5 Factors to Consider When Choosing a Care Home
Making the decision to move to a care home is a highly significant time in somebody's life, and it is not one that comes with ease. High amounts of research and consideration are needed to decide where you or your loved one would like to begin the next chapter in life.
After deciding it is time to move into a care home, the next step is deciding which home would be most suitable based on the care and services on offer to you or your family members. There are so many factors to consider, and sometimes it is difficult to understand the most important things that should be considered which can make the process overwhelming.
We have collated a list of 5 important factors that should be considered when looking at care homes, to put you at ease and assist you with planning and making your decision.
No two care homes are the same, so it is important to find one that suits you or your loved ones' needs and lifestyle best with what they can offer.
What Needs to be Considered When Choosing a Long-Term Care Facility?
When looking at your care home options, it is imperative to consider various aspects before making the final decision as this will ensure it is the right care home for you. The points outlined below should give you a better understanding of the process of choosing where to live and should give you some confidence to begin making the necessary steps.
When choosing a long-term care facility, we believe you should take the following factors into consideration:
The Care Services and Specialisms Available
The first thing to consider when looking at care homes is the care services that they offer.
Most care homes will offer different care types, some of which are nursing care, residential care, dementia care and respite care.
Within nursing care, some homes may specialise in caring for those with specific health conditions such as Parkinson’s or Motor Neurone Disease, so this is something to consider if you require a more specialist care type.
The type of care you require will need to be hugely considered when looking at where you or your loved one should live, as you need to decide on one that will facilitate your or your loved ones care needs in the best way.
It is important to make contact with each care home you consider and find out if they can care for your personal situation to the highest degree. Most care homes will offer a pre-admission consultation with their Home Manager or a member of their professional care team, and they can help you decide which care type is most appropriate for you.
Depending on whether you’re considering a residential care home, nursing home, or dementia care home, each facility will have a team of professionals made up of unit leaders, specialists, care assistants, senior care assistants and nurses.
The Quality and Variety of Facilities Offered
Another extremely important factor to consider is the facilities care homes have.
All residents within the care home need facilities to use during their time there, and there may be some you are specifically looking out for when choosing a new home.
Whilst there might be numerous care homes that can facilitate for you and your loved ones based on other factors, the in-house facilities they offer will be what sets them apart from one another.
Some examples of facilities that a care home might offer are a hairdressing salon, outdoor garden areas, an arts & crafts programme, varied dining options, in-house cinema and library, and many more.
A varied and inclusive activities programme is one of the most important facilities, as this is what will enable each resident to make the most of each day, whether that is by being enabled to continue with a hobby, pursue a new interest, or just spend time with other like-minded people.
Each individual must take into consideration their own lifestyle and what they would like to do in their free time. Which facilities would have the most positive impact on your life, which are most similar to your current lifestyle and which would you like to begin integrating into your routine?
The Location and Accessibility of the Care Home
The location of a care home is usually one of the biggest deciding factors among families when choosing one to move into.
The travelling distance for visitors, the ease of reaching care homes and how comfortable an elderly person would feel wandering around the home or local area are the main factors in people's minds.
Another key factor to consider when looking at the location of the care home is the nearby public transport and how easy it is to get out in the local community, by car, bus or train. A home with plenty of parking spaces is a bonus!
As well as looking at how easy it is to reach the care home, the personal mobility circumstances of an individual must also be taken into account. An area may have multiple care homes for you to choose, however it is worth considering which one offers better accessibility facilities such as support rails, lifts, ramps, rooms with enough space for easy movement and care assistants that are happy to aid with elderly people's mobility.
The Overall Care Environment and Levels of Cleanliness
The cleanliness and environment of a care home will be one of the first factors noticed when you walk through the doors as well as the greeting and atmosphere as you walk around.
Pay close attention to detail when looking around, and make sure everything you would expect is in place.
A lot of care homes also administer medicine or medical care to their residents, therefore specific procedures should also be in place for this, which is something you can look out for. Alternatively, you can view a care home most recent Care Quality Commission report can be found on the CQC website, to see what they have been rated.
A care home isn’t just what you can see when you walk around, it's how you feel being in the environment. The atmosphere is one of the most important factors because it is what you or your loved one will be surrounded by on a daily basis.
Make sure the care home doesn’t just feel like a house in which to reside, but like a home and a place where you can be comfortable and really enjoy yourself alongside other residents and your family and friends.
The Initial, Total and Ongoing Costs of Residence
Lastly, another important factor that should be considered when choosing a care home is the fees.
The overall costs of care for somebody living in a care home are dependent on different factors such as each individual's circumstances, the location of the care home and what they offer.
Where care homes offer luxury facilities or all-inclusive packages, you can expect the fees for this to be higher than one that provides just care, accommodation and food. It is important to understand what your care home fee includes, so you know whether additional costs will be required.
Dependent on your personal circumstances, the local authorities might be in a position to offer funding from the government which will reduce the overall care home fees. If this is something you feel that you may be eligible for, our recommendation would be to contact a social worker or your local council and see the circumstances for each individual home.
Receive Customised Care to Meet Your Needs at The Hazelwell
At The Hazelwell care home in Heswall, we offer high-quality care options to our residents 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Resident satisfaction is our top priority, so our friendly and qualified team always beats expectations to ensure that residents live the richest and most meaningful life possible.
It is important to us that our residents form strong bonds with each other and our team and do this by providing them with support and a wonderful place to call home.
We pride ourselves on offering more than just a home, but also opportunities for residents to interact with others, explore the local community, and feel engaged and stimulated each day. We have a whole range of facilities at our luxury care home, including a rooftop salon, library, gardens and terrace and much more.
One of the amenities in our en-suite bedrooms includes a nurse call system, which means you can be at ease knowing we are always on hand to assist our residents no matter what time it is. We work in close collaboration with residents and their loved ones on a regular basis to ensure we create a care plan that is best tailored to them, no matter their circumstances so they receive the best quality of life.
Get in Touch With The Hazelwell Team Today
The services, environment, and lifestyle provided at Hazelwood Care Home have been thoughtfully created to ensure our residents’ wellbeing, fostering comfort, contentment, and a strong sense of belonging.
We passionately believe in empowering our residents to live life their way, and we go to great lengths to assist them in achieving this.
To find out more information or to get in touch with a member of our friendly team, you can contact us by filling out our online enquiry form, ringing us at 01513 429654 or emailing info@thehazelwell.com and we will be delighted to assist you.
