Choosing A Care Home with Care Home Open Week

Admitting your vulnerabilities and needs is one thing, but entrusting other people to look after you for the long term - away from those close to you - is a big step that many of us will go through as we enter the later years of our lives. It can be a frustrating conversation to have if not approached in a gentle manner, leading to an overall negative view on the subject.

Make sure you express your concerns that you may have over their safety at home alone and how they deal with any loneliness they might experience. It’s often a common hesitation that a care home may be seen as a place to “give up”  your independence however there are now so many options available at different price points for varying needs. While it can be a little daunting with all the choice on hand, the main things to consider in any home are:

• Their comfort – check if the home has amenities and facilities that suit the person going and that they have support for anyone with sight and/or hearing impairment. Is the care home easily accessible? Is it near any shops or parks etc to encourage independence? This weighs in as a major factor for long-term living arrangements.
• The Food standards – look at the home’s FSA hygiene rating, menu variety and making sure that any dietary requirements can be met.
• Are there staff that speak more than one language in case one of their residents needs support?
• Are the staff friendly and supportive?
• Is the home Dual-registered? – this means that they operate as both a care home and a nursing home, so that if your loved one’s needs change then they do not have any stress in moving again.
• Engagement – what activities does the home have planned for it’s residents on a regular basis and if required, separate cognitive activities to aid those with Dementia.  
• Name Labelling requirements – do they have a system like Attach A Tag in place, to help reduce lost property?
• Reviews – look at their ratings online as well as by word of mouth, through residents and families alike.
• The price - weigh up the cost versus the services they provide.
• Maintenance - How are the surroundings and general upkeep of the building? Does it all seem clean and fresh indoors?

Luckily here in the UK, we have “Care Home Open Week” - which runs in late June every year. It’s a great way to have a look around a few homes that are on your radar and see if there’s one that suits your family member’s wants and needs. Go along together with them and assess after.

Involve your loved one in every step of the process, as they are who will be living there. Be rational and empathetic when making the decisions and also take into account the affordability of what you need while you both see what’s best.

Involve your loved one in every step of the process, as they are who will be living there. Be rational and empathetic when making the decisions and also take into account the affordability of what you need while you both see what’s best.

Based on where you live within the UK, the amount that you have to pay varies. This cost is also dependent on how much capital you have at the time of proceeding with your choice of home. It’s a good idea to look into your local authority’s guidelines and to see what allowances they will fund if and where they can. Care Homes, and even more so Nursing and Dementia homes cost well over £1000 per week on average – which if you’re self-funding, is a lot to consider.

Before they make the move into the home, it's best practice for all clothing to be tagged and other personal effects to be labelled. Your clothes and belongings are a big part of your identity and when there's already been a lot of change you want to reduce the stress of replacing lost items that make you feel comfortable and have memories. Our Care Home Resident Kit and Starter Kit Plus are the perfect all-in-one bundles to ease the hassle of naming your clothes and items. Check them out below by clicking on the image.