To find the right carers
Your answers shape the placement that carers see, so the people who apply have the right experience
Your care appraisal
Your care appraisal is where you tell us about your loved one – their needs, their routine and the things that make them who they are. It’s a short online form in MyElder that takes about 15 to 20 minutes, and it’s how we find carers who are the right fit.
What is a care appraisal?
A care appraisal is a detailed picture of your loved one's needs, their preferences and their home. You can complete it before or after your first call with us.
We use it in three ways:
To help carers know what to expect
Carers can see what support is needed before they decide to apply.
To check we can help
Our Safety and Trust team reviews your answers to make sure the care your loved one needs is something carers introduced through Elder can support.
What we'll ask about
The care appraisal covers a wide range of topics. Your answers help us find carers whose experience fits your loved one’s needs. It’s used to find the right carer and to check if we can help. It isn’t a care plan or a risk assessment.
We won’t ask for payment details here. Completing the care appraisal doesn’t commit you to anything.
Health and medication
E.g Any conditions, and what support is needed with medication
Getting around
E.g Mobility, and equipment such as a hoist or walking frame
Night-time support
E.g Whether your loved one needs help during the night
Memory, mood and behaviour
E.g Living with dementia, or finding some things difficult
Their home
E.g A spare bedroom for the carer, and any pets
Their day
E.g Routines, meals and dietary preferences
Who they are
E.g Hobbies, interests and personality, so we can find someone they’ll get on with
Carer preferences
E.g A carer’s gender, the languages they speak, or whether they drive
Payment details
E.g Bank or card details
Why we ask personal questions
Some questions may feel personal, such as those about behaviour, mental health or medication. We ask them so carers know what to expect before they apply, and so we can find someone with the right experience.
The more open you are, the better the match is likely to be. Only carers who are considering your placement see the relevant details, not everyone on Elder. You can read more in our privacy policy.
Some needs, such as giving controlled drugs or injections, aren’t something carers introduced through Elder can support. If your loved one needs these, we’ll talk you through your options.
How long it takes, and getting help
The care request form takes about 15 to 20 minutes. You don’t have to finish it in one go – save your answers and come back whenever suits you, using the link in your email or by signing in to MyElder.
You don't have to do it alone, either:
Go through it with your care advisor
They can talk it through with you by phone or video call.
Invite your family
Add family members to your MyElder account so they can help fill it in.
Get help logging in
If you can't access MyElder or the form, get in touch and we'll help you get back in.
What happens after you submit your care appraisal
1. Your care advisor goes through it with you
They'll check your answers and talk you through the next steps.
2. Our Safety and Trust team reviews it
They may call you if they need more detail about your loved one’s needs.
3. Your care search begins
Once it’s approved, we’ll let you know and start the search, so carers can apply.
4. You choose your carer
You see each carer’s profile, experience and video, and decide who you’d like.
Want to see the whole journey? Read how Elder works, from your first call to the first day of care.
Keeping it up to date
Your loved one's needs may change over time, so your care appraisal isn't a one-off. You can update it in MyElder at any time.
If a carer lets us know something has changed, our Safety and Trust team may get in touch and ask you to update it. That way, any new carer knows what to expect.
Is the care appraisal the same as a care needs assessment?
No. A care needs assessment is carried out by your local council's social services. It looks at what care and support your loved one needs, and whether the council can help arrange it.
Our care appraisal is only used to find carers through Elder. You can have both, and if your loved one has already had a care needs assessment, it may help you answer some of our questions.
Read more about care needs assessments on the NHS website.
FAQs about your care appraisal
Still have questions?0333 920 3648