Is my care good care?
Most of us in Guildford and Woking are not health care professionals, so it can sometimes be hard to know if the care you or your loved ones are receiving is good care? Sometimes, even if we doubt it is, we don’t like to make a fuss. Maybe our local authority are funding the care so we simply believe we should be grateful for what we have. Maybe we don’t want to offend, upset our carers or get anyone into trouble. Maybe we fear that complaining would make the quality of care receive even worse.
But you are entitled to the highest quality care, and if by raising your concerns means that standards are improved, then you are helping other people too.
So how do we know if our care is good care?
- Stay in touch with carers to discuss your expectations. Sounds simple, but so many of us do not do this until we have a concern.
- Good carers will ask you lots of questions. They may disagree with you or even challenge you if needed. This is not personal; it demonstrates they are simply looking after their customers best interests.
- Stay involved in the care plan and ask for updates to ensure it aligns with your loved one’s evolving needs.
- Occasionally drop by unannounced to observe the care that is being given. This is not spying, good carers will be happy to see you and proud to demonstrate their good work. Bad carers will simply be unsettled.
- Pay attention to how your relative reacts to their carers. A positive relationship is reflected in their mood and demeanour.
- Ask your older relative about their experiences and feelings regarding their care. Then ensure you take this information and feed this back to your care agency or local authority.
- Keep track of any changes in your loved one’s health or behaviour. Record these changes in a diary to help track and identify any patterns.
- Are the basics right? Does the carer speak my language? Do they arrive on time? Do they have the right PPE? Does the office answer my calls? Does the Care Supervisor visit?
- Trust Your Instincts: If something doesn’t feel right, address it promptly. Always Ask yourself, would you want this carer looking after you?
As always, to find out more about good care the team at Caremark Guildford and Woking are always on hand if you have any questions or need advice.
Quality Home care Guildford. Quality Home care Woking.
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