McDonald Homecare is an introductory agency. Rather than managing care on an ongoing basis, we match and introduce you to a self-employed care professional, and support you in setting everything up.
You can think of it like employing a cleaner or a gardener privately. You have a direct relationship with the person providing the service, and pay them for the work they do, rather than paying a third party.
Introductory care means you are more involved in how care is managed day to day. Many people prefer the choice and control this gives them.
Every care companion we introduce is fully background checked and vetted before we put them forward.
Because there’s no third party managing the care day to day, introductory care is often more affordable than a fully managed service.
Rather than employ the care companions we work with, we find you a self-employed care companion from our network, most of whom we have known for many years. They contract directly with your family, and we walk you through all the arrangements and get everything set up for you.
The care companion manages the day-to-day care, working alongside family members or a main contact, other care professionals and sometimes the local council. That includes personal care, risk assessments, reviewing care needs and anything else needed to make sure the person is safe, happy and comfortable at home.
As an introductory agency, McDonald Homecare does not have an ongoing role in the direction or control of the care provided. But when it comes to helping you, we go well beyond what many introductory agencies offer, making sure relationships work well and everyone feels settled, with dedicated support and advice whenever you need it.
Different faces coming through the door can be unsettling, especially for people living with dementia or other conditions affecting memory and mood.
An introductory agency creates a direct match between the person and their care companion, which leads to a trusted relationship and better continuity of care. It also means the family can be involved from the start, choosing the right care companion and then working together to manage the care.
Every care companion we introduce goes through:
On top of all the mandatory checks, we look for people who are naturally caring and compassionate, and who share our values of trust and integrity, which are essential to live-in care.
If you’d like to know more about how introductory care works, or what it would mean for your family, we’re happy to talk it through.
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