Most of us want to live independent lives, in our own homes for as long as possible. The good news is that even if you are recovering from an illness or a fall, or you need help with your long-term care, Live-in Care provides the perfect solution and peace of mind not only for you, but for your family too. There are so many Live-in Care agencies, where do you start? Well, a good starting point maybe knowing what you should expect from them.
All Live-in Care agencies will want to make a difference to people’s lives, and they will be able to help and advise you. This article looks at 5 things you should expect from your Live-in Care agency.
COMMUNICATION – Your agency should encourage active communication with you. There are many ways to communicate and they will choose the best one for you whether it be telephone, email, through a third party even. Let your agency know how and when it is best for you to talk to them. Building and maintaining a good relationship with your agency and having open and honest conversations with them is important. You should expect complete honesty from your agency in all aspects. From transparency of pricing and contract to keeping you abreast with all aspects of the service they are providing, including if there are any failings so you can make informed decisions. Your agency, in turn, should expect complete honesty from you as well.
TRUST – From having good lines of communication, a trusting relationship will evolve and naturally enhance their service to you. You can expect complete confidentiality from your agency so don’t be afraid of being human. When you place your trust with a live-in care agency you should expect to rely on them for the services, they say they will provide.
COURTESY – Mutual courtesy & respect between agency and client/customer is essential. The relationship between the family’s, clients, customers, office staff and of course the home Carers of an agency is a mutual collaboration and each needs to have due regard for the other for that relationship to flourish.
EFFICIENCY – Your agency will have made you promises and can expect them to keep them. No doubt they have said they can do things in certain time frames and they should stick to it. Across there processes and touch points with you they should provide the efficient service you are looking for and have been promised.
SAFETY – All agencies and domiciliary Carers operating within the health and social care industry have safety and safeguarding vulnerable people at the fore front of their minds. Your agency will have rigorous recruitment policies in place and if they ‘employ’ their Carers policies that cover health & safety of both their Carers and their Clients too. You should expect to feel safe in the hands of the agency you chose, no matter what level of service they provide.
I am Suzanne, the Client Relationship Manager at Access Care. My role is one that encompasses all the above. I listen, talk, advise, and empathise with my clients daily. I know how important it is to have a good relationship with my clients so that they feel they can talk openly with me. I talk to my clients as if they were my own family and try to understand their journey. I enjoy keeping in touch with my clients and being there for them as and when they need some support.
Best wishes,
Suzanne