What to Ask When You Look Around a Care Home?
The Fee Structure
Choosing a care home requires planning of the amount you have and the limit up to which you can afford the services. If you can pay a certain amount at the beginning but are unable to continue paying for long-term, you should get the local social services department do a thorough assessment. Primary Care Trusts arrange for nursing homes for those in a hospital that cannot provide continuous medical care.
The Location
Before going to a care home you should be clear about its location. When you are expecting visitors, you would want the home to be easily accessible and well connected. Some facilities add to the convenience, like shops, parks and places of worship. You should check if these facilities can be reached easily.
You should also check the entrance and exit points and make sure that it would be easy to move from one floor to another even for those on wheelchairs. With joint pain being so common, sometimes it becomes painful to take stairs. Check if your home has a lift.
A clean home gives you peace of mind. It is indeed relaxing to feel comfortably warm inside the neat and clean rooms that smell fresh and not damp or dirty. For instance, Care Home Royal Lemington Spa has an inviting and friendly atmosphere where you feel comfortable socialising and relaxing.
The Daily Life
When you start living in a care home, you are going to need a few things and also follow a routine. Small but significant things like telephone, Internet access, newspapers, books, TV, sightseeing tours and hobby classes keep you occupied throughout the day. You would also want to take time off for yourself, so privacy has to be checked too. Â Some homes specify the timings and number of visitors. You should ask the concerned authorities the visitors can stay overnight and if children are allowed.
You should not feel isolated either culturally or religiously. Your special dietary requirements should be taken care of. Enquire a little about other residents as you would be interacting with them every day. Sharing similar interests would make you feel at ease at the care home.
Should the need arise for filing complaints or grievances, there should be a committee to address the same and the procedures ought to be made easily available.
So, contact the local authority social services department, the Primary Care Trust Registration Officer or the local PALS (Patients' Advice and Liaison Service) before contacting the homes directly.