Choosing home care

Ask about the people and the service

• The people

  • Who will actually come, and will it be the same carer each time?
  • How are carers checked and trained?
  • Are carers employed by you?

• The service

  • What's the minimum visit length?
  • Can visits change from week to week?
  • Who do I call after hours?

Ask about the money, and if things go wrong

• The money

  • What's the hourly rate on weekdays, evenings and weekends?
  • How and when do I pay?
  • What does it cost to cancel?

• If things go wrong

  • How do you handle a complaint?
  • Are you insured?
  • What happens if my carer is sick?

Then trust how it feels

Notice how the first call goes. Did they listen, ask about the person and not just the tasks, and answer plainly? That's usually a good sign of what the care will be like.