Homecare Harmony Healthcare February 5, 2022

Homecare

What is Homecare?

Quite simply, Homecare is care provided in the comfort of the home. At Harmony Healthcare, we provide Homecare for a range of clients at different ages and with different needs. We provide a tailored plan to each of our clients, so that we deliver exactly what they are looking for, in terms of the service we provide and the structure. The Homecare services we provide are wide ranging, and as part of these our carers will help with a range of activities. These include, cooking and preparing meals, general housekeeping, personal care and shopping trips. Our Homecare is completely tailored to your needs, or that of your family member that requires Homecare services.

Homecare or residential care – what is best for you?
Deciding which option is best for you, will be based around your own needs. You may prefer the structure of a care home, or you may want the flexibility of Homecare, including the ability to live the life you want.

The best option is your decision, but you may want to give us a call to discuss the options for Homecare, so that you can make an educated decision for yourself or that of your loved one.

Why should you choose Homecare services, instead of residential care?
Familiar surroundings

Familiar surroundings are important, and this is one of the main advantages of receiving the care at home, as opposed to being in an unfamiliar setting. Unlike in a residential care home, Homecare is based in familiar surroundings, with all your prized possessions around you, and without the worry of being around people you don’t know. If you have a partner, it also means that you can stay with them, as opposed to being in a care home where your partner will probably not even be able to stay overnight with you. You can also keep your beloved pets at your side, which might not be the case in a residential care home.

Set your own routine

Care homes, out of necessity, tend to follow a rigid routine. This can be difficult for patients, as you’re not always entirely sure when you might need some additional helps and support and you are you are severely restricted in what you can and can’t do, and when you can do them. For instance, you will have specific times for watching TV and even eating your own meals. When the care services are administered in your home, you don’t need to worry about being in a routine, you can get the care services whenever you need them, as you are receiving one-to-one personalised care.

Tailored care

When you receive care in a Homecare setting, you receive a tailored care plan and a dedicated carer who is only focused on you. In a residential care home, it is not as easy to receive one-to-one care in a care home, as the carers are dealing with many clients at the same time.

Flexibility with care plan

With residential care, you can’t really set your own care plan, but with Homecare, it is a lot more flexible. For instance, you can receive round-the-clock care, or care on a short-term basis The level of flexibility we provide allows us to meet your ever need. For instance, when your illness gets particularly bad and you need emergency care, or if you require respite care to give your family member a bit of a break.

Companionship

With Homecare, the carers can also provide companionship as well as delivering the care services. Companionship can go a long way for helping support the emotional needs of the individual.

Retain your home

If you decide on residential care, you may need to completely give up your home, and your possessions which can be devastating. You may not want to do this, and this is unfortunately, one of the main downsides of residential care. With care services at home, there is no need to sell your property. In fact, the home becomes an even more important hub for the family.

Remain together

The last thing you want, especially when you are suffering, is to be taken away from your loved ones. With care homes, your loved ones can visit, but they can’t stay, and this can be extremely damaging and difficult for mental wellbeing. Many people go downhill when they move into a care home, as they are no longer with the people that mean the most to them. With care at home, you can remain with your partner and even if they also require care services, you can still stay together in the same home. This can be comforting and can help prolong your life. Night-time can be much less stressful with a loving face next to you.

Reassurance for families

There is a lot of guilt associated with putting your loved one into a care home, it is not an easy decision for anyone to make. Most people end up doing it as they feel they cannot offer the level of care their loved one needs, or they simply don’t have the time to look after them. With Homecare, this burden is taken off the shoulder of families, as they know their loved one is being looked after but also that they are still in their home. Families can drop in as and when they wish, there is no need for notice. This gives families reassurance, and it also means they don’t need to visit at designated times. If you want to pop in and check on your loved one during the night, you are more than welcome to do so. Our clients and their families make the decisions about visiting, we are, after all, in your home.

Cost effective

It is often far more costly for care home fees, as opposed to Homecare, even for overnight care, so you can save money by taking out this option. If you are considering changing from a care home to Homecare, or you would just like to get started straight away with Homecare, you can get in touch with us and we will be more than happy to discuss the options with you. We can arrange a visit to you to find out more about your needs and work out a tailored solution.

Discussing Homecare with a loved one

It can be difficult to discuss the possibility of Homecare with a loved one, no matter how challenging their condition may be. For many, Homecare feels like they are not able to live an independent life anymore, and that they need someone to do everything for them. This is a misconception, and something we feel strongly about. Our care services are not designed to take the freedom of you or your loved one away, in fact, it is the complete opposite. We want your loved one to be as independent as possible and we will always encourage this, while also ensuring your loved one is supported and has their needs catered for.

