Are You Ready to Have the Care Conversation with Your Loved Ones?
Home Instead Taunton is here to provide expert guidance and compassionate support, making this journey as smooth and empowering as possible.
Starting a conversation about care and later-life planning with your loved ones can feel overwhelming. Many families struggle with when and how to begin. At Home Instead Taunton, we understand these challenges and are here to make the process easier. Our compassionate and expert team is dedicated to providing personalised care solutions that help your loved ones stay safe, comfortable, and independent in their own homes.
Recent survey findings reveal just how widespread these feelings are:
- 86% of people would prefer their loved ones spend their final years at home rather than in a care home
- One in five people haven’t discussed care or later-life planning with their parents or loved ones because they don’t know where to start.
- 22% feel uncomfortable discussing their loved one’s declining health, finding it harder than conversations about affairs (20%) or personal struggles with addiction (12%).
Clearly, this is a deeply emotional and personal journey for families. But with the right guidance and support, it can also be an empowering one.
How Home Instead Taunton Supports You From the Start
When families contact Home Instead Taunton, our process is designed to offer reassurance and expert guidance every step of the way. Here’s what you can expect:
1. Making the First Enquiry
Your initial contact will likely be with Jo, our Designated Care Registered Manager, Debbie, our Quality Assurance Manager, or another member of our knowledgeable care team. During this conversation, we aim to:
- Learn about your loved one’s situation and care needs.
- Understand the type of support you’re looking for (e.g., companionship, dementia care, personal care).
- Answer any questions and provide guidance tailored to your circumstances.
We also introduce our 8 Care Needs tool—an invaluable resource that helps families think through the level and timing of care required. This ensures your loved one can maintain their independence and safety at home. If you’d like a copy, just let us know.
2. The Care Consultation
One of our experienced care team members will conduct the care consultation at your home. This visit is an essential step to produce the care plan and risk assessment. During the consultation:
- Discuss daily routines and expectations.
- Explain the services we offer and what your loved one can expect.
- Learn about their hobbies, interests, likes, dislikes, and personal goals.
- Address any medical conditions or specialist care requirements.
- Involve family members, if desired, to ensure everyone is aligned.
This collaborative discussion helps us design a care plan as unique as your loved one.
3. Matching Clients with Care Professionals
At Home Instead Taunton and West Somerset, we believe in fostering trusted relationships between clients and their Care Professionals. Insights from the consultation are used by our care team, alongside Toby, our scheduler, to select the best matches for your loved one. We consider:
- Shared interests and hobbies.
- Compatible personality traits.
This personalized approach has led to many heartwarming connections. For example:
One client, Mr. Johnson, enjoys gardening and baking. His care team includes Claire, who loves to bake, and Sam, who shares his passion for gardening. Together, they’ve formed a supportive and enjoyable bond.
4. Adapting to Changing Needs
As care needs evolve, our adaptable approach ensures your loved one receives the right support. For instance:
- A client may start with light assistance, such as companionship visits.
- Over time, additional care—like help with mobility or dementia support—can be introduced.
- We could add a visit to accompany your loved one to their favorite café in Taunton or for a shopping trip to Monkton Elm Garden Centre.
For example client AP returned to her baseline and morning visits were no longer required leaving a lunchtime and teatime visit in place. Morning visits were reinstated after a temporary decline to ensure the client was safe at home. The level of care and support has been adjusted to match a change of needs. The morning visits are now no longer required as the client has again improved and independence is being promoted as much as possible.
Our flexible care packages provide peace of mind, knowing we’re here to meet your family’s changing needs.
Why Have the Care Conversation Now?
Our survey highlights a reluctance among families to discuss care needs, with 81% admitting they avoid the conversation despite growing concerns about their parents’ or loved ones’ health. Many delay these discussions until it’s absolutely necessary, but planning ahead can make a world of difference.
Here are a few reasons to start the conversation sooner:
- Empower your loved one to express their preferences while they’re still able.
- Reduce the stress of making rushed decisions in the future.
- Build a support system together, ensuring everyone feels informed and involved.
A simple approach would be to sit down with your loved one and say ‘have you thought of having a little bit of help? What would be useful? Can I speak with Home Instead and find out a bit more information?’ The key is to get the consent of your loved one and also their input as to what would be required – could just be visit a few times a week to help around the house, provide companionship and assist with trips out.
Let Us Help
Starting the care journey can feel overwhelming, but you’re not alone. Home Instead Taunton is here to guide you with compassion, expertise, and a commitment to helping your loved ones maintain independence and dignity at home.
We also have two helpful leaflets to support you with care conversations:
- Care Conversations Guide: Aimed at adult children who want to address sensitive life topics with their parents. This guide draws on Home Instead’s global expertise to offer tips and guidance for navigating these challenging discussions.
- Sibling Guide: Designed to help siblings work together as a team when elderly parents need care. It includes advice on dividing responsibilities, avoiding family conflict, and reaching agreements as a family.
Contact us for a copy of any of these leaflets.
When you’re ready to talk, we’re ready to listen. Reach out today, and let’s make the first step together. Call us on 01823211121 or press the button below to get in touch.
