If you are looking for a nursing home or a residential care home there are some basic questions that you should ask yourself, and the Manager of the home, before making any final decisions.
- An obvious point, but are you looking in the right geographical area? Moving a relative away from their friends and nearer to you might help you to visit more often but may preclude visits from friends and neighbours. It is worth thinking about this carefully.
- What type of care home do you need? The assessment carried out on your relative will have determined whether they need a nursing home, residential care home or whether domiciliary care is an option. Ensure that you are looking for the correct category of care home.
- Having determined the area and category of care home make a short list of those that match the criteria and visit as many of them as you possibly can. Unless you are familiar with care homes it will take some time to work out which one may suit your relative best.
- On entering the care home use your eyes and nose. It’s as simple as that, first impressions really do count and if the home doesn’t smell pleasant then you are in the wrong place. Look at the decor, is the home maintained well? Look at the people, are the staff smiling and interacting with residents, and most importantly are the residents smiling and interested in what is happening around them.
- Make sure you spend some time with the Manager of the home, this is the person who controls how it is run and it is important that you share common goals and beliefs about how your relative will be cared for.
- Whilst being shown around ask as many questions as you can, don’t be inhibited, if you want to know something – ask.
- Don’t worry if for example the sitting room is a little untidy – books, games and hobbies on shelves and tables show that the residents are occupied and not just sitting watching TV all day.
- Bedrooms will have a particular significance for many residents and need to have enough space to bring personal furniture and possessions. Check with the home that this is permitted.
- Check whether you can decorate the room, bring your own bed, and put up pictures on the wall, in other words make it homely.
- Is there an en-suite bathroom and if there is, is it suitable for your relatives needs? An en-suite with a bath is useless for many people unless there is a hoist.
- Is there a TV point and telephone point in the room? Is there internet access if your relative wants to use it?
- Ask about the food and whether there is a choice on the menu, is it cooked on site and can special diets be catered for? Do they serve the type of food that your relative is used to?
- Having looked around the home ask the Manager how many staff are on night duty and what the ratio is between residents and staff during the day. These levels will depend on the type of care being provided and will help you decide which care home is likely to offer the best care.
- Make sure you know the ‘house rules’, is there a smoking room, is alcohol permitted with lunch, can you go to bed and get up when you choose?
- If you like the home, go back and visit a second time and stay for lunch or supper. This will give you a real insight into how the home operates.
- Check how much the fees are and what is included and what is extra. Ask if there is a written contract and what notice must be given if you want to leave. Are fees payable in advance?
- Will the home keep the room available if your relative needs to go into hospital?
- In what circumstances might your relative be asked to leave and what would happen if you run out of funds?
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