Finding home care and questions to ask

How do I find care at home?

The home care you choose has to be right for your needs and budget. We have a checklist which will help you ask home care providers the right questions so you can decide whether a certain home care provider is right for you.

It can be difficult to accept you need care. This means it is important you choose a provider and are appointed a care worker that is right for you. Before you contact a provider, think about your needs, routines, preferences and goals.

What are the benefits of home care?

Home care, also known as domiciliary care, ensures you can keep living independently in the comfort of your own home, with care that is tailored to your needs. A care worker can provide temporary or long-term help once a week, three times a week, every day, or even live in – it’s up to you.

A benefit of care at home, or home help, is the flexibility; depending on your situation. You might only need care for a short time or help with a specific task.

For example, if you are recovering from an illness or a broken bone, you can receive care for as long as you need to. You can also start off with a few hours of home care every week and increase the hours if you start to need more support.

How do you choose a home care provider?

Different home care providers offer different services, so identifying your needs will help you find the right provider. Some offer help with everyday tasks such as taking medication or getting dressed; some offer 24 hour live-in care.

The service you choose will be determined by:

• Care – is the provider able to give you the care and support you need?
• Location – is the home care worker able to visit you when required?
• Costs – what is your financial situation? Be aware of your budget and how much a service will cost you.

You can either use a home care agency or employ your own home care worker. Agencies employ and train care practitioners, match them according to your needs and arrange the visits. 

How can homecare.co.uk help you?

homecare.co.uk lists over 13,000 home care providers across the UK and has genuine reviews of home care agencies. It has transparent fees and has a whole host of articles to help you support you.

You can browse our comprehensive directory to find excellent home care services near you.

To find the best home care service for you, identify what you need help with so you can compare the different providers. Being honest with yourself is key and it can be beneficial to consult a friend or family member.

• What do you need help with?
• How often and at what time(s) do you need help?
• Have you got special needs that need to be catered for?
• What is your budget? How much help can you afford?

There are different types of home care available. Read our guide to the different home care services for an overview of the options.

What questions should I should ask home care providers?

Don’t just pick one – talk to a range of home care providers and shortlist those which meet your needs.

When you approach a provider, it is important to ask questions to ensure they can accommodate all your requirements. Write down as many questions as you can think of and in the process, you can build a clear idea of what services are the most important to you. 

We have compiled a list below to help you get started:

What type of care do you offer?

Make sure the provider can fulfil your needs. Find out what type(s) of home care they offer, such as personal care, dementia care and/or if they cater for special needs and disabilities.

• Can you ensure my personal needs and preferences are catered for?
• Are you registered to provide specialist care such as dementia, special needs or end of life?
• Can you cater for mental health conditions, learning difficulties and other special needs? 
• Do you offer respite care? Can a care worker temporarily relieve a family member or unpaid carer?
• Have you previously cared for someone with similar needs?
• Are you able to offer 24-hour live in care?
• Are you able to help me manage my medication?
• How long is each visit? 15 minutes, 30 minutes or more?
• Is there a minimum amount of time? Will the home care worker have time to perform their duties?
• Do you offer permanent care?
• I only need assistance with chores and gardening, can you help?
• What is the minimum number of hours you offer per week?
• Does your service enable me to socialise and get out of the house?
• How will you involve family and friends?

How regularly can I get home care visits?

Check that the home care provider can reliably access your home and take you where you need to go. 

• Are the services you offer available in my area?
• Are you able to visit me as often as required?
• How quickly can you visit me in an emergency or at short notice?
• How will the home care worker get in if I’m unable to answer the door?
• Are the care practitioners qualified and able to carry out wheelchair transport?
• Can the home care workers take me out and about?

Where can I read genuine reviews of the home care provider?

The best way to find out what the care is really like is to ask past or current users – they tell it like it is. By reading genuine reviews, you can check if the providers deliver their promises.

The easiest way to do this is to read reviews of the home care providers at homecare.co.uk, the leading home care reviews site and a directory of over 13,000 providers across the UK. Another option is to look at social media sites and online forums – are people recommending the home care provider?

Where can I check their care regulator report?

Check what the regulators say about the care provider and look at their reports. Home care providers are regulated by CQC in England, CIW in Wales, Care Inspectorate in Scotland and the RQIA in Northern Ireland.

These regulatory bodies thoroughly check if the service protects its clients and rates quality of care, effectiveness, responsiveness etc.

The United Kingdom Homecare Association (UKHCA), the professional association of home care providers from the different sectors, can provide you with a list of approved home care agencies.

Organisations that join UKHCA are required to comply with their code of practice to ensure the highest standard of care and that rights and welfare of clients and workers are of highest importance.

How do I know if they are suitable for my needs?

Ensure the home care provider’s staff are carefully vetted, properly trained and qualified, that they have undergone a criminal record check and that their services are of professional standards. 

• How do you ensure the carer you choose for me is the most suitable for me?
• Do you have a 24-hour call service? Who should I contact after hours?
• Do you offer a trial period?
• Is your service able to adapt if my needs change?
• How are the carers vetted? Do you interview them and seek references before employment?
• What experience and qualifications do the home care workers have and do they receive on-going training?
• How will you ensure the quality of care is maintained? 
• Will the same home care worker visit me every time?
• What happens if the care practitioner is off sick or on holiday?
• If there is more than one care professional, how many would visit me regularly?
• Have the home care workers undergone a criminal record (DBS) check? (Disclose and Barring Service in England and Wales, Disclosure Scotland in Scotland or Access NI in Northern Ireland)
• Can you ensure the home care practitioners respect my privacy and dignity?
• Do you keep written records and are family members able to access these?
• Can I request a different care worker if we don’t get along?
• Is your organisation insured to protect my interests and safety?
• Do you have a standard contract I can read before signing?
• Have your staff been trained in health and safety?

How do I find out about home care costs?

It is vital to find out how much the home care provider will charge you. Depending on your location, home care costs vary but is generally between £23 to £34 per hour. Read our Fees Advice section for more information on how to manage costs.

• How much will I pay?
• Will I be charged by the hour or a flat fee?
• Are there additional charges for weekends and bank holidays?
• Are there any hidden costs, such as VAT, travel and National Insurance? 
• How often am I required to pay?
• What payment methods are available? Cash, cheque, direct debit etc.
• Can you personalise the care according to my budget?
• If I’m unable to manage my payments, how will you ensure a suitable person will act in my best interests?
• Are you able to assist me with Power of Attorney?

homecare.co.uk lists over 13,000 home care providers across the UK and has thousands of genuine reviews of home care agencies written by the people being cared for as well as their family and friends. Browse our comprehensive directory to find home care services near you.

Further reading

Here are links to more useful information to help you with your search and to choose the right home care option for you.

• Paying for care at home – A detailed guide on how to pay home care fees and what help you can get with the costs.
• What benefits can I claim when receiving home care? – An outline of what benefits you may be entitled to while being cared for at home.
• What to expect when you start receiving home care – An overview of what your home care might look like to help you prepare.
• Home adaptations – Learn what the options are in terms of home adaptations to help you manage at home.