Written by Ali

Home Care Service in Reading Berkshire:

With time, everyone gets old. Aging comes with some special considerations and may require dedicated care.

 The main concern is to choose the best home care provider.

 So, after reading this article, you will have a complete understanding of:

• How to choose the best home care company?

• Things you need to keep in mind while choosing a suitable care provider (the checklist)

• Difference between a home care package and a care home.

• Common general myths around home care.

• Services which Apex Healthcare Services offer

• Why home care may be a better alternative to a care home.

• Home care costs

• FAQs

 How to choose a suitable home care company?

 It is a frequent question that our professional team has identified from clients and family members.

 Yet, it is relatively simple if the three main factors are met.

 We first need to ensure the following factors while choosing a home care provider:

 1.     Professionalism

2.     Service required for care.

3.     Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates the provider.

 Now let us discuss every factor in detail.

 Professionalism:

 The most crucial factor needed to appoint a care provider for older adults is professionalism.

One way is by either getting feedback from the people who have previously used the service or check if there are any public Google business reviews available that may offer a perspective of the service from previous or current clients.

 Getting this direct feedback from service users helps identify the below professional areas, providing a better understanding of the companies. If you are our new client or a past and love to spare your 1 minute then do, we would be grateful as it would help others to know about us. Click here to review us on Google or you can send us your review through contact form and we would publish it for you.

 Carer’s training requirements:

 Consistencies of carers

• Team member’s attitude

• Readiness

• Care they provide

• The flexibility of the client’s changing needs

• Cooperation

• Quality

• Recurring Clients

• Trust

• Work ethics

• Reliable service

• Kindness and compassion

• Creating a network with professionals

• Building a suitable team around the care

At Apex Care we ensure this thing by providing complete training to our workers because we believe in knowledge with quality.

Service required for cared for:

 Home care covers all the services in which the “cared for” in their daily living activities are finding challenging.

 It includes:

• Live-in care

• Memory care (Dementia and Alzheimer’s care)

• Night Care

• Companionship

• Welfare

• Home Care (Cooking, bathing, eating, dressing, toileting, medication, and continence)

• Respite

• Community Access (reablement, shopping, transportation, and walking)

 These are almost all the services someone may require.

However, if someone has a special requirement, he/she can send us an email, or book an appointment with us and we would look at ways we can help you.

 The provider is regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC):

 Apex Healthcare Services is regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). CQC is an independent regulator whose role is to ensure that providers offer safe care.

 CQC regulates providers by doing unannounced inspections, announced inspections or intelligent information disclosed to them.

 It has four categories that they use to rate care providers, as below;

1. Outstanding

2. Good

3. Requires Improvement

4. Inadequate

 Apex Healthcare Services has an overall rating of “Good” following our last inspection when we were given notice 48 hours before the examination. For our listing on CQC website you can click here.

 The ultimate checklist to check before choosing any agency for home care

 Credibility

 It means that:

• The care company fulfills the standards set by the regulators.

• The care team has valid training, work within national regulations and credentials.

 Reasonable cost:

 Care agencies provide care for your loved ones. And, the cost can be a significant factor while choosing the agency.

 However, if your agency is providing high-quality care and a highly professional team, the price should not be the first deciding factor when arranging care for a loved one.

 Choosing a reputable provider like Apex Healthcare ensures a team supports you, with various experiences from dementia care, reablement, therapy, assistive technology for example, to promote the primary carers.

 Our Apex team provides premium care services at competitive rates in Woodley, Earley, Wokingham, Tilehurst, Caversham, and Reading in Berkshire.

 Meeting your needs:

 Many people may become unsure whether the care provider can meet their care needs.

 We have written a complete guide to let them know what you need while choosing a care provider.

 Make sure you can contact the care provider in an emergency outside of the office hours.

 Before you commit to any care company, make sure to view the contract, there is a clear understanding of the care required documented, known as a “care plan.” Apex Healthcare Services will assess to understand the support requirements.

 Following the assessment, our team will compile a care plan.

 The “care plan” will detail the actual support required and shared with the client and family member and any other health professionals if necessary and permitted.

 This care plan will ensure that care expectations are being met and amended to reflect the client’s needs if they change.

 Testimonials/reviews by clients:

 Individuals who have had previous interaction with the company are among the most reliable sources to confirm the quality and standard of service. You can see the testimonials given by the clients. Your previous service user’s feedback is precious.

 Apex Healthcare Services has some current and previous client’s online reviews. Click here to see reviews from our clients.

 Difference between home care and a care home

 What is home care?

 Home care means providing care assistance, welfare checks, and daily assistance within your own home; in this service, some specially trained staff assist with daily tasks.

