With a year in a residential care home costing up to £38,000 in the UK, sending an elderly relative into care is out of the financial reaches of many families across the country. In the past, care homes were the only option in Oxford and other parts of the UK for those struggling to look after themselves in their own homes – nowadays, other options such as sheltered housing and private home care in Oxford offer an affordable and convenient alternative to those who can’t afford to or don’t want to place their relatives in a care home.
Costs across the UK
Whilst care home costs vary across the UK, you can expect to pay anywhere from £24,000 in the northwest of England, to over £38,000 in London, especially if nursing care is required for your relative. Whilst you may be eligible for support through your local authority, most families require to sell property to afford residential care home fees. For most elderly people, maintaining their independence is a priority, and a care home may not always be the best option. By looking into other choices such as private home care in Oxford, it may be that there is a more suitable solution.
What’s Involved
By signing up with a private home care provider, you can be sure that they have been accredited and monitored by the Care Commission – their staff will be fully qualified and trained and they will need to fill out a ‘Care Plan’ for each customer, assessing their needs and the level of care they require. Private home care services can vary depending on the requirements of the customer – from a few hours a week to assist an elderly gentleman with shopping, to round-the-clock 24 hour live-in care, including helping with daily tasks such as washing, getting dressed, toileting and eating. As a general rule, agencies will try to maintain continuity of care, which means that you should see the same carer each week (with the exception of illness or holidays). Building a bond with your carer is important, and reputable home care agencies in Oxford will always try to select a carer who will get along with the customer – perhaps somebody with shared interests, for example.
Choosing an Agency
When choosing a home care agency in Oxford, you should do your homework – ring around and make appointments to visit a few agencies, as this will give you the opportunity to chat to members of staff, get a feel for the values of the agency and ask any questions. The agency will usually arrange for a supervisor to come to your home and meet the family. At this point they will carry out a risk assessment and determine care needs, producing a care plan which details all the tasks carers will need to carry out on each visit.
Private home care is an affordable and reliable alternative to a residential nursing home, which allows elderly relatives to maintain their independence whilst receiving support from a qualified carer.
