Advice and Frequently asked questions
Choosing home care for a loved one or for yourself can be challenging, at HP we do all we can to make the process as smooth and easy as it can be
With nearly 30 years experience, we understand the challenges you may be facing
Choosing home care for a loved one or for yourself is a really important decision that needs careful thought in a fairly quick time frame because the need for home care often happens quite suddenly, irrespective of age.
For instance, you or a loved one may need home care upon discharge from hospital or perhaps you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed with a progressive illness to which a care plan needs to be put in place for the foreseeable future, to enable you to have care at home.
For any patient, the thought of having home care is an overriding comfort and really helps to offset any angst they may be feeling over their diagnosed illness, or sudden loss of physical capacity.
Clinical capability and excellence should be a given when making this choice but effective and quality home care packages treat a patient in so many other ways too. Drawing on my experience as a private and NHS hospital senior nurse/matron, and as Head of HP Homecare for the past 20 years in and around London, these are my six top tips...
Michele Jogee – Head of Homecare
Michele’s 6 top tips for finding your home care provider
Frequently asked questions
How will I know whether a condition is treatable at home?
Get in touch. Please feel free to contact HP Homecare - by phone or online, whichever you're most comfortable with. Our service is completely confidential, and we're happy to talk through anything, without obligation, on which you may be unclear.
What kinds of patients do HP Homecare for?
We care for patients suffering from a range of conditions, including cancer, dementia-related conditions (such as Pick’s Disease, Alzheimer’s, etc), and cardiac conditions. Homecare also provides care for patients needing post-operative treatment, and daily personal care.
How will my GP / consultant know how my care is progressing?
All you have to do is be cared for. Homecare nurses and carers update a Patient Care Plan after each home visit, which is shared between all parties caring for a patient. These usually include a GP, hospital consultant, and of course, the patient’s main relative. This vital process is overseen by me, as Registered Nurse Manager.
What time of the day are you able to provide care at home?
Overnight, 12 hour or 24 hour care, depending upon clinical need.
Do you offer live-in nursing care?
Yes. Certain conditions, especially near end-of-life, require sensitive and skilled live-in care to ensure patient comfort is maintained, and the pressure on their relatives eased.
How quickly can I engage a Homecare nurse or carer?
Generally within hours. HP Homecare has a duty of care to assess a prospective patient’s home environment for health and safety, as well as conducting a full healthcare assessment with the patient to determine the level of care required.
Although based in London, do offer services outside the city?
Certainly, we not only cover the whole of London but can also provide a specialist service outside of London in the home counties.
When is home nursing more appropriate than a nursing home?
Being nursed at home offers a patient the comfort of their own environment, while getting the medical care and attention they need. Homecare often nurses patients back to independence following illness, until they feel ready to cope again.
Does one meet the nurse / carer before they begin their care?
At HP Homecare we always try to arrange a pre-engagement meeting between patient and prospective carer, because although medically, the fit may be right, we understand that taking someone into your home is a matter of trust. There has to be a connection on other levels, too. Pre-engagement meetings are not always possible however, because they depend on individual circumstances.