WIRRAL ' S LIVE-IN CARE PROVIDER
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WIRRAL ' S LIVE-IN CARE PROVIDER
Wirral Life talks to Jonathan Hayley , Regional Partner for leading Live-in Care provider , Promedica24 Wirral
When you need to consider full-time care , you may think that your only choice is to uproot your life , and move into a care home . This is not the case . There is another option ; Live-in care from a specialist agency like Promedica24 Wirral . We caught up with Jonathan Hayley to find out more .
What was your inspiration to start this business ? I ’ m very much a home bird . In my previous career I spent a lot of time working away , different cities and different countries , but I ’ ve always lived on Wirral . We are so lucky living in this area and it is a wonderful place to come back to and when you ’ ve been away you appreciate it even more . My mum still lives in the same house that she and my late father bought when they got married in the early 60 ’ s . She ’ s 90 now and so she ’ s been in that same house for over 60 years . That ’ s a huge number of memories and familiarity . It made me think - the care sector has become very institutionalised over the years with some kind of residential setting ( care / nursing home ) perceived as the only option . Promedica24 specialist Live in Care service allows most people to remain living in their own homes when they might think that a residential setting is their only choice . That really resonated with me and I thought yes , this is how I want to spend my time , helping local people achieve better life choices that are specific to them and how they want to live .
Live-in-care sounds a really interesting idea - can you tell us more about it ? As the name suggests , live-in care involves a specialist carer moving into your home full time . They offer 24-hour care that ’ s tailored to your particular needs . A live- in carer will typically help with domestic tasks , meal preparation , personal care , shopping and managing your medication . In some ways it ’ s like bringing the care home into your own home , but actually much more than that . We offer a dedicated one to one service which means the same person , who we ’ ve carefully selected for you , is with you all the time . It might not sound too different but it means you get up when you want , go to bed when you want , eat when you want ( and more importantly what you want ) and if you feel like it , go out when you want .
Why choose live-in care ? There ’ s no place like home . Many people draw comfort from their home and would ideally prefer to stay in familiar surroundings with a lifetime of personal effects and memories . This isn ’ t about saying that one service is better than another . It ’ s about informing people that there is more choice available than they might think . I get lots of call from people , including friends , asking about their own parents and I want to give them the best advice . Some people might only need a basic level of support and not every day so I ’ ll direct them to a trusted local agency for example . For some people maybe due to restrictions within the property that cannot be adapted then a care home might well be the right choice for them . Most people though would really prefer to stay in their own home and if the time comes when it might not be possible to live alone any longer your Live in carer is there to help navigate any risks of living alone , while maintaining your sense of independence and preventing loneliness .
What are the key benefits of Live in care ? As Dementia Awareness week ran in mid May , this is a really relevant question . For people living with dementia taking them from the familiar environment of their own home can be very confusing and disruptive . We have supported many people living with dementia and being able to remain in their own homes has helped to moderate and in some cases delay the true impact of their dementia . Of course then there is the question of grandchildren . I remember as a small child going to visit my grandparents in their care home in the Lake District . While the setting was very grand , it didn ’ t feel the same as going into their home - the old sofa , the garden and of course the biscuit tin !
What gives you the most satisfaction ? Helping people find the right solution for themselves or their parents . Partly because I ’ m local and always lived on Wirral and partly just because I love helping people , I really try to get a good understanding of each person ’ s circumstances and giving guidance that I feel will be best for them . It ' s not like if our service isn ’ t right for you then I ’ m not interested . Not at all . I can imagine if you ’ re calling someone who ’ s based 100 miles away then they might have that approach but that ’ s not me . If it ' s not our service then I will help navigate towards what might be the right solution for them as its all very individual . If I didn ’ t know anything about this sector I would want someone to take the time to explain what can seem like a minefield from care fees funding , Powers of Attorney and more . I have built a network of local trusted advisors over the past 6 years who are specialists in these areas and more . What I enjoy most about it is the current generation of people in their mid eighties and older have amazing stories to tell . If I ’ m lucky enough to have grandchildren maybe they ’ ll say the same but I think my mum ’ s generation lived through quite unique times and their experiences are fascinating to listen to .
What is the most common question you get asked ? Mum or dad is really struggling so I assume the only option is a care or nursing home ? I don ’ t want to oversimplify as the varied nature of people ’ s support needs can be enormous , but in reality there is little that cannot be replicated within your own home environment .
What would be your main advice when considering support for their parents ? Have honest and open conversations sooner rather than later . Acceptance of needing support can be a challenge for some older people and many struggle for far longer than they need to . The effects of having a ' live-in carer ' in place are transformative and the most common feedback is we should have done this sooner .
Who are we and why are we different ? Our recruitment expertise and investment in recruitment and staff retention means we are able to choose from a large pool of carers and carefully select someone who is most closely matched to your needs and interests . We are also local which makes a big difference and are regulated by the CQC ( Care Quality Commission ). Choosing a CQC regulated provider is very important as this means we are accountable to the national regulator for the quality of the service we provide . The level of oversight and support available is like the most important insurance policy you ’ ve ever had . Promedica24 Wirral has been supporting residents across Wirral ( and surrounding areas ) since 2016 . Promedica24 ’ s excellent service has achieved a perfect 10 rating on homecare . co . uk in January 2023 and is rated ‘ Good ’ by the Care Quality Commission . The company has also been shortlisted for the Great British Care Awards 2023 in three areas : recognition of their outstanding response to the Covid-19 pandemic , live-in care expertise and staff recruitment and retention .
What if my loved one is nervous to have a carer living with them 24 / 7 , how will Promedica24 support them ? Promedica24 carefully matches individuals with carers who can support their needs , and connect over shared hobbies and interests . In many cases our live-in carers become firm companions .
If you are investigating care options for yourself , or a loved one , and would like to learn more about live-in care , reach out to Jonathan on : J . Hayley @ promedica24 . co . uk 0151 542 5015
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