Choose the Right Care Home

Choosing a care home for an aging family member is a difficult task that many families may face. There are so many concerns to be addressed to determine a care home will be a good fit for a family member.

Each care home has its own strengths and weaknesses. Visit several facilities and make notes of what features would appeal to the senior, noting any "deal-breakers". For example, if a senior has a particular attachment to their personal belongings and furniture, a facility that only allows a limited number of personal items will not be the best fit for them.

Are there rooms that meet the senior’s environmental needs. Such as adequate light for reading, in-room activities, as well as adequate darkness for a relaxing sleep and rest. Some facilities can have too much light from hallways or they may require that the senior keep their door open during certain hours, or use a common WC or wash basin, which may be uncomfortable for a senior who is used to more privacy and quiet. Moving into a care home is a large transition for any senior, and sometimes the details that can make all the difference in ensuring a comfortable living space. When you select your care home you may be able to cliam care home fees from the NHS, but you should seek legal advice.

Find out if the activities of each facility match the senior’s personality. Perhaps the facility has many craft activities, but not many activities that would appeal to a senior male. Are there trips outside the care home, and does the senior have control over their activities like visiting a garden or taking a stroll around the grounds when they desire.

Do the care home’s rules fit the senior’s lifestyle? If the senior smokes, or drinks alcohol can they continue? Can seniors receive visitors at any time or are there specific visiting hours, and are children welcomed to visit?

What additional services does the care home provide, such as appointment scheduling for medical visits outside of the care home, and do they provide transportation? How will laundry services be handled- onsite or sent out and at what cost?

The choice of a care home will impact the senior’s family as they are the ones who will need to incorporate visits to the care home into the family routine. Making sure that the care home has other nearby places to visit for a meal or maybe visit a house of worship with the senior can help keep the family involved in the senior’s routine.

In the event that the senior requires palliative care, how accommodating is the care home to the family’s wishes and needs. Is there an overnight staff and do they allow family members to remain with the senior during this emotional time? It is easier to ask these questions ahead of time, then to find out that they do not allow the care a family member expects.