We’ll make sure your Dad always has his Earl Grey with a dash of full cream milk
Because we know it’s the little things that matter.
“Living so far away makes it hard for us to tell if something’s wrong”
“But Sarah’s Carers always notice when dad’s not quite his usual self and call us straight away”
“I’d wish I’d done it years ago”
Now that Sarah’s Carers are taking care of all the embarrassing stuff, Mum and I can have a laugh like we used to.
We’ll make sure your Dad always has his Earl Grey with a dash of full cream milk
Because we know it’s the little things that matter.
“Living so far away makes it hard for us to tell if something’s wrong”
“But Sarah’s Carers always notice when dad’s not quite his usual self and call us straight away”
“I’d wish I’d done it years ago”
Now that Sarah’s Carers are taking care of all the embarrassing stuff, Mum and I can have a laugh like we used to.
Nurse-led Clinical and Practical Home Care Services in Suffolk
Even if you don’t know exactly what tasks you will want help with, you’ll know that you want your care delivered with respect, dignity and compassion. If you’ve used a care company before then you’ll know that it’s more than just the delivery of care that’s important, it’s also about how the service is managed.
Sarah’s Carers are here to help & offer advice for all your care needs. We understand that it can seem daunting to have a stranger come into your home. We take the steps necessary to remove that worry – and as we move forward together your care will become exactly what you need to stay living in your own home.
Sarah’s Carers – Redefining Care
At Sarah’s Carers we put the well-being and quality of life of our clients at the heart of what we do. Our company is based on traditional nurse-led values, we hire only the best care staff, pay them properly and give them the time and resource they need to do their job well.
HOW WE WORK
Here is an overview of how you can expect to work with us as we move forward together:
The Assessment
Once you have decided to enlist our help, we start with an assessment of your needs.
This is where we determine, together with you, exactly what kind of help you’ll need, as well as the length and frequency of our visits.
Communication
We believe communication is the key to providing a quality service. That includes communication between us and you, but also family members and health care professionals involved in your care and wellbeing. Family members are encouraged (with your permission) to call us on your behalf if you prefer.
Feedback
We cannot stress enough how important feedback is. If you want us to do something differently, we urge you to tell us about it. It doesn’t matter how trivial you might think it is. There will always be something – from how we make your tea to how we help you get dressed. We want to hear your feedback.
Responsiveness
We take your feedback to heart and change the way we work accordingly.
If your circumstances change suddenly, due to a stroke or an accident, our whole team goes into Rapid Response mode. We swiftly take action to manage your new situation in the most efficient way.
The Assessment
Once you have decided to enlist our help, we start with an assessment of your needs. This is where we determine, together with you, exactly what kind of help you’ll need, and the length and frequency of our visit
Communication
We believe communication is the key to providing a quality service. That includes communication between us and you, but also family members and health care professionals involved in your care and wellbeing. Family members are encouraged (with your permission) to call us on your behalf if you prefer.
Feedback
We cannot stress enough how important feedback is. If you want us to do something differently, we urge you to tell us about it. It doesn’t matter how trivial you might think it is. There will always be something – from how we make your tea to how we help you get dressed. We want to hear your feedback.
Responsiveness
We take your feedback to heart and change the way we work accordingly.
If your circumstances change suddenly, due to a stroke or an accident, our whole team goes into Rapid Response mode. We swiftly take action to manage your new situation in the most efficient way.
Testimonials
“My mum is delighted with the standard of care that my dad is receiving. She appreciates the time that staff take to chat with her and the time spent talking with Dad, it makes such a difference to their lives. I now worry less knowing you are helping my parents.”
“Sarah’s Carers are the most capable, efficient, carrying people. They’ve made two people’s lives much more comfortable. They are indeed to us Angels from heaven.”
“Sarah’s Carers arrive on time, are professionally competent and go out of their way to be helpful. They are a pleasure to have in the house. If another member of my family also needed care, I’d would not consider another agency”
Our Home-based care
Hourly Care Visits At Home
Long-Term Conditions
Live-In Care. 24/7 Service
Who is Sarah?
‘Sarah’ is Sarah Seaman; an experienced nurse, care-practitioner, trainer and driving force behind Sarah’s Carers. Read her story to find out why she believes that creating an atmosphere where the work of carers is valued, is the key to providing care that improves well-being and restores the quality of a person’s life.
FAQs
Here you’ll find the answers to the most common questions we are asked about the care service we provide. If you’re unsure about any aspect of care and the answer’s not here, then please just give us a call or send an email and we’ll get back to you straight away.
