Andy Boardman, managing director of Alcedo Care shares what to consider when looking for home care and the benefits of live-in care.

Great British Life: 'Live-in care provides more one-to-one, personal care when compared to residential care.' Picture: Alcedo Care'Live-in care provides more one-to-one, personal care when compared to residential care.' Picture: Alcedo Care (Image: Archant)

Q: What should I consider when looking for a home care company?

A: Other people’s experiences can provide a real representation of how good a company is. Look at the reviews on www.homecare.co.uk as these are independently verified and the most accurate.

You must also check a company’s CQC rating; however, it’s important to remember that these ratings can be slightly out of date, which is why review sites are so valuable when making your decision.

Check out the websites and social profiles of care companies you’re considering. Through these platforms, you can get a better idea of a company’s ethos and see whether it fits what you’re looking for.

Finally, once you’ve narrowed your search down to a handful of options, enquire directly with the companies, and see how they deal with it. This will show how professional they are. A care company should always assess your loved one to establish their care needs before going any further. Decide how you feel about the staff you speak to and whether you’d be happy for them to care for your family member from this first impression.

Great British Life: 'We will assign carers to your loved one based on compatibility and their care needs.' Picture: Alcedo Care'We will assign carers to your loved one based on compatibility and their care needs.' Picture: Alcedo Care (Image: Archant)

Q: I’m struggling to decide between a care home and home care because my loved one needs a lot of support: can I still get the same level of care in both?

A: Live-in care provides more one-to-one, personal care when compared to residential care. Care homes are a controlled environment where carers look after a lot of different people, and depending on the number of staff, this can mean that time spent with a carer can be brief.

We understand that some people need more support than others, but don’t wish to move out of the comfort of their home into a new, sometimes overwhelming environment - 97pc of people, when asked, said they wouldn’t want to go into a residential care home.

We offer live-in care services that remove the need to move into a care home and avoids the pain caused by separation, and ensure that your loved one is in safe hands 24/7. As a family member or friend, you may be trying to juggle your own life and looking after your dependent loved one, which can be stressful – live-in care can relieve that pressure, without any drastic changes.

Q: How does live-in care work?

A: We will assign carers to your loved one based on compatibility and their care needs, and they will live with them, providing round-the-clock care and companionship. The carer will fit in around the client’s normal routine and offer support when needed.

Each care package is bespoke and tailored to the client to ensure it meets their specific care needs. We offer three levels of live-in care: companionship and support, personal care (includes giving medication, helping to keep up with personal hygiene, and helping with dressing and mobility) and complex care, which is for people needing an extra level of nursing support.

Live-in care is suitable for people of all ages who need constant care, support or companionship for the long term, or short term, such as respite care for families going on holiday, or reablement care, to get someone back on their feet following time in hospital.

Q: How do you ensure that the carer who is living with my loved one has their best interests at heart?

A: We only recruit experienced live-in carers, and then train them up to our high standards.

As it’s such a speciality, it’s important that we find the right people for the job, and we have an incredibly qualified team of live-in carers who are committed to helping others.

Q: Why Alcedo Care?

A: We are a family-run business with family values at the heart of everything we do. We have a fantastic team of highly professional, compassionate managers who are supported by over 450 exceptional carers. We provide support to people across the North West and are proud to have been rated the ‘Top Home Care Provider of Choice in the UK’ by reviews on homecare.co.uk.

Head to alcedocare.co.uk or contact your local Alcedo Care. For more information on live-in care call 0333 0150 677 and select ‘Option 1’.