As a leading care home company, our experienced care and nursing centre managers often consult with families and loved ones who benefit from guidance, support and independent advice when making key decisions about the care for themselves or a relative.
We never underestimate the complexity of these conversations, which many find emotional, with concerns about how they can compare one care home to another or what they should ask to verify whether a residential home has the compassion, kindness and sensitivity they want their loved one to be treated with.
Evaluating Potential Residential Care Facilities
Family members pour time, effort and energy into finding the perfect home for older people and loved ones and often refer to regulatory inspection ratings published by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in England. These ratings are useful and provide a broad-stroke overview of how well a care home conforms to safeguarding, record-keeping, confidentiality and patient care standards.
You can also use resources such as CareHome.co.uk to access each care centre’s review score to see how other service users and residents feel about the care they have received.
However, it is always valuable to take the opportunity to visit a care home in person. Speaking to all the staff, getting a proper look at accommodation and suites, and seeing how carers engage and connect with their residents is a great indication of whether a care home has a friendly team and delivers good care.
Next, we’ll run through the questions we’d advise you to ask during those visits and before making any decisions.
1. What Care, Support, Accommodation and Amenities Are Inclusive?
Care homes charge varied fee structures, depending on the type of care required, the accommodation or suite a resident wishes to reserve, and whether the individual or family receive funding support to contribute towards their overall care costs.
Although most amazing care homes offer absolute transparency, it’s worth enquiring during your visit if you are unsure whether everything is included in that fee. For example, you might find that visiting therapists or beauticians offer manicures, haircuts and beauty treatments at an additional charge or that the care home can organise extra amenities within a room for a nominal fee.
Particularly when you are arranging long-term or complex care, you should be informed about any potential changes to care home fees, if these are reviewed annually, or whether you need to make a deposit there and then to avoid losing out on a high-demand accommodation space.
2. How Does the Care Centre Provide Entertainment, Activities or Opportunities for Socialisation?
Entertainment facilities add real value and ensure that all care home clients, whether living as residents in a dementia care or complex care setting or short-term recovery and rehabilitation care, have plenty of things to do, from crafting to day trips, garden parties to birthday celebrations and movie and quiz nights where residents chat, make friends and relax together.
Although all care homes are required to offer daily activities, the broader the range on offer, the better every resident will be able to pick and choose outings.
3. What Level of Nursing Care or Medical Expertise is Available?
If you are organising a care home place on behalf of a family member with an ongoing or degenerative medical condition or cognitive illness, the standard and availability of nursing support may be key. Care homes normally provide medication reminders and help patients take prescribed medicines at specific intervals, but more in-depth or ongoing supervision may be required.
For example, you might ask how the care team tracks medications and what they would do if a doctor or consultant prescribed a change in dosage.
4. How Often Are Family Members and Loved Ones Able to Visit?
Visiting arrangements may vary depending on the type of care delivered. However, even residents with profound disabilities or cognitive impairments benefit from regular visits from people they know and love, and the impact on their mental health is impossible to overstate.
Some care homes have specified visiting hours or durations or might allow a resident to have a maximum number of people per day to avoid overcrowding in smaller facilities.
5. Does the Care Home Cater to Individual Catering Preferences and Dietary Requirements?
Finally, meal times are a focal point for many care homes, and it’s important that your loved one can advise on the types of foods they like to eat – not solely based on medical requirements, allergies or intolerances.
please get in touch with Forest Healthcare at any time.
Information Source: – https://www.foresthc.com/choosing-a-great-care-home-company-for-you-or-your-loved-one/
