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The Harsh Reality of One-Hour Care Visits: Why They Fail Our Most Vulnerable
Tuesday 18th March 2025
At Your Care, we stand firmly against the one-hour care visit model, a standard practice for many traditional care agencies. Our commitment to providing two-hour visits stems from real-world experience and an understanding of what quality care truly means. To illustrate the limitations and poor outcomes of one-hour visits, let’s walk through a typical scenario, drawn from actual frontline caregiving experiences.
A Snapshot of One-Hour Care Visits: Elsie’s Story
Elsie, 96, lives alone and has dementia. At 8:00 AM, a carer arrives to assist Elsie with her morning routine. Elsie is sound asleep and waking her proves difficult. She is disoriented, agitated, and unwilling to get out of bed, repeatedly telling the carer to leave her alone.
With only an hour to complete numerous tasks, the carer has no choice but to start other duties. She washes dishes, starts laundry, tidies the house, draws curtains, and prepares Elsie’s breakfast and lunch. By 8:25 AM, Elsie remains in bed, increasingly agitated by repeated attempts to get her up, even throwing a hairbrush in frustration.
The carer, under pressure, brings a cup of tea to encourage Elsie to wake up, but this only worsens the situation. At 8:40 AM, Elsie is still in bed, refusing to engage. The carer, now with just 20 minutes left, must prioritise tasks: should she attempt personal care, administer medication, or write detailed notes? She tries to offer medication, but Elsie refuses, leaving the carer with no choice but to leave it by her bedside.
By 9:00 AM, the carer departs, exhausted and stressed, having achieved little from the care plan. Elsie remains in bed, her breakfast untouched, her medication untaken, and essential personal care tasks incomplete.
Why One-Hour Visits Don’t Work
This scenario highlights the harsh reality of one-hour visits. Dementia care requires patience, time, and a calm environment—all impossible under severe time constraints. Elderly need time to wake up, orient themselves, and feel safe. Rushing this process risks agitation, confusion, and even falls.
Now see the difference a two hour visit with Your Care can
At Your Care, we believe that great care starts with understanding the person behind the need. Before offering any support, we spend time getting to know our clients and their families—learning about their routines, preferences, and the little things that make them feel at home. When we met Elsie, it was clear she wasn't a morning person. She prefers to start her day gently, waking up around 9:00 AM. So, that's when our care begins—on her terms, in her time.
A morning with Jess from Your Care
9:00 AM – Jess, Elsie’s dedicated carer, arrives with a warm smile and a gentle approach, ready to make Elsie's morning as comforting as possible. Understanding that Elsie enjoys a slow, peaceful start to her day, Jess quietly heads upstairs to check on her. Finding Elsie still sound asleep, Jess softly opens the curtains just a little, letting in the morning light to gently nudge Elsie towards waking, without any rush.
9:05 AM – Jess heads downstairs to prepare Elsie’s favourite breakfast, giving her time to stir and wake naturally. Jess uses this time to tidy up and prepare for the day ahead.
9:15 AM – Jess returns upstairs to check in, gently trying to wake Elsie. When Elsie murmurs that she isn’t quite ready, Jess offers her a reassuring smile, gently pats her hand, and leaves her to rest a little longer.
9:25 AM – Jess makes a cup of tea in Elsie’s favourite china cup—because those little touches matter. Returning to Elsie's bedside, Jess kneels, offering a friendly smile and soft words. She gently wakes Elsie, encouraging her to have a comforting sip. They chat about the day ahead, and together, they pick out an outfit—navy trousers and a duck egg blue jumper.
9:40 AM – Jess prepares the bathroom, ensuring it's warm and welcoming. Returning to Elsie, she offers gentle encouragement, reminding her of the lovely, warm shower waiting. With a little encouragement, Elsie agrees and follows Jess into the bathroom.
9:45 AM – Jess assists with the shower, keeping the mood light by playing Elsie’s favourite song on her phone. They sing along together, and soon the shower becomes a moment of joy and connection. Jess calls it a "pamper morning," and Elsie smiles, embracing the moment.
10:00 AM – After the shower, Jess helps Elsie dry off and return to her bedroom to dress. Each item of clothing is passed to Elsie with quiet encouragement, helping her maintain her independence. Jess offers prompts, ensuring tasks are done right—like reminding Elsie that her trousers go on after her underwear. Whilst Elsie dresses, Jess tidies the bedroom.
10:15 AM – Jess gently prompts Elsie to come downstairs for breakfast. She guides her to settle at the dining table, serving her a warm breakfast along with another comforting cup of tea. Jess leaves Elsie to enjoy her meal while she heads to the kitchen to prepare Elsie’s lunch for later.
10:25 AM – Checking the family’s menu on the kitchen wall, Jess lovingly prepares a plate with a slice of Elsie’s favourite cheese and onion quiche, some crisp salad, a peeled orange, and a yoghurt. She ensures that the yoghurt pot is opened, placing a spoon beside it, knowing that Elsie can struggle with opening lids.
10:30 AM – Jess pops her head back in to check on Elsie, who has finished her breakfast. She sits with her, offering gentle encouragement to take her morning medication. Jess understands the importance of patience, so she stays close by, offering support and prompting Elsie for each tablet until they are all taken with ease.
10:40 AM – Jess completes the final tasks of the visit, tidying the bathroom, making the bed, and writing a reminder on the whiteboard in the lounge about Elsie’s lunch. She also completes the daily care notes and sends a reassuring text message to Elsie’s family, letting them know that all is well today.
10:55 AM – Before leaving, Jess makes Elsie a final cup of tea and places a cold drink within easy reach by Elsie’s chair. She sits down for a final chat, reminding Elsie about her lunch and offering reassuring words about their next visit.
11:00 AM – With a warm goodbye, Jess leaves, knowing that Elsie is safe, comfortable, and content.
This is what a Your Care visit is all about: taking the time to care in a way that feels personal, respectful, and genuinely kind. It's about creating moments of joy, preserving dignity, and ensuring that each day begins with a little more comfort and a little less stress. Because for us, care isn't just about tasks—it's about people, and making sure they feel safe, loved, and valued every single day.
Don’t let rushed care compromise dignity and well-being. Call Your Care now on 0117 9477422 and discover how our dedicated two-hour home visits can transform the care experience for you or your loved one.