What to know before choosing a care home

Finding the right care home can be a daunting task. This article aims to make this process less stressful by taking you through what you should know before choosing a care home. Understand the different types of care homes available The first thing you should know is that care homes can differ in the level and type of care they provide. ●Residential homes offer a place to live and personal care. They can help residents with washing, eating, drinking, going to the toilet and taking medication. However, it may not offer specialist care. ●Nursing homes provide the same care as residential homes, but also provide 24 hour medical care from a qualified nurse. They may also offer specialist care for particular conditions such as dementia. However, it is common for care homes to provide both types of care. Therefore it is best to see if they can cater to your specific care needs. Explore funding options The Money Advice Service has produce a clear guide on paying for care The first step they advise is to contact your local authorities adult-social care department for a free needs assessment. This assessment is carried out free of charge and provides a professional assessment of the type of care and support that’s needed. It will also determine whether you are eligible for financial support from your local authority. This information is useful to help you choose a suitable and affordable care home. Finding the right home Once you have a greater understanding about what type of support you need and what funding you are eligible for, you should start to think about what you would like your ideal home to look like. Think about what you would consider to be essential or desirable. This includes aspects such as: ●The level of care and support offered ●Cost ●Location ●Facilities ●Activities and social life ●Catering Age UK has a handy checklist which may give you insight into what you should consider. This article is a quick introduction to what you should know before choosing a care home. We recommended that you read this comprehensive guide produced by Independent Age