Putting your loved one into a care home is distressing enough.
It is one of the toughest decisions you will ever have to make.
The thought of exposing your loved one to possible abuse or neglect is horrific.
There are 13 questions you must ask when assessing the quality of care being provided in the care home: 1.
Is the home run for the benefit of the staff or residents? Yes..
..
you did read the question right! The actual thought that the home is possibly run for the benefit of the staff rather than the residents is a shocking one...
but these homes do exist.
The 'I can't be bothered', 'it's too much trouble' attitude stems from the owners and management and feeds through to the care staff and becomes part of the culture of the home.
Be careful..
..
any signs and move on.
2.
Are there some other residents similar to you in terms of level of care required? We all want to be, and are more comfortable, when we are with like minded people.
The same is true in care homes.
As you walk around the home, carefully asses whether this is true? Do the residents have similar care needs to my loved one? Will they fit in? 3.
Can the home cope with any future changes in your care needs? This is an extremely sensitive issue.
The prevailing concept is a home for life but what happens if the home cannot provide the care needs in the future? Where the home has different floors or buildings for different groups this question will be less problematic but what if it's a straightforward residential care home? How will they cope with complex nursing and dementia needs? These questions must be raided at the outset.
4.
Is the home registered to provide the right care? 5.
Will there be access to a dentist and optician? 6.
Will there be access to a chiropodist and physiotherapist? 7.
Does the home arrange complimentary therapies? 8.
Do residents have their own GP's? 9.
Who decides when a check up is required? 10.
How are you informed if your loved one is taken ill? 11.
Can you see a copy of the Care Plan? 12.
How often is the Care Plan reviewed? 13.
Are you encouraged to contribute to the Care Plan on a regular basis? The answers to these questions will give you a clear indication whether this is the right care home for your loved one.
It is one of the toughest decisions you will ever have to make.
The thought of exposing your loved one to possible abuse or neglect is horrific.
There are 13 questions you must ask when assessing the quality of care being provided in the care home: 1.
Is the home run for the benefit of the staff or residents? Yes..
..
you did read the question right! The actual thought that the home is possibly run for the benefit of the staff rather than the residents is a shocking one...
but these homes do exist.
The 'I can't be bothered', 'it's too much trouble' attitude stems from the owners and management and feeds through to the care staff and becomes part of the culture of the home.
Be careful..
..
any signs and move on.
2.
Are there some other residents similar to you in terms of level of care required? We all want to be, and are more comfortable, when we are with like minded people.
The same is true in care homes.
As you walk around the home, carefully asses whether this is true? Do the residents have similar care needs to my loved one? Will they fit in? 3.
Can the home cope with any future changes in your care needs? This is an extremely sensitive issue.
The prevailing concept is a home for life but what happens if the home cannot provide the care needs in the future? Where the home has different floors or buildings for different groups this question will be less problematic but what if it's a straightforward residential care home? How will they cope with complex nursing and dementia needs? These questions must be raided at the outset.
4.
Is the home registered to provide the right care? 5.
Will there be access to a dentist and optician? 6.
Will there be access to a chiropodist and physiotherapist? 7.
Does the home arrange complimentary therapies? 8.
Do residents have their own GP's? 9.
Who decides when a check up is required? 10.
How are you informed if your loved one is taken ill? 11.
Can you see a copy of the Care Plan? 12.
How often is the Care Plan reviewed? 13.
Are you encouraged to contribute to the Care Plan on a regular basis? The answers to these questions will give you a clear indication whether this is the right care home for your loved one.
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