 They provide personal care, companionship, meal preparations, light housework, assistance managing medication, managing correspondence, shopping, making appointments, collecting prescriptions, or any other activity that they find challenging to do independently.

 The support offered by a care company like Apex ensures “cared for” maintain their independence while living within their home.

 Homecare offers support for various client groups, for example, older adults, frail individuals, physical disabilities, dementia, learning disabilities.

 There are eight main activities we assist with and necessary exercising of daily life tasks such as bathing, eating, dressing, toileting, transfers (mobilising, using equipment to move from chair to bed), companionship, mental stimulation, and continence care.

 The services which are provided include but not limited to:

• One to One Support in Daily activities of living

• Assistance with Activities of daily living (feeding, dressing, bathing, preparing a meal, and medication administration.

• Companionship Care

• Household tasks

• Transportation accessing the community

 In the Safety & Comfort of your own home.

Home care is a flexible option; for instance, one may require an hour a week initially, and then later can be increased to several hours a day or a night as care needs vary due to changing health conditions.

One can choose to use the services for a short time, for respite care when family members are away or permanent care.

The support offered by a company like Apex Healthcare can start with short weekly visits, all the way through to Live In care which will ensure 24-hour care and is available on-demand as care needs change.

Once a care company like Apex is appointed, they can offer support to the changing care needs to meet the required outcomes.

What is a care home?

Care homes mean that older adults go to specific places and provide care, support, and facilities to support their daily living.

People interact in communal spaces and activities. Some of the care home facilities will mostly include:

• Private rooms

• Support from care staff

• Community area

• Community eating facility

15 myths About home care: 

 Most frequent myths are:

1.  Home care is only for very sick people

2.  Home care is costly

3.   Caregivers are not trustworthy

4.  Home care is for people who lack independence

5.   Home care is adult babysitting

6.  Home care isn’t helpful for people with low or moderate needs

7.  I don’t need home care – my family is already helping

8.  Home care is only for seniors

9.  Caregivers are untrained

10.  Individuals who require 24/7 care cannot have support offered within their own homes.

11. Home care does not accommodate long-term needs

12. The client has no say over who the in-home caregiver is

13.  An in-home caregiver will replace the role of my friends and family

14.  An in-home caregiver will take over my loved one’s care plan

15. In-home caregivers don’t care about their clients

 Services which Apex care covers:

 Personal care:

 At Apex Healthcare, we provide private home care services according to the needs of your loved ones with necessary activities of daily life, including hygiene nutritional needs, to live engaged and independent entities.

Our home care by our home care professionals provides the needed support so your aging loved ones or family members can be happiest at home. We can help with a range of needs, including:

Live-in care, night sleep, feeding, bathing, dressing, getting in and out of bed, sitting and standing, navigating stairs, and using the bathroom.

Companion Care:

Companionship is an essential need of an individual and vital element of our comprehensive care that our caregivers truly enjoy providing. We select caregivers for you and your loved ones based on shared likings and interests. We will find you a caregiver with whom you can enjoy your time.

At Apex care, we strive to bring joy and engagement into every relationship as we are proud to offer companion care services. Our home care services can extend beyond medical and housekeeping assistance.

Apart from that, we provide respite care, and postoperative care, assistance with technology, shopping, housework, and much more.

Not only do we serve our customers, but we also provide Business to Business services like working partnerships with health care professionals, Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapists, trusted chiropodists, gardeners, handymen, hairdressers, and window cleaners.

At Apex care, we carry out quick assessments sometimes within a day without any wait for social workers, district nurses, and doctors.

Why home care is better than residential care

As one reaches retirement years, one of the most significant fears seniors have is abandonment and dying alone without family nearby. Study of (AARP) American association of retired person’s states that 90 percent of seniors want to stay at home as long as possible, even if they need assisted help in daily life activities. Apex care provides a familiar, safe environment surrounded by memories that make us feel loved and secure.

Many people choose home care over any other option simply because of the right reason for staying at home. These days, technological advancement and medical equipment have made it more convenient and accessible to benefit from home care than residential care, as there are more benefits of home care than to have your elderly parents or spouse move into residential care.

Here are some reasons why:

• You will be stress-free and at ease to know that your parents or spouse are getting one-on-one support and attention from their care provider. They will be the focus of caregivers, and that’s not often possible in residential care, where generally the seniors outnumber the care providers, and they have to wait for “their turn” for aides.

• It will be much easier to move around at home than a non-familiar care home. Residential homes often do not feel right. No matter how much emphasis on making it homely, they can never replace one’s own home, besides it can be stressful relocating and unsettling adjusting to a new place.

