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Don't get Short Changed!
Don’t Get Short-changed on your care!
Are you, or someone you know, in receipt of home care services? If so, do you feel that sufficient time is available for all the necessary tasks to be completed in an unhurried and satisfactory manner?
A recent report produced by the United Kingdom Home Care Association highlights the problem of short care visits, defined as personal care calls of 15 minutes or less. The report concludes that short care visits are unsuitable in supporting service users to meet their personal care needs in a way that enables them to exercise acceptable levels of choice, individuality and independence. It recommends that short visits are used for monitoring and prompting purposes only, and advises that personal care calls should be a minimum length of ½ hour.
The Care Standards Act requires agencies to provide enabling services wherever possible that assist and encourage, rather than simply do. This approach often requires more time, but should help the cared for complete their activities of daily living with dignity and independence. Visits that are not rushed also provide regular companionship.
If you feel you are getting insufficient time, or if your carer leaves early, then you should ask your care agency to spend at least 30 minutes with you. If this is not possible then you should find an agency that can do this. If you are a Social Services ‘Max Payer’ then there are other company’s offering full duration visits at the same or similar costs to those you are paying. If you are a ‘Nil Payer’ then you could access Direct Payments to allow you to find an alternate company. Don’t get short-changed on your care time or money!
This information is brought to you by Carewatch for the benefit of all members of our community. Carewatch can be contacted on 01823 325554.
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