Throughout the UK there are hundreds of different care homes for the elderly offering a wide spectrum of services.
At one end of the scale there is generic “sheltered accommodation” which is self-contained residential accommodation offering a degree of support through services such as an on-site warden. At the other there is accommodation supplemented by a range of specific services such as full-time nursing care, or support services for disabilities or medical needs such as strokes or Alzheimer’s.
So your starting point has to be deciding what type of accommodation would be most appropriate for your relative’s needs. This is not a decision that you should take alone. First of all, you must discuss the issue in detail with your elderly relative/s regardless of whether they have asked you to assist them with finding a care home, or whether you have recognised independently that they are going to need more help than you are able to provide.
Their input to any decision is vital in determining their future happiness and the extent to which they will settle into their new accommodation.
At this stage you should also consider the geographic location of any future care accommodation. If, as is often the case, your elderly relative/s has been living some distance away, now may be a time to strongly suggest that they move somewhere closer to you so that you can visit them frequently and informally monitor the level of care they receive within their chosen accommodation.
Your elderly relative’s doctor should also be brought into the discussion. Not only are they likely to have vast experience in this area, but they will also be able to contribute to an understanding of future support needs, particularly if there is a particular disability or condition involved.
Balancing suitability, availability and affordabilityChoice of care home will ultimately come down to achieving a balance between what is available and suitable, and what you and your elderly relative/s can afford. This may determine what type of care home you choose as they are run by a range of different organisations including local councils, not-for-profit organisations and private businesses.
The social services department in the area in which you are looking for accommodation should be able to help you by providing a list of care homes and they may also provide informal advice based on the types of services you are seeking. Other information may come from charities that offer support for particular disabilities.
Outside of this it is worth conducting a detailed internet search within the geographic area you are interested in, making appointments to go and see all and any care homes that seem suitable. This is undoubtedly the best way of finding out exactly what is on offer and how reality matches up to what websites promise.
When visiting prospective homes go armed with a number of questions relating to areas such as responsibility for the décor and maintenance of the accommodation, shared social areas, food and mealtimes, individual support services, internal and external medical support, social activities, visiting arrangements, staffing levels and training, management, and quality standards.
It is probably best not to involve your elderly relative in all these visits as they may find them tiring and ultimately confusing. Once you are able to put together a short list of possibilities it will be more productive for you to visit them together.
Finding the right care home can take time and you will find that some of the better establishments may have a waiting list. So, don’t rush things. This is definitely one area where time spent at the outset will improve your overall chances of making the most informed decision and finding the best possible care home for your loved one.
Click here to access more useful information for the over 50s from in my prime.
