Question 1

Can the London Borough of Croydon pay for home care?

Accepted Answer

It can, once a care needs assessment and then a financial assessment have both been completed. The financial assessment compares income and capital with thresholds set nationally, so the outcome depends on individual circumstances rather than on where in Croydon someone lives. Support may cover the whole cost, part of it, or none of it. If funding is agreed, you can ask to receive it as a direct payment and choose the agency yourself.

Question 2

How do I arrange a care needs assessment in Croydon?

Accepted Answer

Ask the London Borough of Croydon for an adult social care needs assessment, which is free to everyone. The request can come from the person needing support or from a relative, GP or hospital ward acting on their behalf. A practitioner will discuss the daily tasks that have become difficult and measure them against national eligibility criteria. If the needs qualify, the council explains what support should follow and how it can be put in place.

Question 3

How much notice should I allow before care starts?

Accepted Answer

Allow a few weeks wherever the situation permits, since the most sought after visit times fill quickly. Early mornings and evening calls are the hardest slots to secure at short notice. Starting sooner leaves room for an assessment and for meeting more than one agency before committing. If a hospital discharge is being planned, tell the ward team early so the two processes can be arranged together.

Question 4

Which agencies deliver home care in Croydon?

Accepted Answer

This page lists one hundred and fifty four home care agencies registered with the Care Quality Commission to work in Croydon. They include national brands running local offices as well as small independent providers covering a handful of neighbourhoods. Each entry has a profile showing the current rating and the findings behind it. Because the ratings here vary widely, reading the profiles before ringing round is time well spent.

Question 5

What should I ask an agency before agreeing to visits?

Accepted Answer

Ask how many different carers will attend across a fortnight and how sickness and annual leave are covered. Check whether visit times are guaranteed or given as a window, and how long carers spend travelling between calls. Find out who supervises the staff, how care plans are reviewed and how a concern reaches a doctor. Request the written schedule of charges, including evenings, weekends and cancellations.

Question 6

What is the difference between home care and a care home?

Accepted Answer

Home care brings paid carers to a person living in their own house, working to a timetable of planned visits. A care home provides accommodation, meals and support on one site with staff on duty throughout the day and night. Nursing homes add registered nurses for people with clinical needs. Everything listed on this page provides care in the person's own home rather than in residential accommodation.

Home Care in Croydon

157 home care in Croydon (showing 151–157)