The Good Care Group Arvostelua 

Generally GCG is a very good managed care service. My father now has a live-in carer supplied from GCG after leaving respite care in a nursing home. It has taken a lot of the day-to-day managing of his complex care needs (following a stroke) away from the family and it has made it possible for my father to be at home, which was the intended goal. I spoke to many agencies before finding GCG and only the GCG seemed to offer a service that would make the transition possible from a fully managed care home with nurses to being back in independent sheltered accommodation. Their staff are efficient, capable, friendly and caring, and I immediately felt that their service was very professional and a cut above many of the other agencies I had dealings with. The fact that they have an 'Excellent' rating from the Care Quality Commission was very reassuring.
My father's carer is very nice and hard working, and puts in extra effort to make sure my father is safe and secure (for instance going with him to hospital for either scheduled appointments or emergency needs). She does basic cooking to my father's requirements and helps my father with his daily exercises as part of his rehabilitation. She has been managing his medication with my occasional help, and phoning the district nurse when required, or ordering various supplies that my father needs.
She gets on well with my father and her cheerful personality, combined with the reassurance of having someone there all the time, has lifted his mood and has helped him on the road to recovery. He is already showing significant improvement from being at home.
It is useful that the first two weeks of care are a trial period in effect and the arrangement can be ended without the usual notice period during that time. This allows both family and agency to see if the arrangement is going to work.
The carer is efficiently managed and monitored on a daily basis by GCG local care manager, so if anything goes wrong there is a backup system in place. The GCG initially did a very detailed assessment of my father's needs before the carer was appointed (by talking to my father and the family and also inspecting his home), although I think it would have been good if their occupational therapist came as part of the package rather than having to pay extra for this service as he or she could have assessed the current equipment in place and my father's needs prior to his return home. Lack of OT input led to a slight manual handling issue on the first few days as it wasn't clear how the new electric hoist should be used.
But generally the assessment was very thorough, with the right level of understanding and care shown towards my father, and GCG made a lot of effort to understand my father's needs and interests.
My reservations are (and the reason for a four star review):
- There was no choice of carer, we were offered only one lady who could start when we needed her to. However, having spoken to many other agencies prior to GCG, I think there is possibly a general shortage of carers in the area where my father lives (Berkshire). For the relief carer, also no choice, only one lady has been put forward (the reason given being it it the summer holidays and there is a shortage of carers at this time). I also felt I was put under pressure to accept the relief carer for scheduling reasons, therefore not allowing the family much time to decide. In the end I arranged to speak to her and for her to speak to my father so at least there was some kind of contact and introduction beforehand.
- The carer that started is a smoker but we weren't told about this in advance. She very discreetly goes outside to smoke away from the accommodation, and it isn't a problem for my father (he is an ex-smoker), or for other residents. However, this information should have been added to the carer's profile.

Excellent carers who are well trained, kind and caring. Care is expensive but the quality of care means that as a relative one has peace of mind and the knowledge that if a carer is ill or on holiday cover will be provided. The cover carers have also been good. Sometimes communication from the office is not a speedy as one might like but this is a relatively small matter.

The 'Good Care Group' have, to date, lived up to all expectations.
"Thank you"

On the whole my experience with the Good Care Group has been very good. I am in particular very satisfied with the two carers who are now looking after my mother in the final stages of Alzheimers disease. One of my mother's carers in particular is exceptional and beyond all reasonable expectations. She offers love and care that is wonderful to witness. She has transformed my mother's life. Her personal care of my mother and her skin ensures that she is comfortable and virtually pain free despite having been bed bound for nearly two years. She is extremely efficient and responds instantly and appropriately to all my mother's needs and with other agencies and carers. Most exceptional is her tender love and care and the respect she has for my mother. She is affectionate and loving towards her and sensitive to her every change of mood. My mother's mood has transformed from wanting to die to being content and happy. My mother, virtually purrs with the sensation of being loved and truly holistically cared for in every sense. I will never be able to thank her enough. I could not have hoped for such wonderful care.

The Agency is quick to respond to changes in my mother's needs and to manage any difficulties that there have been from time to time in the past when carers have been ill or I have not been happy with a particular carer. Most of her emergency fill-in carers have been very good. Management is quick to respond to my requests, including at weekends.

I truly believe that my mother would have been dead by now had it not been for the care that she is currently receiving and I feel confident that she will end her life with dignity and love in a way that she never could have in residential care and I say this in the knowledge of having worked in residential care myself.

The Good Care Group make a real effort to match the carer with the client. We have only experienced excellent carers on a two weekly cycle. When there have been problems (unfortunately caused by the client) they have been quickly sorted out and a new carer put in place.
It is so reassuring to know that my father is in capable hands.

The Good Care Group was by far and away the best, most responsible andmost caring Organisation that we came accross in this field during a four year period of caring for my mum -- who wanted to maintain her independence, personality and integrity during the last years of her life.

They take responsibility for the care and police their carers accordingly. They seem to employ carers with much more personality and wit than others we came accross and the carers were anxious to take on the responsibility necessary.

They're not cheap ( versus others available) but , if you've got the cash , its worth the extra.

Not everything was perfect. During the time we were with them they never fully mastered the concept of organising a regular relief carer when one of the two main carers took time off/ holidays. They need to improve this element of the care package to offer a perfect ( if expensive) service.

My mother had both liver and lung cancer and despite having 2 rounds of chemo therapy did not respond well. She went into a nursing home for a weeks respite care but it was clear she was not going to get better and we needed to put 24hr care in place as soon as possible.

We were recommended to try the Good Care Company and they were outstanding. In less than a week they had checked mum's house, visited mum in the nursing home to assess her and provided a 24hr carer to enable mum to return home for the last few weeks. They took all the stress and strain of organising things and liaising with doctors, district nurses and the hospice team to ensure everything was ready and in place for mum.

The carers they provided were fantastic with mum, they were caring, understanding and nothing was too much trouble making mums last weeks as comfortable and peaceful as possible. They also took the initiative in contacting the doctor and nursing team whenever necessary which also took a lot of weight off me.

My families experience with the Good Care Company could not have been better and I would happily recommend them to anyone looking for 24hr care for a sick relative. Thank you Good Care Company for all you have done for mum and us : )