We understand it can feel overwhelming, especially after a pandemic. When you begin your research, we advise you ask people you know for recommendations, then visit the care home’s websites and Facebook pages, as they can often give a real insight into life at the home.
We also feel it’s important to consider the location of the care home, is it in an attractive setting? Think about how each home makes you feel.
Following your research, be sure to chat to the Care Home Manager, as they will be able to provide you with vital information on the level of care they provide.
To help you, we’ve listed below 10 important questions you might not think to ask but will help you come to a decision and find the right home for your loved one.
You may want to weigh up finding the right care home for you against the travel time it takes to get there. You may feel that a few extra miles are worthwhile if it’s a home you are happy with.
The addition of an outdoor space enhances the quality of life for residents, while a nice view will make a huge difference for those who can’t get outside and is something all residents can enjoy during bad weather and winter months.
You’re going to want to ensure the care and attention that your loved ones receives meets their needs and is tailored to their specific requirements. This question is key in assessing whether team members have quality time to spend with residents.
This is a great question to ask in helping you decide if the care home will meet the physical, emotional and medical needs of your loved one. You want to feel comfortable and happy that the primary caregivers match your requirements.
Good care teams build up a rapport with the residents and really get to know them. Longevity of team members is a sign that they are happy in their place of work but also means that there will be consistency in the day-to-day interactions with your loved one.
Every resident will have different needs and preferences and so having choices in how they live shows how the home caters for individuals.
Activities are paramount to the residents mental, physical and emotional well-being. So finding out if they offer activities that your loved one enjoys and has a passion for is essential.
This is a particularly important question, especially as we are beginning to come out of the COVID-19 pandemic, you want to know what the visitor policy is and what that means for you.
It’s essential that your loved one’s basic health needs will continue to be met in their new community by their new care givers.
You will want to choose a care home that feels like a ‘home-from-home’. This may mean different things to different people and so you’ll want to find out if they offer the things that are important to you and your loved one.