The Care Quality Commission (CQC) recently reported that 70% of people who have chosen care for themselves or a loved one thought it was the most stressful decision they’ve ever had to make.
April is Stress Awareness month, which is why we are helping support those who have decided that a loved one can no longer live alone. To help those considering a nursing home as the next step, we have compiled a series of informative blogs to help during the process of making the decision, how to find the right nursing home, settling into a nursing home and dealing with everyday life in a nursing home.
Where do I start?
Your first port of call should be deciding on the specific type of care that is needed, that way you will be able to narrow down your search. Care homes often offer a range of care options from specialist dementia care to everyday residential care. Many homes can cater for a number of differing needs but it’s important you know what type of care is required before you start considering your choices.
Create a list of options
It’s likely you will already have some options in mind, you may have heard about a home from a friend or a GP may have made some recommendations. It’s good to have a few options because you may find that the home you choose doesn’t have any current vacancies.
If you don’t have a particular home in mind, carehome.co.uk is a good starting point for your search. It holds a database of care homes across the country and allows you to search by location and types of care.
Check it
Once you have a list, ensure you check the most recent CQC report for the home. You should be able to find these on the homes’ website or on the CQC website.
Carehome.co.uk can aid your search as the website compiles reviews of nursing homes, usually from residents and their families’ personal experiences. Based on the reviews, carehome.co.uk then gives each home a score out of ten.
Visit visit visit
Visit as many of the homes on your shortlist as possible, we definitely recommend this. Home Managers will be more than happy to give you a tour of the home. Many homes also provide day care options which give you a real feel for the home and what it would be like to live there.
Choosing a care home can be extremely stressful and cause much anxiety but remember, it’s okay to admit you need help, and that is why we are here for you. We want to make the process as stress free and as smooth as possible.
We are always happy to discuss an individual’s needs and by all means, we welcome any visitors. Please get in touch today for an informal conversation about our care and our homes.
