Looking at residential care homes

| Sunday, August 28, 2011
By David S Walker


Choosing a care home for a parent or a spouse is one of the most difficult things you may have to do. And, in many cases, the choice will have to be made very quickly, as your loved one may be being discharged from hospital or another care institution and will need specialist care, which is impossible to give at home.

There are few people who have prior experience of choosing residential care homes and are thus unsure how to choose between them. There are a few things you can look at though when making your choice.

Perhaps the most important consideration when choosing a care home is the location of the home. The care your loved one gets is of course of paramount importance, but the frequency with which your loved one is visited by family members or friends is also of paramount importance.

You might think a care home away from it all in a tranquil setting would be a good option, but if your loved one gets infrequent visits, it can be demoralising for them. You need to make it easy for anyone who may want to visit to be able to turn up at a moment's notice.

Ask for references or take a recommendation about various residential care homes. A good idea is to ask if the care home is willing to give references about the care they offer. Family members of people who are already staying at the care home are good people to talk to as well. The more information you have about the home the better.

It's important to have a good look around the care home to see the communal as well as the private facilities. When you do this you'll be able to have a chat with the care home workers and the current residents. Making an impromptu visit is a good idea, as this way you'll get to see how the care home really functions.




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