Looking for care for a loved one?
Do you need to think about finding a home for a loved one ? Don’t know where to start?
Don’t worry you are not alone. It is a daunting and complex experience negotiating your way through the system with changing care needs cause moves from one service to another. It is also and emotional time for yourself and your loved one and decisions are sometimes made in an emergency so it does no harm to have taken the time in advance to learn what options are available.
Written by Emma Simon and produced in association with Bupa Care Homes the Telegraph have a free guide to long and short term care which is available either here on line or by calling 0844 543 9820.
This free guide is designed to answer any questions you may have about the UK care system from finding the right type of care for a loved one whether it be;
- Residential
- Nursing
- Respite
- Dementia
- Specialist
The guide also provides advice on paying for care.
Here are a few things to bear in mind also.
The Telegraph guide will help you know what you are looking for but I would always advise a personal visit. Funding can also be negotiated so don’t agree on the first one available as it can be difficult to move someone from one place to another.
I would always speak to some of the residents, whilst older people tend to not complain you may get an more realistic idea of what life is like for them living there.
A good idea is to arrange a temporary stay if possible and visit at various time of the day. Come at lunchtime and try the food to see how balanced and nutritious the meals are.
A good guide to how well a home is run is to watch the staff. Do they appear happy and relaxed or are they stressed and rushing from call bell to call bell. If this is the case the chances are your loved one may receive little personal attention.
One really important matter to consider is entertainment and stimulation. You want your loved one to continue to enjoy life. A care home should be that a home providing care and part of that care needs to involve activity. It is a well know fact that elderly residents who are involved meaningful, age appropriate activities flourish. A home should not be a holding bay ’til death !
