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Choosing the Right Care Home
Help Your Loved One Start the Next Chapter
A loved one moving into a care home is an emotional time. A time that people often feel guilt and uncertainty, even when it’s in the person’s best interests.
But this can be a time to help your loved one move on to the next chapter of their life. It’s a time to make things happier and easier on them… and yourself. Here we’re going to look at some key things to consider when you’re searching for the right care home.
Type of Care
What type of care is needed? This is the most important question to start with.
• Residential care. Company and help with daily living.
• Nursing care. Medical support from qualified nurses.
• Specialist care. Dementia or mobility issues for example.
You might find it useful to have a professional assessment done to help you identify needs.
It’s a good idea to think into the future too. Is the current need nursing care, but dementia care is likely to be needed in the future? If so, you might want to find a home that offers both. This eliminates the need to move homes in the future as needs change. Moving can be very unsettling.
Location
People want to stay connected. There are things you can consider to support this.
• Is the home close to friends and family, making visiting easier?
• Are there good transport links?
• Is there a GP/ hospital nearby to make appointment easier to manage?
• Is there a park or similar nearby for little trips out?
This is a big one:
• Check ratings from the Care Quality Commission (CQC)
• Look at inspection reports (not just the rating headline)
• Ask about staff-to-resident ratios
• Observe how staff interact with residents
Read what the inspection report says about leadership, management and safety. This is where the most common problems often lay.
Staff & Atmosphere
This is something you feel when you visit, and you need to trust your instincts.
• Are staff friendly, patient, and respectful?
• Do residents look comfortable and engaged?
• Is there a calm, welcoming environment?
• Visit at different times of the day, and at both weekdays and weekends.
Activities & Social Life
A good care home will support mental wellbeing as well as physical. Does the home offer opportunities for socialising and mental stimulation?
• Daily activities such as games, hobbies and exercise
• Is there an entertainment program such as singers, music or animals visiting?
• Social events and outings.
• Opportunities to maintain independence.
Food & Nutrition
• Is the food of good quality?
• Is there variety?
• Are dietary needs and genuine nutrition catered for?
• Would you be happy eating there?
Do they really support independence?
All care homes will say that they promote independence and choice. It’s an easy claim, but do they in reality?
• Do residents have a choice over what to have at meal times, or is something just put in front of them?
• Are they given real choice about how to spend their day?
• Is independent personal care encouraged, or do carers take over because it’s quicker?
• Do they have input when their hair is cut, or does there a ‘one cut fits all’ policy?
When there has been a big change in life, making sure the person retains as much independence, physically and mentally, as possible can make all the difference to them.
Costs & Finer Details
Of course, finances will play a big part when deciding on a care home. Before committing, make sure you know exactly what you’re getting for your money.
• What is the cost?
• Is it billed per calendar month or 4-weekly? This makes a difference!
• Does cost go up each year? How much?
• What’s included and what’s extras? (e.g hairdressing)
• Funding options. Self-funded Vs local authority
• If a self-funded resident runs out of money, can they stay and be funded by local authority?
• Do they do respite stays?
• Do they do a trial before you commit?
• Are there flexible visiting hours?
• Do they regularly communicate with family?
Final Thoughts
And finally, what’s your gut feeling? No matter how a home sounds on paper, you will have your own feelings about it. Trust those feelings. The best isn’t necessarily the most expensive, the one with the glossy brochure or the one with the impressive grounds.
Are you happy for this to be your loved one’s new home?
Do you think they will feel safe and happy there?
Remember, as much as this is the end of a chapter, it’s the beginning on a new chapter.