Worthing charity's advice on how to choose your home care

Worthing’s leading social care charity, Guild Care, has put together some advice on how to choose the best home care provider for your requirements:

1. The type of care you need

Consider whether you need assistance with daily tasks to help keep on top of things, managing a specific medical condition, or some short-term respite visits while family carers are away. Get in touch with the home care team to discuss the services you’re looking for.

2. Finding the best home care provider

Ask for personal recommendations from family, friends, or healthcare professionals. Then make a shortlist of those care providers which match your criteria so that you can compare their costs, availability, and services.

3. A professional approach

Check the home care provider is properly licensed with a care regulator such as the Care Quality Commission. A well-established organisation with a good team of carers will be able to cover staff holidays or illness to ensure your continuity of care.

4. Ask questions

Make a list of questions you want to ask, such as any specialist skills, then meet the agencies. This will give you a good sense of how the home care provider operates and whether it might be a good fit.

Guild Care, Worthing’s leading social care charity, has a specialist Home Care team based in their new Portland Road offices in the heart of the town. Lacey Thomas, Head of Home Care, said, “Compassionate, professional care is essential, alongside providing some friendly company and connection to each of our services users. At Guild Care, we prepare a personalised care plan and these are regularly reviewed so they can meet changing needs.

“Having provided home care services for more than 30 years, Guild Care now has a well-established team of professional carers operating throughout the local area. We’re always happy to talk to people considering using our services. People are welcome to drop into our offices in Portland Road, or we can visit them in their own homes to talk through all our different options to suit their individual circumstances.”

Every year Guild Care supports over 3,000 people through their diverse range of community services to support older people, people living with dementia, and children and adults with learning disabilities. As a charity, Guild Care aims to reduce social isolation and social stigma to ensure that people feel loved, cared for, connected, and accepted for who they are.

Guild Care’s Home Care team can be contacted at 01903 528637 or for more information, visit Home Care service in Worthing (guildcare.org).