The best time to consider how you want to age is before you actually need care.

Are you Making Thoughtful Choices for Your Future? The best time to consider how you want to age is before you actually need care.

By planning ahead, you can make informed decisions while you’re still fully able to do so. This ensures that your wishes and preferences are respected as you grow older.

Start by reflecting on the support you might need now and in the future. What kind of assistance would you feel comfortable accepting? It’s also important to explore local home care and care home options, as well as other services that could help you maintain your independence and quality of life.

If you or your spouse have any chronic conditions like diabetes or heart disease, think about how these might affect your mobility or ability to care for yourselves down the line. Understanding the potential impact of these conditions can help you plan for the appropriate level of support.

Have open and honest conversations with your family and friends about your preferences and the kind of care you’d like to receive. Discuss what’s needed to support those preferences and ensure everyone is on the same page.

Don’t leave it to the last minute to plan for your later years. Making rushed, uninformed decisions in an emergency can have a lasting impact on your quality of life. By planning ahead, you can take control of your future and ensure that your later years are lived according to your wishes.

The following information and links will help you start your research in what options are available to you in your local area.

Homecare.co.uk is a UK website that reviews home care providers, lists providers, and advertises jobs. The site has over 12,000 providers, 66,000 reviews, and receives 3 million visits annually. It also has an algorithm that considers the quality, quantity, and recency of reviews to calculate a score from 1–10, with 10 being the best. Homecare.co.uk‘s review team reads every review before publishing it. The site also gives annual awards to home care providers and groups or owners. This is a great site to research your local home care options. https://www.homecare.co.uk/

Carehome.co.uk is a UK website that provides reviews of care homes, nursing homes, and residential homes. The site has over 16,000 care homes listed, with more than 327,000 reviews written by residents, friends, and relatives. The reviews cover topics such as the quality of care, facilities, activities, nutrition, and value for money. Carehome.co.uk also has a review score algorithm that takes into account quantity, quality, and recency, as well as annual awards. The score ranges from 1 (worst) to 10 (best) and appears on each care home’s profile page and search result listing. The site’s review team reads every review before it’s published. https://www.carehome.co.uk/

Organising Home Care

If you are thinking about arranging your own home care, it is a good idea to ask any agencies you approach the following questions.

• Are there different rates for weekends/evenings?
• Are there any extra charges i.e. for the carer’s travelling expenses?
• What sort of services do you provide?
• Will somebody visit me before the service starts? If you provide me with a service, can I contact you out of office hours? If so, how?
• Are your carers trained?
• Do you take up references on your carers?
• Are you registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC)?

For more details and information please click:

https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/homecare

https://www.leicestershire.gov.uk/adult-social-care-and-health

We’re here for you at Home Instead Rugby. If you ever need guidance, support, or just someone to talk to as you plan for your future, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re always ready to help you navigate these important decisions with care and compassion.