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At our organisation, we collaborate closely with you through a series of assessments that take into account both “a bad day” scenario and consideration of any background health issues.
These assessments are designed to comprehensively identify your needs, ensuring a thorough understanding of your unique circumstances. The insights gained from these evaluations form the basis for crafting a personalised support plan tailored to your specific requirements. We prioritise open communication and actively engage in discussions to understand your preferences and expectations.
This collaborative approach ensures that the support plan not only considers your current needs but also addresses potential challenges, promoting a customised and effective care experience. Together, we work towards achieving the desired outcomes and enhancing your overall well-being.
Ensuring consistent and reliable support for individuals is the primary reason behind our decision to offer care services seven days a week. This commitment to a 7-day service is especially vital for those requiring ongoing care, managing chronic conditions, or needing assistance with daily living activities. By maintaining this consistency throughout the week, we aim to establish a dependable service that individuals and their families can trust.
The choice to provide care every day of the week also contributes to building trust with our clients. During challenging or crisis situations, when individuals and their families turn to our care company, they seek a reliable and trustworthy solution. The availability of our services seven days a week demonstrates our dedication to being responsive and accessible, even during weekends or holidays. This fosters trust and reassures them that our organisation is committed to delivering continuous care and support.
Moreover, a 7-day service helps address potential resistance from individuals or families who may be hesitant about receiving in-home care. Some concerns may arise from fears of losing independence or unfamiliarity with the concept of professional assistance at home. Offering care services consistently throughout the week assists in overcoming this resistance by providing a steady and reassuring presence. Regular interactions with caregivers gradually demonstrate the benefits of professional assistance, helping individuals become more comfortable with the support being offered.
Additionally, a 7-day service enables us to promptly address emergencies or unexpected situations, ensuring that individuals receive timely care when needed. This flexibility and responsiveness not only contribute to overcoming resistance but also enhance confidence in our care services.
In summary, our decision to provide care services seven days a week signifies our commitment to meeting the ongoing needs of individuals and their families. It establishes a sense of reliability, builds trust, and helps overcome resistance by offering consistent support and addressing concerns promptly.
We charge for cancelled visits to support our carers and maintain a consistent service for our clients. Our carers have set work patterns and are paid by shift, providing them with stability. Offering clients specific time slots ensures a routine and dependable service.
Charging for cancelled visits is necessary because when a client reserves a time slot, we allocate resources and keep that slot exclusive for them. This commitment includes compensating the caregiver for their time. By charging for cancellations, we address the impact on our ability to serve other clients during that reserved time, helping us maintain financial stability and the quality of our service.
In essence, charging for cancelled visits is a practical approach to ensure fair compensation for caregivers, preserve service consistency, and account for dedicated time slots, ultimately contributing to the overall reliability of our care service.
We design our care services with specific time allocations to cater to the diverse needs of our clients. Here’s why we dedicate an hour in the morning, offer shorter lunch calls, and provide 30-minute bed calls:
Hour in the Morning:
Assigning an hour in the morning allows us to support our clients in starting their day positively. This dedicated time lets our caregivers assist with tasks like getting up, taking medication, and having breakfast. By allowing an hour, we prioritise a calm morning routine, emphasising dignity, comfort, and independence for our clients. This also ensures that the length of the morning visit is appropriate, enabling us to support clients with any reablement efforts and foster independence.
However if the level of support required in the morning is assessed and can meet our quality criteria in less time, we can adjust the visit accordingly and offer a 30-minute call. This flexibility allows us to tailor our services to the specific needs of each client, ensuring that the care provided aligns with our high-quality standards while respecting individual preferences and requirements. By incorporating this adaptability, we can optimise the efficiency of our care visits while maintaining a focus on client well-being and independence.
Lunch Calls:
Lunch calls vary in duration based on meal preparation needs. We provide both 30-minute and hour-long lunch calls to adapt to different client requirements. This flexibility ensures tailored support during meals, promoting independence. Factors like meal complexity and client preferences for a shorter or longer break are considered.
30-Minute Bed Calls:
Our 30-minute bed calls assist clients with their evening routine, preparing them for a restful night. Caregivers support tasks such as changing into nightwear, grooming, and medication assistance. Allocating 30 minutes ensures clients feel ready for bed without rush, allowing caregivers to efficiently address their needs.