• Studies show that seniors who stay at home tend to be physically, emotionally, and mentally healthier than residents of care homes, not only that seniors who stay at home tend to live longer lives than those who live in care homes.

• Home care aides can be customised and tailored according to their needs, such as if your parents or spouse have Dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, they can have services and attention according to their needs. With the option of home care, you can be sure that they will receive consideration and undivided attention.

• Research study finds people heal faster at home than in care homes and can be much more comfortable when they are home than in a residential care environment. There is also less chance of needing hospital services again when the recovery process is done at home.

• Residential care is much more expensive than home care, even if you ask for as much as 5 hours of daily assistance. That is because nursing care offers live-in facilities and has special equipment to be used for elderly care, which may mean you are paying for equipment and services that might not be needed by your loved ones.

• Your loved ones can enjoy their favorite meals at home that they like. Nursing homes may be preparing food for many people, and some days the food might not be to their liking and taste. You can ensure that the food they eat is appropriately prepared, tasty, warm, nutritious, and of their choice.

• Freedom is vital for your loved ones. It provides the freedom to your loved ones living at home as they do not schedule to participate or eat in a particular environment as they are free to make their own decisions.

 So, before you try to decide about home care or residential care, you can reconsider your options, which may reveal that home care may be the best choice for your loved ones.

 Home care Costs

 When seeking home care services for you or your loved ones, the cost is often top priority on your mind. At Apex care, we want to be transparent and open with our clients so that they know what to expect from our services overall; home care is a far more affordable choice than other options. For details, you can call us on 01183913542

 FAQS

 How to choose the best home care?

These are the most frequent questions which ask daily, yet, it is quite simple.

We first need to ensure the following four factors while choosing a home care agency for our elders:

1.     Professionalism

2.     Which care you need

3.     Agency holds license or CQC Accredited

Now let us discuss every point.

Professionalism:

These are essential factors from choosing the agency for your elders. Ask from the people who have previously used their services or see the reviews which others have left. It is the best way to know about them:

1.     Trained staff

2.     Attitude of staff

3.     Consistency of carers

4.     Readiness

5.     Care they provide

6.     Availability

7.     Cooperation

8.     Quality

9.     Recurring Clients

10. Trust

11. Work ethics

12. Reliable service

13. Kindness and compassion

14. Supportive team

Which care do you need?

Home care covers all the services in which the person is finding difficulty while performing it.

It includes:

• Live-in care

• Memory problem care (Dementia and Alzheimer’s care)

• Night Care

• Companionship

• Home Care (Cooking, bathing, eating, dressing, toileting, medication, and continence)

• Respite

• Community Access (re-ablement, shopping, transportation, and walking)

These are almost all of the services someone requires; however, if someone has a special requirement, then he/she can send us an email, and we will look at ways we could help you.

Agency hold a license or not?

Apex care holds the license for home care and is working under the guidelines of CQC. It is the organisation that regulates the companies and gives them remarks based on their performance. The companies are rated as:

1.     Outstanding

2.     Good

3.     Requires Improvement

4.     Inadequate

We are rated as “Good” by CQC.

How do you choose your caregivers?

We meet with our caregiver’s face to face, understand their abilities and persona.

We perform a criminal background check & driving record review.

We contact their professional and personal references.

We verify their certifications.

Can I contact you outside office hours in an emergency?

Yes, our offices are Mon to Friday (9 am – 5 pm).

In an emergency, or initial enquirers you can contact us outside of standard office hours. An On Call member of staff will be available to assist you up until 10 pm in the evening at this Number 01183913542
Do you provide services at the weekend or on bank holidays?

Yes, we provide services 365 days a year, 24/7 different charges may apply for bank holidays.

Can we change our services and duty timings?

Yes, needs change all the time. We work closely with the family of service users to provide the right care this may mean changing duty timings, increasing or decreasing the amount of care required.

What payment methods are Acceptable?

You can pay with a debit card, or you can pay online or send a check by post.

What is your minimum duty time?

We are happy to visit you for duties shorter than an hour. However, our minimum duty time is 15 minutes.

Can you provide help during the night?

Of course, our caring staff is willing to provide you support at night either for waking duty or sleeping in a separate room and being available for you when needed.

Do I have to sign any contract?

Yes, to ensure clients are aware of the terms and conditions in relation to the support service, a contract is put in place.

We discuss the terms and conditions of the contract and encourage clients, to have an independent witness to go over the contract with them before they agree to any support service.

A Witness can be a family member, friend and advocate, who are there to help the client understand the terms of the service before any commitments are made.

Are you guys working in COVID 19?

Yes, we are working in COVID 19. Our team is completly ready to different challenges at all the time. You can either contact us or book an appointment to talk more about us