Deciding with a loved one that it’s time for them to move into a nursing home is hard enough, but now you need to find the perfect care home. There are many types of care homes out there providing different levels of services and hitting different price tiers. Aside from turning to the NHS for support, here is a short guide for choosing the right care home.
Consider All Options
A move to a care home will mean uprooting everything, which can be huge stress alone for elderly people. Further, it will come with considerable costs, which you will likely need to help with. Your aim as facilitator is to make the transition as non-disruptive and less expensive as possible. For example, home care is a great first step for getting them used to having additional support. Then, you can use the extra time to search for the best nursing home for them.
Who Will Be Funding Care?
Elderly care can be expensive, which means you need to be clear on who will be footing the bill. If you need help with any costs, you can turn to your local authority to see what support is available. If you head to the Money Advice Service website, you will find a full guide for paying for elderly care. The first step they recommend is checking to see if your loved one is eligible for funding. In the unfortunate event your loved one has a serious medical condition, the NHS may cover the full costs.
Understanding Care Home Types
There are different levels of care that you will find at care homes. Here are the two most common types:
- Residential homes. You will find this type of care home in all shapes and sizes. They provide a personal living space and will assist with the daily routine including mealtimes, toilet use, overall hygiene, and getting dressed.
- Nursing homes. These homes provide every service you will find in a residential home, but with the addition of around-the-clock support from qualified nursing staff.
If your loved one has a particular illness like Parkinson’s disease, you will find care homes that have specialist areas. This typically means they receive more funding for the care and will provide a higher level of support.
Considering Services
Before making a rash decision largely based on location and cost, you should weigh up the services included which you can do by visiting care home websites. For example, if you head to valeviewheights.com, you will find their full list of services on the home page along with obvious contact details and a full FAQ. Once you’ve narrowed down your search, you must verify your research by visiting in person.
Choosing a care home is no easy task. You will need to liaise with different organisations to discuss funding, services, and much more. If you can, you should involve your loved one in the process as much as you can. After all, they’re the ones who will be living there.