Choosing a Care Home

There are several things to be aware of when choosing a care home and each option should be considered carefully with your Social Workers to find out which will be the best option. If it is decided that a care home will be best then you should read on before making your choice.

Many points need to be considered when choosing a care home, which will determine the future comfort, happiness and well-being of the person entering care. It is of paramount importance that the right approach is adopted when; it is no coincidence that people who are involved in the choice and enter care of their own free will tend to be happier, than those that are not consulted and who may feel abandoned as a result.

Lists of local registered care homes and details of registered nursing homes are available from social services and the area health authority respectively. The next step is to choose a suitable home, perhaps with the help of a relative or friend.

When the subject of long-term care first arises it may involve mixed emotions of anxiety, humility and abandonment as well as a feeling of not wishing to be a burden at home. On the other hand, many prospective residents may feel relieved to be entering a secure and caring environment. It is important to understand, however, that the resident is likely to feel confused by these emotions.

The right choice of accommodation should involve the resident’s personal and emotional needs. The new environment should provide personal care where the resident can feel valued, safe and secure and be cared for to a standard that is not humiliating.

Making the move
Once you have chosen your care home and organised your affairs you will be ready to move in, but remember your comfort and happiness is the most important thing.

Perhaps give yourself a trial period in your new environment and delay selling your own home until you are certain that you have made the right choice.

Continuing Assessment
It is important that you continue to manage your personal finances after entering care, perhaps by appointing a professional adviser or a relative to take care of this. In particular, your capital should always be correctly invested to meet possible changes in your needs and you should be aware of if, and when, you may be entitled to claim State financial support.

Whilst the standard of care chosen may be dictated to a degree by your financial resources, every care should be taken to ensure the best choice is made not just for the present, but also for possible future changing needs.

Checklist to Choosing a Home

The checklist below is not intended to cover all needs but to provide an awareness of points to consider when choosing a home - too many negative points may seriously affect the standard of care.

If you find it helpful, please check the boxes that are applicable and then print this page for future reference...

Location 
You may wish to remain close to your present home, relatives and friends or General Practitioner. If you are considering a change in location consider:

• Would you prefer to live in the locality or community you have been used to?
• Is the home situated where relatives and friends can visit you easily?
• Will you have to change your GP?
• Is there easy access to public transport, local amenities, parks, church, post office or shops
• Are the surroundings too noisy or too quiet and what would you feel comfortable in?

The Home 
Does it have a caring proprietor and is it registered? Terms and conditions of residence and brochures should be taken and read.

The Room 
This will become your own private place and must be comfortable:

• Is it shared or single and what is the outlook?
• Will it accommodate personal possessions or some of your own special small pieces of furniture, or a pet?
• Are there telephone or television aerial sockets?
• Can you have your own telephone with a separate number?

Facilities 
Consider what facilities the home needs to offer and the type of care you need, for example:

• If the accommodation is not on the ground floor, is there a lift?
• Do any of the following visit regularly: minister, hairdresser, chiropodist, library etc.?
• Can you manage any steps in or around the home?
• Are there smoking and non-smoking areas?
• What are the arrangements for laundry and dry-cleaning?
• Is there more than one lounge, or quiet area?
• Are there regulations about staying in your own room?
• What lifts or bath-aids etc. are there?
• Is there a garden and can residents use it?
• Is there a facility to secure valuables and are personal possessions covered by insurance?
• Are disabled or special medical needs adequately catered for?
• Does the home provide facilities to pursue interests or hobbies?
• Is there private access to a telephone and are amplifiers available if you are hard of hearing?
• Are there enough staff on duty ?
• Do they respect residents’ privacy and help with personal care?

Menus 
Look at some sample menus. It is important that you have a good balanced diet chosen from food you enjoy:

• Is the food interesting, varied and of good quality?
• Is there a choice of menus?
• Are special diets catered for?
• Can you take meals in the room if desired?
• Can you offer visiting friends or relatives refreshments?

Atmosphere
Try to assess how the home feels:

• Are the staff welcoming and caring and how do the other residents seem when talking to them?

Restrictions 
Does the Home have rules for residents, and if so are they acceptable? These may include:

• Set times for going to bed, getting up, or having a bath.
• Visitors may be allowed only at certain times or not in your own room
• Can you consume alcohol, and if so where?

The Cost 
Can you afford the fees? Be clear of what is included, such as:

• The Cost of personal hygiene, medical needs or personal laundry.
• Remember fees are being paid from capital, it may not last forever. Will the home accommodate you on state support?

Complaints Procedure
Any difficulties or problems you encounter should first be taken up with the home proprietor. If you are unable to satisfactorily resolve the problem, it should be referred in writing to the social services department, health authority homes inspector or a Government body called CQC who inspects all Care Homes .

People who can help:

Help the Aged: 0808 800 6565 www.helptheaged.org.uk

Social Security Benefits Agency: 0800 882200

NHFA: 0800 998833 Advice on your entitlement to state help and Financial Products for people going into Care: www.nhfa.co.uk

Age Concern: 0800 009966 – They have free fact sheets, however they are unable to send more than 5 fact sheets. The titles available are:

• 6 Finding help at home
• 10 Local Authority charging procedures for care homes
• 20 NHS continuing care
• 24 Direct Payments from Social Services
• 29 Finding care home accommodation
• 32 Disability and ageing: your rights to social services
• 37 Hospital discharge arrangements
• 38 Treatment of the former home as capital for people in care homes
• 39 Paying for care in a care home if you have a partner
• 40 Transfer of assets and paying for care in a care home
• 41 local authority assessment for community care services
• 46 Paying for care and support at home