Seeking out the right care home for you or for your loved one certainly isn’t a task that we’re used to doing, and so there’s no shame in admitting that we don’t always know where to start. Luckily, there is plenty of advice available and information to take into consideration, whether you’re looking for the best care home Wimbledon has to offer or you’re far more flexible about where you could go. We’ve put together this quick guide to help get you started, so read on to find out more.
Identify The Type Of Care You Need
The type of care that you or your loved one needs will ultimately determine the kind of care home that you need to explore. The types of care you may need are as follows:
- Residential Care – This care is designed for those that need care 24 hours a day. Residents keep their independence as much as possible, but will have the support they need.
- Residential Care With 24 Hour Nursing – This is the same as residential, only these homes have a qualified nurse on hand 24 hours a day. This is usually best for those with illness or a physical disability.
- Dementia Care – This kind of care home will provide specialist care for individuals with Dementia.
- Respite Or Short-Stay – This is a care home designed for those who only need care for a short period of time. E.g. If the carer needs a break, or the person is recovering from an illness.
- Intermediate Care – This is usually used as an alternative to hospital stays, and can be provided in your own home in some cases.
- Specialist Care – Specialist care will depend on you or your loved one’s needs. Some care homes have special training for certain illnesses or disabilities.
- Palliative Care – This is end-of-life care, and is carefully designed to make you or your loved one comfortable and cared for during the last months. Any pain and discomfort will be managed, and these homes are specially trained to help you keep as much independence and dignity as possible.
Identify The Best Location
Do you need to stay close to where you currently live? Or could you venture out further? Finding the ideal location is the next step after discovering which style of care is needed, as this can help you whittle down the extensive list of care homes to a few specific ones in a certain area.
Shortlist Homes
Once you have a list of homes, try and shortlist these down to make it easier to not only sort through them, but also to visit. Visiting the care homes is a must, as this will help you decide which you’d feel more comfortable in in the long run. Pictures, videos and advertisements are designed to make a care home look good, and by visiting in person, you can decide whether it is not only true, but whether it is what you want, and if you or your loved one would feel comfortable there.
There are many considerations you need to bear in mind when it comes to choosing a care home, ranging from the home itself, to the cost of the care that you or your loved one will receive. Ensuring that you do thorough research, visit the care homes where possible, and ensure that you’ll be receiving the right care that you or your loved one need, you can rest assured that you’ll have a comfortable and happy stay.
