How is the UK's homecare industry adapting to challenging situations?
The demand for home healthcare has significantly increased since the pandemic in the UK. In 2019, there were approximately five million people reliant on homecare services in the UK. However, this number rose to 12 million in the year 2020, as people were afraid to move out of their houses for care and support due to the fear of COVID-19.
Even before the pandemic hit the world, homecare services were becoming increasingly popular in the UK, with many elderly citizens, people with disabilities, and those with chronic ailments preferring care at home to long-term care facilities or nursing homes. Many COVID-19 patients who were released from hospitals increasingly demanded in-homecare, likely due to the lockdowns, social isolation, and general aversion to going to doctor's offices. Though there is a rise in the homecare industry in the UK, there are also several challenges faced by each stakeholder in the care at home sector. Check out our previous blog for those challenges.
In this article, we will examine various strategies for managing and controlling the challenges that the homecare sector faces.
How can we overcome the challenges facing the care-at-home industry in the UK?
As discussed in the previous article, there are various challenges facing the homecare industry. One way many of these challenges can be reduced is by investing in digital solutions to best support the homecare market now and in the long term and help deliver better outcomes. There are a variety of digital solutions that can help overcome some of the key barriers that homecare agencies, carers, and individuals themselves have been experiencing, including:
1. Staff retention:
One of the ways staff retention can be improved is by investing in more enhanced care monitoring systems. This can improve staff retention and decrease staff turnover by optimising visits, obtaining greater visibility of care delivery, and assisting with workload reduction. Previously, homecare workers were having to call the office at the end of every day to find the schedule for the next day. However, now there are various software solutions wherein they can be updated about their shifts.
At Nurses Group Homecare, our mobile app allowed them to access all the information they needed about the care each patient required, as well as their rotas, in advance. This has also helped improve the administration processes, as now they can better demonstrate their compliance compared to their previous paper-based systems. This has improved staff retention, as many homecare workers were leaving due to issues with their work-life balance. As the older processes and having to constantly call the office to find out their schedules consumed a significant amount of their time, even on their day off or during their annual leave.
2. Compliance:
Compliance was another homecare challenge where, due to high demand and increasing waiting lists, the pressure to arrange appropriate and compliant homecare is huge. Sometimes individuals end up with a homecare service that does not fully meet their needs, especially if their needs keep changing, for instance. For example, people suffering from dementia have needs that change as the disease progresses. Investing in a digital solution to ensure that your local government only works with 100% compliant care agencies ensures that your homecare service is compliant at all times and meets all of the community's care requirements, regardless of whether they change.
3. Coping with a decline in health:
It is not common to build a strong relationship with the service user you care for, so it can be particularly upsetting if their health declines, especially in the case of older or chronically ill patients. Managing these circumstances can be challenging, and it may interfere with your ability to perform your other duties as a carer. Finding the right balance between compassion and professionalism is an effective way to prepare and overcome for these sudden changes, should they occur.
4. When the service user resists care:
In the initial stages of homecare services, they may be more resistant to the care provided by the carer. This is especially prevalent among the elderly, who fear losing their autonomy; therefore, it is essential to reassure them and find methods to accommodate their preferences within the scope of their carers' duties. If carers are able to build and maintain trust with the service user, it is often easier for care workers to fulfil their duties and ensure the patient's happiness at the same time.
It's crucial to maintain composure and relaxation in the event that a service user rejects the care that support workers are offering. Sitting down and having a conversation with them will help them identify their needs and is a chance to validate a carer's position and responsibilities as a care worker. Once a carer actively supports them and shows concern for their well-being, patients are much more likely to cooperate.
5. Arranging transport to each appointment:
Many care worker roles will specify that you need to drive to take the job. Having your own means of transportation makes the job easier, as carers will have the flexibility of handling their transport without depending upon the public transport.
However, there are still career prospects even if the care workers can't drive, but it may make things a bit challenging. Care workers are responsible for being available for their duties, so it is always advisable to plan in advance so that you can manage time and reach the service user's place on time.
6. Training and support:
Due to the lack of time to attain training, care workers might lack certain new skills. Care agencies should ensure that the carer is provided with the right training so that their skills are sharpened, new skills are acquired, and they are able to provide quality care. Thus, care agencies should support learning programmes as well.
7. Social support:
Both the carer and the individual are mostly isolated from the world when providing care. Thus, social support programmes should be included in the care service plan so that both the carers and the individual don't feel isolated.
8. Safety and security:
The carer and service users should ensure their safety. With proper training and skills, care workers can reduce the risk of mishaps. The care recipient's family should also respect the carer so that they also feel included and don't have to be stressed constantly.
9. Reduce workload:
Care workers in the UK work long hours due to the high demand for their services, leading to poor care quality. To maintain the quality of care, care agencies should ensure that their agency carers have a healthy work-life balance. Workers in the care industry must take care of themselves in order to avoid experiencing burnout. The government of the UK ought to encourage more individuals to enter the homecare industry in order to alleviate the care worker shortage.
There are various other ways in which each party involved in the homecare service can ensure the service they provide benefits others.
Nurses Group Homecare is a leading care provider in the UK. If you are looking for homecare services, contact us, and we will guide you through the various care plans.