About Rea Frame, Independent Carer in Exeter

In my own words

Hi, my name is Rea Frame. I am a mother of two and I have worked in care for many years. I am personable and caring, and I believe your loved ones should be taken care of by a friendly face that understands what people need. I always go the extra mile and do much more than just care. Beyond looking after people, I help to keep a tidy home and I am passionate about doing things right. Friendly conversation and taking an interest in what your loved ones enjoy, to keep them happy, is important to me. I want the best for your loved ones, and you should too.

Why I work on my own

I have seen what happens to care when it is run from a rota. Visits get shorter. Faces change. The person at the centre of it becomes a slot on a schedule rather than somebody with a name and a way of taking their tea. I decided the only way to do this the way I think it should be done was to do it myself, for a small number of people, and to be the same person every time.

That choice has a cost, and I am upfront about it. Because I work alone, I cannot send somebody else when I am ill or on holiday. I will always give as much notice as I can, and before we start I will help you put a backup arrangement in place so that nobody is caught out. I would rather tell you that on the first call than have you find out the hard way.

How I work

You direct the care. I am engaged by you, I work to what you have asked for, and nothing changes without asking you first. The arrangement is written down in plain English, days, times, what I will do and what it costs, and you keep a copy. My usual minimum term is three months, paid in advance, which we can talk about at the first visit, and either of us can end the arrangement with two weeks notice.

I keep the patch tight. Postcodes EX1 to EX6, which is Exeter and the villages immediately around it. Everyone I take on will live within a short drive of everyone else, and that is what lets me give each visit its full time and turn up when I said I would.

I tell you what I see. If someone is eating less, sleeping more, or seems different, whoever you have nominated hears about it the same day. And if the point comes where what is needed is more than one carer can safely provide, I will say so early and help you plan what comes next.

What I do not do

Live-in care, overnight care, nursing, or two-person moving on my own. If any of those are what is needed, I will tell you at the first phone call and point you towards a service that can help. Knowing where the limits are is part of doing this properly.