Home Instead (Southend-on-Sea)

Overall I am very impressed and happy with the service from Home Instead.

Alzheimer's in a loved one is not an easy journey to make, so receiving the committed level of support and care from Southend-On-Sea Home Instead has made all the difference. As always, it is down to the individuals involved and I found the team at Southend-On-Sea Home Instead had the particular skills and dedication required to work with my relative who was in a place of stubborn denial, which is understandable and an unfortunate part of the effect of the disease. Home Instead managed to attend to my relatives needs and was able to help keep a quality of daily life going for another 18 months before it became all too much and it was time to move onto the next phase, with 24-hour constant support in a nursing home. Without Home Instead, then this last 18 month transition period would have no doubt been a lot more distressing for all concerned and thus will be ever grateful that Home Instead were able to help us navigate these last days at home and so give my relative a little more deserved time where he belonged, in his own home.

The only negative is management who I found disappointing especially when my mum fell and broke her arm. I would have expected a call from a manager at this point but unfortunately not. My review would have been 5 stars but I feel that management need to improve skills with relatives and clients.

The staff have been really helpful, even setting up a Zoom call with me while they were at my mother's, even though there was no Wi-Fi there. The caregivers have always arrived on time and done what is needed. I have been kept informed at all times by email, phone and the app. It is such a relief to be able to know what she and the caregivers have done as soon as they have been to see her. They are always willing to do whatever is asked of them.

He thoroughly enjoys spending time with his care providers who go out of their way to help him in any way possible.

I can highly recommend the services of Home Instead. The service that they provide to my mum is second to none, and she is very happy. Mum's grocery shop is done for her each week while lockdown continues and when it ends, Mum will be taken to the supermarket and assisted to do her own shopping. She also has a lady who comes to clean for her. All the staff who have had contact with Mum have been very caring and friendly, and she enjoys their company.

I hired Home Instead to take over dad's medical visits and medication because he wasn't doing either properly. That was in 2018. As dad's dementia increased, the carers ended up doing more and more to keep him safe at home. Dad isn't an easy person to manage, but the carers were endlessly patient and professional, and have been simply magnificent during the pandemic. Because I'm abroad, I relied on the office staff to take care of associated issues (working with tradespeople), and they always found a solution. Dad went into a care home rather suddenly this month. The carers ensured the house was tidy and safe, the fridge was empty, and rubbish at the kerb. I trust them completely and am sorry the service has ended. I cannot recommend Home Instead more highly.

5-stars.

I’d like to thank all the team, especially one lady, who put decorations up in Mum’s flat for Christmas.

Every member of staff at Home Instead have proved themselves reliable, professional and also extremely caring and friendly. I am reassured that the carers deliver excellent care and go the extra mile when they visit, brightening up Mum's day. I feel confident that any concerns will be raised with the experienced care support staff and relayed to me to discuss what, if any further action needs to be taken; from calling the GP to amending call schedules or adding to the care support plan. The team at Home Instead have worked miracles in providing extra cover even over the Christmas holiday period when coronavirus and self-isolating left us without enough support. I am so grateful. This company is passionate about providing outstanding care.

I am extremely pleased with the services provided by Home Instead. They pulled out all the stops to enable my husband to be discharged from hospital to home, with virtually no notice. They have a wealth of knowledge and experience and were able to get things set up quickly and efficiently. The caregivers are lovely. They are friendly, patient and very supportive and encouraging, allowing my husband to make steady progress. The service is very professional and of a high standard. I would not hesitate in recommending them and foresee a role for them even beyond my husband’s current requirement.

From my very first contact with Home Instead in 2018, when they came to our rescue the first time at extremely short notice, they have been both sympathetic and helpful. Now again in 2019, the manager, field staff and moreover the caregivers, have provided my mother-in-law with excellent care, exactly as required. As she is partially sighted and lives alone, they also managed to build a one-to-one rapport with her to make her feel safe and cared for. This is especially important to us as we live some distance away from her and therefore they also provide support for us too, at anytime we should ring. We would definitely highly recommend this company.

Home Instead have been providing care services to my mum for nearly 18 months now. They have been excellent throughout that period of time even with the continuing deterioration of my mum's physical condition. Sadly my mum now needs to move into a home and one of the things she says she's going to miss the most is the fantastic Home Instead team who have been supporting her. They are thoughtful, kind, professional and really focused on the service user. Couldn't have asked for a better group of people to take care of my mum. I live abroad most of the time and would not have been able to do this without the amazing support we've had from Home Instead. Thanks to the manager and the team.

My uncle has just started to receive support, and we are extremely pleased with the way he has responded to the carers. Previously he had been very resistant to accepting help but has “taken” to his new carers very quickly.

Helpful and caring.

Home Instead carers and office staff have been extremely supportive and flexible in meeting the fluctuating care needs of my loved one. I really appreciate that there is always someone able to answer my queries and requests as a family carer.

As dad's main caregiver left at short notice, there was insufficient shadowing carried out by the new staff. It feels as if we are back to square one, having to leave notes and email reminders every week about tasks missed out or done differently.

Home Instead provide me with all the care I need and are a very happy and friendly company. I enjoy having a laugh and a joke with my caregivers.

Very good.

Support given to us has always been 100%. Our main contact is regularly with personnel allocated to us for care and support. Only occasional contact with the head office which has always been polite and extremely satisfactory.