Moving into a care home can be daunting at any time and a big decisions about the care of a loved one. Worries about visiting or concerns about people being lonely are common. Our article will guide you through how to choose a care home, what the process of moving in will be and what to expect when you get there.
There is a lot of information and advice online about care homes and sometimes the sheer volume of information can be a little overwhelming. Starting with an independent source of care home information such as carehome.co.uk will give you an unbiased view of care homes in your local area, coupled with reviews from residents and their families. You can also find out about homes via other websites such as NHS Choices, Age UK and even reviews on Google or Facebook.
It can be helpful to look through the latest CQC reports for the homes you are interested in. On the CQC website (www.cqc.org.uk) it is possible to enter your postcode and search all categories of appropriate care homes within a nominated mileage range. Inspection reports are available for care homes of all categories and will give you an indication of the suitability for the person who may need care. It is a good idea to ask the manager of the home further questions about their report if you have any concerns or need clarification.
Many people find out about the best homes in the area by word of mouth, this can be an invaluable way of understanding what a Care Home is like. Ask around your friends and family if they have a recommendation and there are several people in a professional capacity who would be able to help, such as GPs, hospital discharge teams, Occupational Therapists and even people like community workers or members of the local Church.
Once you’ve made your initial shortlist, phoning the home you are interested in is the best way to get a feel for things. Ask for the Home Manager or Customer Relations Advisor who are the best people talk through any questions, concerns or worries that you have. They will be more than happy to chat with you about your care needs and get to understand what you are looking for. It can be stressful looking for a care home and knowing what you want, so make sure you take your time to discuss what is important and don’t be afraid to ask anything you need.
Usually the Manager would invite you in to take a look around the home, to meet the staff and residents and see al the facilities. If you live a long way from the care home this may not be possible, so instead they will offer a live walk-through tour using mobile technology such as ‘Facetime’ or an online video call. You can use this, just as you would a face-to-face meeting at the home, as an opportunity to speak to people who live and work there and view everything that would be available if you or a loved one was living there. It is good to ask about what life is usually like in the Care Home, to help put your mind at ease.
Once you have decided which home is for you, an assessment will need to be arranged to check whether the home you can accommodate the care needs of the person. Usually this happens face-to-face, in a place that is suitable for you as a family. At the current time assessments are mainly carried out over the telephone or via a video call rather than face-to-face. If the person moving to a care home is in hospital, then the discharge team or ward staff will help to complete the assessment of their health and care needs. Where the person may have communication needs or reduced mental capacity a trusted assessor, a family member or advocate will be able to help the person complete the assessment over the phone. If a new resident is coming from their home their family will need to arrange for their GP to fill in a questionnaire about their care needs. The Home Manager will talk you through the assessment process to help make it a smooth process for you and your loved one.
Your loved one will get to know all the staff, including carers and housekeepers, who will take the time to find out about their likes and dislikes and chat for as long as they want to. They will be able to take their meals in their room, and hot and cold drinks and snacks will be available all day. Families will be able to speak to their loved ones over the phone or via video calls, as well as coming to visit in person, of course.
As far as possible, life for residents is kept as close as possible to their daily routines when living in their own homes. This is especially reassuring for those living with dementia who find a routine helpful and calming. People are encouraged to enjoy their usual hobbies and pastimes such as arts and crafts groups, music and singing, baking and seasonal activities. Trips out to local places of interest are organised regularly and all care homes have gardens and outdoor spaces that residents can enjoy. Gardening competitions during the summer months, such as Country Court in Bloom, helped to encourage people outdoors with lots of activities and gardening tasks to enjoy.
Little things can make all the difference, so having their preferred chocolate bar, their favourite music or making sure they get to see their chosen TV show will help them feel at home. Bringing personal items that are important to them, such as photo albums, pictures, and ornaments for their bedroom will also help people settle in. Receiving letters and postcards from family and friends, or pictures from grandchildren, is a great way to help people stay connected with their families and loved ones. A card, note or photo that they can look over again helps people feel reassured.
Many care homes have their own Facebook pages where you’ll be able to see some of the activities, food and interactions that take place in care homes every day. Many people find it reassuring to know that their loved one is busy and engaging with other residents and doing activities that they enjoy and are meaningful to them.
If you are concerned about how a relative is coping at home and would like them to have more support, please get in touch with our care and nursing homes near you. We are happy to discuss your care needs and answer any questions you may have.
