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An Introduction to Homecare

Aug 29, 2017

What is Homecare?

Homecare is support provided to people in their own homes. Also known as care at home, domiciliary care and home help, it allows people to continue their daily routines and lead fulfilling, independent lives in the familiar surroundings of a secure home environment, with support as and when required. According to recent figures, almost all people would prefer to receive care at home rather than moving into a residential care setting.

Who is homecare suitable for?

Homecare is suitable for individuals of all ages, both young and old. It is a fantastic alternative for children and younger adults who, due to specialist medical conditions (such as learning disabilities), may require day-to-day support to reinforce their independence and enhance their quality of life. Homecare is also suitable for older adults who may require a little extra day-to-day support.

Most homecare in Huddersfield and across Kirklees provide services for older adults only. However, The Care Collection’s services are also available to children and adolescents (4-17) and younger adults (18-65) and we have developed a bespoke set of skills enhancement services for this Client group.

Who provides the care?

Care is provided by our carers who have been specifically recruited for their kind & empathetic nature and are fully trained to carry out their role. All our carers complete thorough induction training and continue to complete national diplomas in Health and Social Care. Many of our carers continue with other service specific training and refresher courses aimed at ensuring our carers deliver excellence as standard.the care collection wheelchair 1200px

Our carers are regularly inspected by our Director of Care to check competency and establish new training requirements. DBS checks are mandatory and we require no less than 4 references to ensure the safety and quality of service for our Clients.

What type of care is provided?

Providers of care at home in Huddersfield and across Kirklees typically provide the following types of support:

In addition, The Care Collection provides the following services:

  • Skills Enhancement – we teach our younger Clients daily living skills and support them to have a full and active role in school life and access further education and employment, as well as creating an active presence in the community.
  • Car/Travel Service – we encourage our Clients to continue to enjoy life outside their homes and ensure that our Carers are able to drive them whenever they wish to go.
  • The Care Collection Culture and Camaraderie Clubs – these clubs provide our Clients with the opportunity to meet other Clients socially, enjoy new experiences and learn new skills.
  • Other Services – we provide a whole range of other services including specialist health services, gardening, home maintenance and hairdressing.

What are the benefits of homecare?

A recent report suggests “4 in 10 care homes are not fit for purpose”.children and adolescents care care collection

There are many benefits of homecare, including:

  1. Continuing your routine and retaining/establishing your independence
    Homecare allows you to remain in familiar surroundings and retain the social contact you enjoy with family, friends and neighbours. Receiving care at home also enables you to keep all your belongings and pets which may not be possible in a residential setting.
  2. Control of Costs – homecare usually works out significantly cheaper than a care home because you only pay for what you need (for example, an hour in the morning, an hour at lunch and an hour in the evening). In a care home, you pay for 24/7 care even if you do not require this level of support. Also, the value of a person’s property is excluded from the mean-testing process when determining whether they are entitled for state funding.
  3. No hassle or stress of moving – moving out of the family home and into the unsettling surroundings of a care home can be a very traumatic experience, especially for older adults. There will be further stress if a person is forced to move to a new home due to the existing one being unsuitable (a recent report suggests “4 in 10 care home are not fit for purpose”) or no longer affordable. There is also a significant amount of evidence to suggest that moving a person with Dementia into a new environment can be detrimental to their emotional and physical health and well-being.
  4. Bespoke/Person centred care –with homecare, you have absolute control over your support, this includes full involvement with decision making. The Care Collection will create a plan, with you, to be able to support you in the most effective and well managed way. A personalised, creative and well managed support planning is key to maximise and promote independence.
  5. Regular physical contact – having a carer visit your home for an hour or two a day really keeps the blues at bay. Research has shown that those who have physical contact with another person on a daily basis experience higher levels of oxytocin, a hormone that lowers stress and blood pressure and increases mood.

Please get in touch today if you are looking for homecare for yourself or a loved one or contact Catherine Haigh, Director of Care, if you wish to discuss homecare in more detail.

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