Care at Home Services Edinburgh: Choosing the Right Company for Your Needs
When the time comes to get help with looking after a loved one, the first thing you need to do is choose a professional care-at-home service provider.
But with so many options, how do you decide who to work with?
In this guide, we will cover the key questions you need to ask when researching care at home services in Edinburgh, and how to evaluate care at home against residential care.
What Are “Care at Home Services”?
Care at home is the support and assistance given to individuals who need help with their daily activities and personal care while living in their own home.
The goal of care at home services is to preserve the independence, safety, and dignity of your loved one.
The help required will depend on the client, but could include:
Personal care
Companionship
Live-in care
Overnight care
Palliative care
Post-hospital support
Care at home services are typically provided on a flexible basis, and can be provided for a few hours a week up to having 24/7 support.
How to Choose Care at Home Services in Edinburgh
Here are the key questions to ask yourself when choosing a care at home provider for your loved one:
Is the provider regulated?
Firstly - and most importantly - you should check if the company is regulated. In Scotland, regulation is provided by the Care Inspectorate.
When a company is regulated by an official body, they are legally required to provide regular staff training and take out all relevant insurance policies.
Medway Care Services is registered with the Care Inspectorate, and we are ISO 9001 certified. Our staff are required to undergo rigorous checks and get regular training so they can provide the best possible care to every client.
How do they match you with a carer?
The next piece of the puzzle is ensuring a company can find the right carer for you.
Trust and familiarity are built through consistency. When your loved one can build a personal relationship with one person, their needs will be better met through continuity of care.
We always strive to match your family member with one carer in the local area.
Not only that, but our nurse-led selection process also tries to match carers with clients based on personality, preferences, and interests.
How flexible are their services?
Every family requires professional care at home services for a different reason.
You may need a long-term solution, holiday cover, or even emergency care.
If an operator only offers fixed packages with set hours, they may not fit what you are looking for.
At Medway Care Services, we build our care plans around the individual needs of each client.
We can set up packages for a few hours of respite care, multiple days, or put long-term care plans in place, covering everything from light housework and preparing meals to round-the-clock assistance.
Our speed of service sets us apart. If you find yourself in unforeseen circumstances, we can match you with a local carer in under an hour - even in the evenings and weekends.
Can the company handle complex needs?
Your loved one will have specific - and sometimes evolving - medical needs.
Your care at home provider needs to provide a carer who can work with your family member as their situation changes.
Our team has been specifically selected due to their range of experience and specialist skills.
As a result, we can provide care for:
Dementia
Alzheimer’s
Parkinson’s
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Stroke
Diabetes
Cancer
Rehabilitation
Mental health support
Learning difficulties
Our staff and care plans are overseen by a highly-qualified and experienced nurse, so you can rest assured your loved one's needs will be met at all times - even as they change.
How much do they charge for care at home services?
Finally, you need to choose a service that fits within your budget.
When researching care at home services in Edinburgh, identify if there is a clear cost structure and exactly what is included within it.
We want to make high-quality care affordable to all. Depending on your requirements, our pricing starts from £28.50 - 32.00 per hour, with no hidden extras.
Care at Home Services or Residential Care?
If you are considering home care services, you might also be wondering if residential care is a good option for your loved one.
Here are a few of the key benefits of choosing care at home over residential care services.
A familiar environment and routine
Residential care homes take a one-size-fits-all approach to daily schedules, with meals, medication, and sleep times happening at set intervals.
The likelihood is that this will be a change to your loved one’s typical timetable. This can cause stress and confusion, especially for clients with conditions like Dementia.
Care at home services allow your loved one to remain in their comfortable environments and normal routines.
A more personalised service
In residential care settings, staff are required to look after multiple residents simultaneously.
Care at home services, on the other hand, ensure focused 1:1 attention on your loved one at all times.
Plus, when you choose Medway Care services as your care at home provider, you are provided with a family app where you can receive real-time updates on your loved one’s health.
A lower cost
On average, residential care in Scotland costs over £6000 per month. As a result, sometimes people need to sell their homes to pay the fees.
If your loved one doesn’t require full-time care, a visiting professional home carer will be a far more cost-effective option.
Choose Medway Care Services as Your Care at Home Provider in Edinburgh
If this blog has made you think Medway Care Services is the care at home partner you’ve been looking for, we would love to have a conversation.
Get in touch today, and let’s build a professional care package that helps your loved one thrive.
