Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Explore our comprehensive FAQ section for detailed answers and guidance on services tailored to senior care and assistance.
What is Home Care?
This is a service designed to support your emotional, social, and sometimes physical needs. It goes beyond basic caregiving by providing companionship, engaging in conversation, accompanying you on outings, and participating in your hobbies. This can also include assistance with daily activities like meal preparation, medication reminders, light housekeeping, and personal care.
How do I know if my loved one needs Care?
You might consider this service if your loved one:
- Shows signs of loneliness or depression.
- Needs assistance with daily activities.
- Is increasingly forgetful or has mild cognitive impairments.
- Has limited mobility or faces difficulty in managing their daily routine.
- Expresses a desire for more social interaction.
How far in advance do I need to contact you in order to have a carer placed?
It is always better to take care of these things sooner rather than later! When contacting us, please be aware that finding your carer may take some time, so it is better to inform us at least two weeks before the care is needed.
Many people in need of support or their relatives wait until the very last moment to contact us for any kind of care and services – live-in care, driver help, relief care. Unfortunately, our database of carers often already have placements or are filling the time between placements with other work so providing full care at a moment’s notice is almost impossible though we do of course always do our very best to put a carer in place as quickly as possible.
What happens if I need help urgently?
In an emergency it is doubtful that we could send someone the same day however we do our best. We would normally ask for at least 2 weeks notice to place a carer and for a live-in, 4 weeks. However, we have a record of putting help in place in almost all the emergency situations we have been contacted about so far!
I am coming to Crete for a ten day holiday and need to arrange care for myself. Can Care in Crete help me?
If you contact us when you are planning your holiday we can arrange care for you. The type of care will depend on where you are holidaying in Crete; and may involve us arranging a carer to stay close to you during your stay. Please bear in mind that we will need at least one month’s notice in order to arrange this.
What areas do you have carers in?
We have carers based in Chania, Rethymno, Heraklion and Lassithi – all over Northern Crete. For placements outside of areas we have carers, we will endeavour to find someone in the area or to send someone from a different area.
Are your caregivers trained and qualified?
Our database of caregivers includes trained and qualified carers and nurses and experienced though not technically qualified carers. We will always do our utmost to place a carer or nurse who exactly suits your needs, and you will always be made aware of what qualifications and experience the carer has.
What are the associated costs?
Care in Crete charges a one-off administration fee for placing a carer.
Care rates are hourly or, in the case of live-in care, monthly.
Petrol costs are charged when carers are travelling more than 10km from their residence or when visiting more than once per day (eg. morning and evening split shift).
Can I customise the care plan according to my or my loved one's needs?
Yes, care plans can usually be tailored to your or your loved one’s specific needs and preferences. This includes adjusting the level of care, the type of activities included, and the schedule. The aim is to provide a flexible service that adapts to your evolving needs.
How often can I adjust your Care services in terms of carer, schedule etc?
The frequency of these services can vary greatly depending on individual needs and carer availability. Some families opt for a few hours a week, while others might require daily visits or live in care. The schedule can be adjusted as needed, providing flexibility to accommodate changing circumstances or needs.
What if my loved one requires medical attention?
Carers can assist in arranging medical appointments and transportation to healthcare facilities. If urgent medical attention is required, caregivers are not qualified to provide this. In such cases, it’s important to have a plan that involves healthcare professionals. The carer will contact the registered emergency contact number as well as Care in Crete and a doctor or ambulance depending on the situation.
Are subscriptions just for permanent residents of Crete?
You don’t need to live here permanently to enjoy the security Care in Crete offers.
And subscribing doesn’t necessarily mean that you need any care.
Subscribe to Care in Crete for that Just in Case moment should you ever need an English speaking voice to help you get emergency aid.
Our Basic subscription gives you the security that should you need emergency help at any time of day you can call Care in Crete. We will know your address and have your individual house pinned on Google Maps – so we can give your exact location to emergency transport. We will also have all your necessary details to give to the hospital and, of course – we can speak Greek so you can rest easy knowing there will be no language barriers hindering you in an emergency.
Can you provide care for a person suffering from dementia?
We have some carers who are experienced in caring for people with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. Whether or not we can provide care for them will depend on how advanced their condition is as well as carer availability.
Can you provide palliative care?
We can and have done many times since Care in Crete began operating.