independent in your own home for as long as possible.
