Nine Questions to Ask Before You Choose a Home Care Provider

Most families ring two or three care providers, ask what it costs, and choose whoever sounded nicest on the phone. That is completely understandable, and it tells you very little about what the care will actually be like.

These nine questions do. Ask every provider the same ones and the differences become obvious quickly.

1. Will it be the same person every time?

The single most important question, and the one that predicts how happy your parent will be better than any other.

Listen carefully to the answer. "We try to keep continuity" is not the same as "it will be the same one or two people". Ask how many different carers a typical client sees in a month. If they cannot tell you, that is an answer in itself.

2. Can we meet them before we commit?

You are inviting someone into your parent's home, often to help with very personal things. Meeting first should be normal, not a favour.

Ideally your parent meets them too, and has a genuine say. People are far more likely to accept care from someone they have chosen.

3. What checks have been done?

Every provider will tell you their carers are DBS checked. Ask what level of check, when it was issued, and whether it is kept up to date. Ask whether references were taken up and whether the carer was interviewed in person. Ask what insurance is in place.

Our guide to DBS checks for home carers explains what to look for.

4. What experience do they have with my parent's needs?

General experience is good. Specific experience is better.

If your parent is living with dementia, recovering from a stroke, managing Parkinson's or has other particular needs, say so and ask directly what experience the carer has with it. A good provider will look for someone with the right background rather than sending whoever is free.

5. What happens when they are ill or on holiday?

This is where a lot of home care falls down, so it is worth asking plainly. Who covers, will your parent have met them, and how much notice will you get?

Anyone who tells you cover is never a problem is either very large or not being straight with you. An honest, specific answer is a good sign.

We are happy to answer all nine of these for your parent's situation, in writing if you would prefer. Request a callback and ask us.

6. What is the minimum visit length?

Very short visits, sometimes as little as fifteen minutes, are still common, and they are a big part of why so much home care feels rushed. In fifteen minutes, nobody is helping your mum have a proper wash and a proper conversation. Our minimum visit is one hour, which gives enough time to cover most tasks without rushing your parent.

Ask what the minimum is and what realistically gets done in it.

7. What exactly is included, and what costs extra?

Get the full picture before you compare prices. Are evenings, weekends and bank holidays charged differently? Do they add travel time or mileage? What happens if a visit runs over? How much notice do you need to change or cancel a visit? Our guide to what home care costs sets out typical prices.

8. How will I know how visits are going?

Especially important if you do not live nearby. Ask how you will hear about each visit, whether there are notes, and who tells you if something changes or looks wrong.

Also ask who you ring if there is a problem: an actual person, and what happens outside office hours.

9. What is the notice period, and what if it is not working?

Ask before you sign, not after. How much notice to stop or change, whether you can ask for a different carer, and whether there is any charge for changing.

A provider who is confident in their service will have a straightforward answer.

What good answers sound like

A provider worth choosing will be specific, will be honest about what they cannot do, and will not rush you.

Be wary of anyone who cannot tell you who will actually be coming, will not put anything in writing, promises that nothing ever goes wrong, or pushes for a decision on the first call. Reading reviews that mention carers by name, such as our own client reviews, also tells you more than a star rating.

Questions families often ask

How many providers should we speak to?

Two or three is usually enough, as long as you ask each of them the same questions. Comparing answers side by side makes the differences much clearer than a longer list of calls.

Should my parent be involved in choosing?

Wherever possible, yes. Care arranged around someone rather than with them is much more likely to be turned away, and much harder to settle into.

Is the cheapest quote usually a false economy?

Not always, but compare like for like. A lower hourly rate with short visits, extra charges and a different carer every week can work out worse than a higher rate with longer visits and one consistent person.

What should we do if we are not happy after care starts?

Say so early and be specific about what is not working. Most problems in the first few weeks, such as visit times or tasks, are easy to fix once someone knows about them.

Ask us

We are happy to answer every one of these questions for your parent's situation. Call 01225 63 77 19, request a callback, or read how Gladys works first.