Moreover, if the level of support required in the morning is assessed and can meet our quality criteria in less time, we can adjust the visit accordingly and offer a 30-minute call. This flexibility allows us to tailor our services to the specific needs of each client, ensuring that the care provided aligns with our high-quality standards while respecting individual preferences and requirements. By incorporating this adaptability, we can optimise the efficiency of our care visits while maintaining a focus on client well-being and independence.
While we understand your preference for a single carer, our care services are structured on a shift pattern for our entire team. This approach ensures that each member of the care team has a clear understanding of their work schedule, promoting a healthy work-life balance and providing financial predictability.
Our team operates 10 shifts during the day and 3 in the evening , accommodating various part-time hours. Although carers are typically assigned set runs, occasional changes may occur due to factors such as sickness or holiday cover. This flexibility allows us to adapt to unforeseen circumstances while maintaining a consistent level of care.
Having multiple carers involved in a client’s care has its advantages. It enables our team to spot smaller issues that might be overlooked with daily visits from a single carer. Additionally, interacting with different carers fosters more engaging conversations and helps prevent over-familiarization, ensuring a professional and respectful relationship.
While we strive to accommodate preferences, the shift pattern is designed to provide a robust and reliable care service. We believe this approach enhances the overall quality of care by promoting attentiveness to detail and facilitating meaningful interactions between our carers and clients.
Having an extra person in your own home brings a number of new challenges, things we have not had to think about before. So whilst we know they are here to help with various practical elements of day to day life what do they do in between those times, do I have to keep them busy ( I am paying for this! ) what happens to “my space”.
Many of these complexities are more of a concern when the “client” lives with a spouse/partner who have to carry on living their own lives as well. I do know it is not a quick fix, it takes time to learn how it works best. It’s a team effort between client, carer and the company. However there are a few topics which pop up most we may be able to help with from the beginning.
The carer will also need access to food.The detail of how this works varies from client to client and carer to carer therefore it is often a discussion that is had once the carer is in placement. However sometimes it is an obvious outcome.
For example, if the client is vegan and the carer not, it is likely that meals and cooking may be separate or the client may simply prefer to eat alone. In those situations the carer is paid a weekly food allowance by the client directly (we recommend £30).
If the carer eats all meals with the client then any food costs are absorbed into the normal household budget. In addition, should the carer have some specific food requirements such as skimmed milk whilst the client has full fat, that element of diet may be funded by the client in their weekly shop.
If a carer wants supplementary food (treats) then they will need to fund that themselves.
Our carers can assist with all aspects of daily life depending on the clients need, this includes things like; personal care, medication, providing meals, companionship, day trips out, contacting professionals such as; GP’s and Occupational Therapists.
We just ask that all carers have their own room with a comfortable bed and ideally some storage space (basic set of draws or wardrobe).
Carers should be having a 3 hour break every day (based on an 11 hour shift of face to face client time) . This time can be discussed with yourselves to find a time that suits you. During this time the carer should be able to leave their client.
To ensure carers are well rested for the days, it is important the carers are able to sleep a minimum of 8 hours undisturbed during the night. If there is an emergency then of course the carers are on call. However we do monitor night disturbances closely and if the carer is being called on a regular basis there will need to be a review to assess the appropriate level of care. For the occasional night disturbance the carer will charge for an hour.
In general, sleeping night services are for clients who do not usually require care and support through the night. The sleeping night carer has an allocated bedroom or sleeping arrangement that enables them to sleep but to be on call if needed. The charge to the client will reflect the arrangement made
It is sometimes difficult to draw the boundaries, but a waking night service is for clients who require regular, frequent or continuous care and support through the night.
Client’s night-time needs will vary, for example, there might be people who:
- prefer to go to bed or sleep late at night or in the early hours and/or rise/wake early in line with their lifestyles and current preferences; their preferences should be met and care needs met wherever practicable
- need very specific night care such as medication or changes of dressings and continence aids, which will be recorded on their care plans and which will be reflected in the night care arrangements made
- need regular checking for medical and/or social reasons as stated on their care plans
- mainly in sleeping support agreements, are likely to summon carer help, which might be a regular occurrence or an unanticipated event
- are unpredictable in their behaviour, often because of their dementia, and who need to be responded to sensitively, possibly, to keep them safe, to reduce being anxious and to support them through the night hours; such needs might require waking care or an agreed combination of sleeping and waking care.
Carers have varying levels of experience. It is mandatory for all training to be up to date and we always look at experience when matching carers to clients.
As much or as little as you are comfortable with. We create a person centred support plan which gives the client choice on the level of input they have from the carer. Whether that is just assisting with care needs, companionship or both.