It is an emotive topic that can cause even the most hardened family members to become upset. When an elderly relative needs to move into a care community, a swell of emotion is common and can lead to their family making poor decisions about the best placement for them.
Choosing the right care community is crucial for your loved one’s wellbeing and health, so, read on for top tips on how you can choose the right care community for them.
Consider The Care Type That They Need
Different care communities and homes have different specialities. In some cases, a care home like Signature at Highgate may be a bit more generalised, offering a wider range of services for those that they look after but, in most cases, there will be homes that will be aimed at older adults who are recovering from strokes, who have dementia and mobility issues.
The first thing you need to do when choosing a care home is to consider your loved ones needs and filter through the care homes that can offer them to them.
Location is Important!
You don’t want to choose a care home for your loved one that is going to be on the other side of the country. So, try to choose one where you will be able to visit them at least once a week. This will help them and you to feel more settled and secure in the community.
Also, make sure that the care home you choose is close to hospitals and medical facilities. Even though there will be nurses on shift, should there be an emergency, you will want your loved one to have fast access to care.
Budget
You will want the best for your loved one, and depending on insurance and general wealth, the range of care options available will differ greatly. However, if you have to put money towards their care (which is often the case in the UK and other countries) then you will need to look at what you can realistically afford. Many care homes will be able to help you with the financial aspect of care but, as tempting as it is to go for the most expensive option, don’t put yourself out of pocket. Look into elderly care grants and other options that can help to pay for your loved one’s care.
Staff
In general, staffing in care homes is usually top-notch.
However, when it comes to elderly care, it is crucial to be aware of who is going to be looking after your loved one. Suppose you have an elderly parent who has Alzheimer’s; you will want to make sure that the staff at the facility that you choose for them are trained in Alzheimer’s care. As more people are being diagnosed with this condition, it is becoming more common to find experts and nurses in most care facilities. Just be sure to check!
Ask Their Opinion
It is extremely unwise to choose somewhere for your loved one to live without them agreeing to it. There may be some instances where this cannot occur, more so if they have a neurodegenerative illness. If this is the case, you will want to look for a setting that has staff trained in their specific condition, and make sure that there are skilled staff to patient ratios.
If you can, of course, you should ask them their opinion on the location, the staff and if they think they will enjoy it.
