When choosing a home health care service, its vital to ensure that the provider or agency you pick is a perfect match for you and your loved one.

Bringing someone inside the home can be a daunting idea, however home care is quickly becoming a popular way of receiving treatment, care or even companionship.

Allowing you to receive care in the comforting surroundings you're used to, people in Edinburgh and across Scotland can now receive anything from post operative care to newborn care without a prolonged stay in hospital.

With the NHS already struggling to manage the demand for home care, private services have now been able to offer personalised and bespoke care plans to those who need it.

Able to keep the elderly out of long hospital stays and in their own familiar environment, families can have peace of mind knowing their loves one are safe and looked after.

Allowing individuals to have the greatest level of control and independence while being cared for, the service can be transformative.

However, if you’re now thinking about bringing in a home care service for the first time, it can initially be a little overwhelming to try and find a suitable plan for your loved one.

In order to find the right match and caregiver to look after those close to you, there are a few key things you should look for to ensure you are getting the best and safest service possible. 

1.         How qualified are they?

If you are leaving your loved one to be cared for by a home nurse or caregiver, its important you know they are fully qualified to take on that role.

In Scotland, you should ensure your home care provider has been registered with the Scottish Care Inspectorate.

Additionally, you should be able to easily find information about the Scottish Care Inspectorate’s most recent visit and assessment of the service. Their rating and feedback can give a much clearer idea on whether or not you wish to proceed with them or choose an alternative option.  

From there, it is a good idea to understand how qualified and experienced your caregiver would be, depending on the treatment and plan you require.

For example, if you are receiving post operative care following a broken bone, or your parent needs a companion after being diagnosed with dementia, a good care agency will match you with someone who is qualified and knows exactly what to do in that situation.

This is where the second point becomes important: 

2.         Making a bespoke care plan

Every individual needing home health care in Scotland is different, and their needs will also vary from person to person.

This is why a good home care agency should go the extra mile to create a personalised and bespoke plan of care for each patient they deal with.

A sign of a good agency is one that takes the time to understand both you and your loved one’s needs, listen to your experience and situation and create a care plan that will benefit you.

Many quality and professional agencies will carry out a home assessment visit during the initial process, to understand the space, the individual, their mobility, and many other factors that will determine what type of care and professional is best.

A personalised care plan worked around the needs of the patient is also much more likely to allow for their health to improve, and for them to reach their full potential. 

3.         Communication 

When creating a very personalised service, it’s key that all parties are involved in the discussions about the right type of care.

It’s also the sign of a professional agency when they are able to listen to the thoughts, feelings, and concerns of you and your loved one, and deliver something based around those specific needs and requirements.

In addition, they should be able to communicate with you in what they can provide and why, the experience and qualifications of their workers, and even down to availability and costs.

It is also essential that there is good communication between the patient, family, and the nurse or caregiver themselves to make sure they are clear and comfortable with one another, as well as to create a regular routine together. 

4.         Reputation and reviews 

A sign of a good and reliable agency can also be what previous or current clients have said about them.

Many will share testimonials of their own personal experiences with the agency, and it’s always worth doing your research. For example, what is the agency’s background, what experience do they have in the sector, and how have they made an impression on the local community.

Once you feel like you have comfortably covered all these stages, if all is well, it’s a good sign that you have chosen a good home health care service. 

At Acoup, all of these factors are vital when putting together a bespoke health care plan at home for your loved one.

Offering services ranging from elderly and dementia care at home, to companions and mentors for adults and everything in between, we take the time to understand exactly what will suit your family the best.

Always prioritizing professional, expert, and personalised care, Acoup is the partner of The Housekeeping Co LLC, (Est 2011) and its group of companies based in the UAE, who have pioneered the way ahead for governments and industry change in the domiciliary care and domestic services.

You can find more information on all of our services available in Edinburgh on our website, acoup.co.uk