Welcome to the 1st Focus Homecare FAQ section! Choosing the right care for your loved ones is important, and you likely have many questions.
At 1st Focus Homecare, we provide compassionate, personalised in-home care for older people, ensuring their independence and quality of life. Our FAQ section is designed to answer your most common queries. If you do not find the answer you are looking for in this section, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Between £28 and £40. Prices of home services are also termed domestic care and in-home care. Home care is usually cheaper for many people, depending on the client’s needs assessment, than residential care.
In Scotland, everyone over 65 is eligible for free personal care and housing support. The amount depends on your needs assessment and can vary from a 15-minute medication prompt to longer visits, for example, two carers per visit. The maximum visit usually lasts one hour, up to four times daily.
Social care is a broad range of services for vulnerable children, youth, and adults who require additional help with daily tasks.
When having your needs assessment carried out by local councils, they generally consider social care visits to cover personal care, medication support, meal preparation and housing support. They may also give a personal budget for respite care. If you engage with a care provider such as 1st Focus Homecare, we will tailor your care plan and budget to suit your needs.
You may need to speak with your local council’s social care department and request a consultation. You can find the social care department in your town by visiting the Care Information Scotland website (www.careinfoscotland.scot). A friend or relative may also request a consultation. If you need advice on this, please feel free to contact us.
Social services are obligated to provide for and support vulnerable children and adults.
Domiciliary care describes the care service offered to the individual at home.
Domiciliary carers, home carers, or private carers are professionals who assist in the daily living of their clients by providing visits and living-in care. They help with household activities, medications, and other tasks that improve quality of life. Domiciliary examples include food preparation, cleaning, bathing, providing personal attention, getting dressed, and managing the issuance of medication.
Your Local council may pay for respite care depending on your needs assessment. In some cases, respite care needs are met in your own house or sometimes a short stay in a care home. If you require respite care and believe you are eligible, you can call your local council, which will advise you and arrange respite care on your behalf. If you do not qualify for payment via your local council, you can speak to us about the costs involved.
An unpaid caregiver is anyone who takes care of family members and their friends who cannot cope without assistance from others. Their work has no wages or benefits.
A prominent Alzheimer’s charitable organisation is the Alzheimer’s Society(www.alzheimers.org.uk). This site lists all the conditions that lead to dementia, including vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease. It offers information on living with dementia and finding support near you.
Carers can help enhance existing connections and encourage people living with dementia to join social groups, engage in church and community activities, and take up hobbies or social events. Dementia Cafés offer the opportunity to meet others talking about dementia and participate in group discussions.
There are two different kinds of 24-hour care. One is called a sleeping night, where the 24-hour caregiver has their bedroom and can sleep for the night but is there for emergencies. The other form of 24-hour care for seniors is referred to as a waking night, where a carer is needed to deliver care through the night, for example, when a service user has Alzheimer’s and gets up several times during the night to use the bathroom or becomes distressed and requires someone to be there to assist them.
It is possible to purchase services through a direct payment provider such as a home care agency or to employ a personal assistant. There is no charge for the services provided directly by the local authority. You may also receive direct pay or local government services. Local health and social care trusts can make direct payments to individuals who need to access social services but have yet to receive direct assistance from the local trust.
1st Focus Homecare have been looking after our 96 year-old mum, who has dementia and physical frailty, for the last five months and we have been very impressed with their service. The managers and care organisation staff are professional, efficient and quick to respond. She has three regular carers who are all lovely people and very well trained and skilled. They have worked with positivity and empathy to build the relationship and overcome initial resistance on our mum’s part to accepting the help she needs. A note is provided by the carers after each visit, viewable by the family on an online portal. 1st Focus deserve their high rating as a care provider and we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to others.
We used the services of First Focus when our mum suffered from dementia when in her 90’s. We requested a 24 hour carer and got a lovely lady who was extremely caring, thoughtful and attentive to her needs. She did her cleaning and cooking and provided companionship throughout. The staff at the agency were also very supportive to both us and our mum. Thank you for all your help First Focus.
Excellent service in every way from three members of staff, in particular. We feel in safe and professional hands and look forward to taking advantage of their services again when required. Would highly recommend. Thank you very much!
If you feel that 1st Focus Homecare is a company you can trust, please contact our office on 0131 510 7878, where we can discuss your care needs. If we can help you or your loved one, we can arrange to meet you in person at your home to assess your care needs. Once an agreement is in place with you privately or via the local council, we will build you a care and support plan and agree on a start date.