Choosing homecare for a loved one or for yourself is a really important decision. A decision that needs careful thought in a fairly quick time frame because the need for homecare often happens quite suddenly, irrespective of age.

For instance, you or a loved one may need homecare upon discharge from hospital and recovering from surgery. Or, perhaps you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed with a progressive illness to which a care plan needs to be put in place for the foreseeable future, to enable you to have care at home. For any patient, the thought of having homecare is an overriding comfort and really helps to offset any angst they may be feeling over their diagnosed illness, or sudden loss of physical capacity. Clinical capability and excellence should be a given when making this choice but effective and quality homecare packages treat a patient in so many other ways too and I want to share my prime considerations when making this selection.

Drawing on my experience as a private and NHS hospital senior nurse/matron, and as Head of Health Professionals Homecare for the past 20 years in and around London, these are my six top tips...