Top 10 Tips for Selecting a Care Home
Choosing a care home for a loved one is an incredibly challenging decision, often made during times of crisis or care emergencies. Loveday, a leading care provider, conducted a recent “Later Life Care” survey, revealing concerns and misconceptions about care homes in the UK.
Key Survey Findings
In the Later Life Care survey, 32% of respondents perceived the quality of care homes in the UK as poor, while only 18% considered them good, and 50% deemed them adequate. In reality, 79% of care homes in the UK are rated Good, and 3.5% are rated Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the independent regulator of health and adult social care in England.
Furthermore, 83% of UK adults expressed concerns about placing a loved one into care, with 61% worried about the quality of care and 33% admitting they would feel guilty about such a decision. Additionally, more than a third (36%) admitted they wouldn't know where to start when considering later life care.
To alleviate concerns and guide families through this intricate process, Izabela Klaczkiewicz, General Manager at Loveday Abbey Road, shares invaluable tips to assist families in making informed decisions when choosing care for a loved one:
Top 10 Tips for Selecting a Care Home
Plan ahead to reduce stress. Start researching care homes early to avoid rushed decisions during a crisis.
Identify current and future care needs. Consider homes offering home care services for a smoother transition when residential care is required.
Create a list of important factors such as pets, activities, outdoor space, nutrition and location.
Ensure a diverse range of activities beyond TV. Request the weekly schedule and observe activities during unannounced visits. It’s also a good idea to join in on these activities to truly understand how they are delivered and how the residents respond and interact.
Read CQC reports and reviews, and talk to family members of residents for personal experiences.
Have a meal in the home to gauge the menu and nutrition. Observe how other residents respond to the food and how they supported when dining.
Interact with care teams, not just sales personnel. Observe care delivery and resident engagement.
Plan for future financial changes as care needs evolve.
Enquire about staff shortages, agency usage and how dependency is assessed.
Make a shortlist, seek feedback from GPs and local networks, and schedule multiple visits at different times for a comprehensive understanding.
Checklist for Visiting Shortlisted Homes
- Cleanliness
- Resident Happiness
- Freshness and Supplier of Food
- Visitor Policy
- Resident Activities
- Care Team Interaction
- Routine Flexibility
- Evidence of Excursions and Activities
- Accommodation of Religious Beliefs and Cultural Celebrations
- Shared Interests Among Care Team Members
