Everything you need to know about domiciliary care
When looking for care options for an elderly or ailing loved one, you may have come across the term domiciliary care. Also known as home care, domiciliary care refers to supportive care or health care provided by professionals at the home of the patient or client. Unlike care homes and assisted living facilities that require individuals to be admitted into the facilities, it allows a person to receive care in the comfort of their own home.
If you are not comfortable with the idea of moving your loved one to a nursing home, domiciliary care or in-home care would be the ideal option. However, before choosing this care option, you need to know everything it entails. Here, we are going to discuss all the pertinent aspects of domiciliary care.
What is domiciliary care?
Domiciliary care involves a range of care and support services put in place to take care of an elderly or ailing individual in their own home.
This form of care is ideal for people who need additional support with everyday tasks such as personal care, chores around the house, and various other activities that allow them to maintain independent living and quality of life.
The word “domiciliary” is taken from the Latin word “Domus,” which means “home.” By opting for in-home or domiciliary care, families can eliminate the disruption or hassle of moving their elderly or ailing loved one to a care home or assisted living facility.
What services does domiciliary care entail?
Before approaching domiciliary care services, you need to know what sort of care they can offer. Domiciliary or in-home carers typically undertake a range of care duties. This type of care is customized according to the elderly or ailing individual’s unique personal needs. Since no two individuals have the exact same needs, the duties involved may differ widely from one case to another.
At the heart of it, domiciliary care is all about assisting elderly or ailing individuals with their everyday living needs. The goal of this form of care is to make sure that the patient or client can continue to live at home and maintain an independent lifestyle as well as possible. To achieve that goal, the in-home caregiver may help with:
- Personal care
- Dressing
- Mobility
- Cleaning and tidying up the house
- Cooking and feeding
- Medication management
- Laundry, washing dishes, and other chores around the house
- Showering and bathing
- Toileting (including catheter care)
- Applying creams and lotions
- Grooming (such as shaving, nail trimming, and hair care)
- Shopping
The nature and frequency of domiciliary care are typically set by the patient’s or client’s family according to their needs. While some people require assistance for a few hours every day, others may need it on some days of the week.
Who needs domiciliary care?
Homecare services are ideal for those elderly and ailing individuals whose care can be managed at home. Domiciliary care can be sought both for short-term and long-term care. People suffering from ailments such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, or dementia need round-the-clock care and support, and that is when home care comes into the picture. Even those who are recovering from an ailment or surgery can opt for domiciliary care to receive short-term care at home.
If you are in the UK, you can seek assistance from your local council to get a care assessment free of charge. The care assessment will help you determine what type of care and support would be appropriate for your specific needs. For example, the assessment will tell you whether you need specialized equipment to facilitate care at home.
What code of conduct do domiciliary carers follow?
Every caregiver is bound by a Code of Conduct, which ensures the health and safety of the individuals they care for. As per Skills for Care, an organization funded by the Department of Health, adult social care workers and healthcare support workers in England must abide by the Code of Conduct mentioned below:
- They should promote and uphold the dignity, privacy, health, rights, and well-being of people who are under their care.
- They should work in collaboration with their colleagues to deliver safe, high-quality, and compassionate care, healthcare, and support.
- They should communicate openly and effectively to promote the health, well-being, and safety of those who are under their care.
- They should respect their client’s right to confidentiality.
- They should strive to enhance the quality of care, support, and healthcare through continuous professional development.
- They should promote and uphold diversity, inclusion, and equality.
When getting homecare services from an agency or an independent carer, make sure to ask them about the Code of Conduct they follow and practice.
Things to remember when hiring domiciliary care services
When seeking in-home care, you can contact a domiciliary care agency that provides trained and professional caregivers. A good home care agency always strives to offer customized services according to the client’s needs. That means they will only provide caregivers who are best suited to care for the individual in need.
When you contact such an agency, they arrange for the caregiver to arrive at your home as per the scheduled appointment. In some cases, as per the agreement with the client, the caregiver may let themselves into the premises using keys provided to them. Caregivers may offer services with or without supervision. They will take notes on the patient’s condition and/or recovery and update their family or next of kin.
Although homecare agencies take all the necessary measures to provide you with professional and trained caregivers, you should do some due diligence as well. Make sure to consider the following factors when hiring domiciliary care:
- The skill and experience of the caregiver
- The agreement of care
- The cost of care
- The schedule of care
With these things in mind, you should be able to hire a competent caregiver within your budget. To find the best domiciliary care in London, you can contact Total Caring. Being one of the leading home care agencies in the UK, we are capable of offering the highest quality of domiciliary care no matter what your specific circumstances or needs are. Get in touch with us today!