Your safety is our priority
Keeping you safe in the comfort of your own home, providing flexible care to suit your needs. It is important that your home is adapted to ensure maximum comfort and safety at all times. Our carers will work with you to devise a plan indicating what adaptations need to be made to your home to improve your safety and mobility. The main purpose is to ensure that you don’t fall over, which is most common in older people. We want to keep you safe and well at all times, and we will do our upmost to achieve this. We want to minimise the risk of any hospitisations, so that you can continue to receive the care you need, in the comfort of your home, which we know is important to most of our clients.
Providing medications when you need them
Our carers will ensure you receive the right medication, when you need it. As medication is such an important part of managing any condition, it is often a concern that service users will either forget to take their medication, or they will take the wrong amount. It is not always possible for families to administer this properly, as they may not be available at the right time, and/or may not be trained to ensure they give the right amount.
The carers we provide for you at Harmony Healthcare are trained in administering medications. We use the highest level of technology to ensure that our clients receive the right level of medication, and that these are managed effectively. They will also pick up prescriptions, as required for clients. They are well versed in the importance of ensuring the right level of medication is taken, at the right time.
Emotional care and compassion
Sometimes all anyone needs is someone to listen to them. Emotional care is as important to us as physical care. We know that dealing with any condition can be a challenging, not just for the physical side of it, but also the mental side. The loss of independence, no matter how slight it may be, can lead to feelings of frustration and even depression in some cases. We understand how important it is to match you with a carer who is able to provide that companionship that you need too, and we will always try to ensure you are matched with someone who is right for you. We try to always team our clients up with a carer that has some common interests, as it makes it much more enjoyable for both parties. We know that life can get lonely when you are dealing with a lifetime condition, and you may not have family, or a family you can speak to about your feelings. Our carers are always there to support you in your time of need, no matter when that may be. If you need emergency care, including emotional support, we are always on hand to offer you that. Our Homecare services are available 24 hours a day to suit your needs.

Homecare FAQ's

What is Homecare?

When an individual needs care support for a condition they are suffering from, they usually have the option of going into a care home, going to hospital or receiving Homecare. Homecare is when the individual receives all the support they need, both nurse-led clinical if it is a complex condition, and day-to-day carer support, or one or the other, depending on their needs. With Homecare, the individual is able to carry on with their usual day to day routine, including being able to live with their partner, see their friends and family whenever they wish, while also receiving the support they need. Homecare is a great solution to care needs, as it makes the individual receiving the support feel more comfortable, as they are in a familiar setting, and it also takes the strain off the family. No one wants the worry of sending a loved one to a care home or to have the knowledge they are stuck in the hospital, and this is the perfect solution.

Is it easy to arrange Homecare?
It couldn’t be easier. You can just give us a call for a brief chat to discuss your needs or that of your loved one, and we will arrange to carry out an assessment at a time that is convenient to you. We will design a plan that is completely tailored to the needs of you or your family member, and then team you up with a carer or a team of carers, depending on your needs.
What level of care will I get?
The level of care you receive will be dependent on your condition, and how complex it is. We find that individuals with conditions such as Parkinson’s often require short term care depending on when the symptoms of the conditions are at their worst. For most conditions, respite care is required for families, especially for those that are caring for children, such as in the case of cerebral palsy  We will always advise our clients on what we think would be best suited to them, but it is completely yours and your family’s decision as to what level of care you opt for. If you have complex needs, you will need support from a nurse as well as a carer.
How do you choose the carer?
Ultimately, we will choose a carer that is experienced and trained to deal with your condition, but we will also ensure we match you with a carer that shares some of your hobbies, interests or general outlook. If you are unhappy with the carer we have provided, we will be happy to change to another. We understand that we might not get the right match, and we are happy to ensure you have the perfect match.
What does a carer actually do?
Our carers can provide a wide range of home-based care. They can provide specialist care for complex conditions, and are fully trained to deal with these, including motor neurone disease  and muscular dystrophy . They can help you with day-to-day activities, such as personal care, shopping, housework and meal preparation. You can also receive nurse-led care for complex conditions. Our carers are also provide emotional support when you need it, and also provide it for families. At Harmony Healthcare, our vision is to provide exceptional care services while also helping our clients to maintain as much independence as possible. We don’t just want to do everything for you, we want to serve you when it is needed, and support you with tasks you are able to do. We always encourage our clients to do as much as they can, without compromising their health and safety.
What if the carer is unable to visit me?
We have a team of carers on hand, so don’t be concerned if your carer isn’t able to attend, we will always send another carer.
Will I still be able to see my friends and family?
Of course. In fact, we actively encourage this. Your family and friends can visit anytime they want, it is your home after all. Our carers can also take you to your family and friends if required, as well as any other activities you’d like to do.
What is the cost of Homecare?
The cost will depend on the frequency and type of care you require. You can contact us at any time to discuss the costs and we can also advise on ways to fund the care. There is a lot of help available that people are often unaware of.
The importance of living an independent life
It might seem contradictory to be offering care services, while also advocating for independence, but the two can work well together. Living with a condition can be difficult. It can be stressful, upsetting and depressing. The last thing you want is to also feel that you are not an individual, but that your condition is all anyone thinks of you. Our healthcare staff treat each of our clients as individuals, they care for you and want you to do well. They will never view you as a number.
Our focus is to offer the care services you need, but without doing every task for you. We feel that this is counterproductive in improving your life, and improving your condition. We will develop a tailored approach for you, which involves looking at the help you need, and where what areas we can develop your independence.
How we encourage independent living

While providing our care services, we will continually review the care you need, and what we can adjust to give you greater independence. For example:

  • Ensuring you take care of your own personal hygiene, where possible.
  • Only ever doing the tasks you require. For example, we won’t make you snacks and meals, if you’re perfectly capable of doing this on your own.
  • We will encourage you to take up activities that strengthen your body and possibly improve your condition. We will actively encourage you to keep working if you can do so.
  • While we may advise you on your diet to help strengthen your body and keep you healthy, we will not tell you what to eat.
  • We will advise against living with family if you are capable of living on your own.
  • We will not advise against physical activities unless it may be detrimental to your condition.
The above is completely dependent on the severity of your condition. If you are not capable of doing something, we will not try to encourage or force you. Our carers are trained and experienced and through our nurse-led assessments, we will ensure that we understand your capabilities.
 
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