What to look for when choosing a care home: questions to ask and how to prepare
Moving into a care home can be a worrying time for both the resident and family members, it’s one of the most difficult and important decisions you can make. There can often be a number of reasons why a care home might be a good option to consider such as increased care needs, because of a crisis, or to provide support for the resident and family.
Sometimes it can feel like there is a never a right time to move into a care home, but being prepared with all the information can help to make the move easier for both sides, as well as helping you to settle in faster and making your new home, feel like home.
Arranging a move into a care home can feel like a daunting process, but we’re here to help and have put together a checklist of questions to ask and some tips on what you can do to give you confidence you’ve made the right choice.
Supporting your loved one when looking for a care home
One of the most important things you can do is involving your loved one with the process. Starting the conversation about moving into a care home early, before there’s a crisis or emergency will help ease the pressure and reduce anxiety. Giving yourself enough time to listen to your loved one, respecting their wishes, and taking their concerns into account along the way will help to make the transition easier. Remember to be patient, and know that it might take many conservations over a period of time before they’re ready.
Finding the right home and care needs assessments
Once you’re ready, the first step is finding the right home. There are many things to consider here, if you are looking for a loved one you need to think about location and the level of their care needs. If you’re not sure how much care your loved one will need, you can have a care needs assessment from your local council which will help determine how well they cope with everyday activities and the type of care they will need.
At Abbeyfield we offer three types of care homes; residential care homes, dementia friendly care homes, and nursing homes. Below we describe the key features about the types of care we offer.
Residential care homes
Abbeyfield Residential Care Homes have been designed for older people with higher support needs to live comfortably with 24 hour staff to provide support and companionship. Key features include:
- 24 hour staffing
- Stimulating activities calendar
- Three nutritious meals daily
- Own bedroom with en-suite or separate bathroom
- Communal areas to socialise with other residents
- Personalised care plan
Dementia friendly care homes
Our Dementia Friendly Care Homes have been designed to support residents living with Alzheimer’s, dementia or other forms of memory loss. You'll find the same high quality support as in our care homes but with extra support for those living with dementia. Key features include:
- All meals provided and a stimulating activities calendar
- Own bedroom with en-suite or separate bathroom
- Communal areas to socialise with other residents
- 24 hour staff and personalised care plan
Nursing Homes
Our Nursing Homes provide the same high quality personal care and support that you would receive in any of our Residential Care Homes but with the added benefit of round the clock qualified nursing care. Key features include:
- 24 hour on-site qualified nursing staff
- Stimulating activities calendar
- Three nutritious meals a day
- Specialist furniture and equipment to meet your needs
- Personalised care plan
Visiting care homes
Now you’ve shortlisted some care homes to visit, you might want to bring a list of questions to ask whilst you’re there.
Some questions you might like to ask:
- When can residents have visitors?
- What will the care plan look like?
- Will the care home be suitable to meet your loved one’s needs for a long period of time?
- What activities are there for residents?
- Do you offer a trial stay?
- Do you allow pets?
- What will the room look like or what types of room are on offer? What furniture will the room have? What kinds of personal items can we bring from home?
- How much does it cost and what will the cost include?
- Does the monthly price increase yearly?
- Do you cater for special dietary requirements?
- Are meals cooked at the home?
- What hours do the staff work?
- Do you provide a laundry service?
- Is the cleaning of the resident room included in the price?
- Can family or friends stay overnight?
- Is there internet access?
- Are there en-suite facilities?
- Is the care home accessible?
- Does the care home have a garden?
- Are there other health professionals who come to the care home i.e GPs, nurses, dentists, opticians?
- Can residents cook/ wash for themselves if they wish?
- What security is there for residents?
Some other questions you might want to ask yourself when visiting homes:
- Can you imagine yourself or loved one living there?
- Does it feel homely?
- Does it feel safe?
- Does it feel friendly?
We have added these questions in a document which you might like to bring along on your visit, with some space to write some of your own questions, so you don’t forget once you get there.
Visiting the care homes gives you the chance familiarise yourself with the home, get to know the staff and for the staff to get to know your loved one, and see the facilities they offer at each home. You’ll also get a chance to see and speak to the residents, see what the rooms are like, ask what is included in the rooms and know what you’re allowed to bring with you.
You should ask if the home does a trial stay, as it’s a good way to know if the home is right for you and your loved one without committing.
Some care homes may offer respite care stays which can provide carers with a chance to have a break. This is also another option for trying out a home to see if it is suitable for your loved ones needs, without committing to long term residential care.
At Abbeyfield we have a number of care homes which offer respite care stays which include:
- 24/7 care support from our qualified and friendly staff
- Daily activities
- Nutritious meals served daily (dietary requirements can be catered for)
- Housekeeping and linen service
Tips for preparing to move into a care home
You’ve done your research and found the right home for your loved one, but moving into a home can be an emotional time for both families and their loved one. It can be difficult getting into a new routine in a care home; getting used to being in a new place, seeing lots of new faces – from the staff at the care home and the current residents - and maybe moving to a new location, but that’s ok as this is a big step and a life changing experience.
Pack your favourite items to make it feel like home
In most care homes you can bring personal items with you like photos, pieces of furniture, treasured possessions, which you can use to decorate your room to make it feel like home. In the process of choosing what to bring, you’ll probably be thinking about downsizing, as moving into a smaller living space will mean you won’t necessarily have enough space for everything such as clothing and furniture.
Downsizing and deciding what to bring
Getting ahead and deciding what to do with your personal belongings early and sorting through everything you own will be helpful in your preparation in moving into a new home. Don’t underestimate how much time decluttering and downsizing might take. Read our guide on downsizing for more information.
What should I do if I have a pet when moving into a care home?
If you have a pet, you should check in advance with the care home whether you can bring it with you, if it can visit, or if you’ll need to rehome it. If the care home doesn’t allow pets perhaps a family member can look after your pet or you might have to look at putting your pet up for adoption. Charities like The Cinnamon Trust are also worth getting in touch with as they can provide long term care for pets whose owners have moved into a care home which doesn’t accept pets.
Important things to remember:
- Bring all medication with you.
- Make sure staff make a note of everything you brought in with you.
- Bring any aids in with you like walking sticks, glasses and hearing aids.
- Bring a list of contacts so you’ll be able to stay in touch with family and friends.
- Make sure you label your clothes.
- Notify all the relevant people and organisations that your address has changed – council, bank, GP, utility companies, friends, family.
Settling into a care home
For someone living independently in their own home, moving into a care home can be an upsetting time. Some people settle in quickly and enjoy their new surroundings, but for other people it can take time to adjust. Take time with your loved ones during the move to make it a positive experience.
When first going to the room where your loved one will be staying, start unpacking to make it feel like home. Put out pictures, hang up your clothes and lay out your trinkets. Then go round the house and explore the new surroundings. You could take your loved one to see the dining room, garden or lounge and maybe introduce yourselves to other residents.
Remember to speak to the members of staff, as they will want to know how they can help, as well as knowing how your loved one would like to be looked after. For example, if you have a daily routine or have things you like to do, let the staff know so they can fit in with your routine.
Make sure your loved one keeps in touch with family and friends. Even if you can’t always visit often there are plenty of ways to stay connected. You could get them a mobile phone, or ask if they can have a phone in their room, give them a tablet or laptop, and if the home has WiFi, do video calls together. We have a guide on how to make video calls.
Encourage your loved one to let staff know about their favourite foods, go to activities or meetings, and continue to get out and about exploring the house, as it’s a great way to meet and get to know other residents.
Moving into a new home with new people, might take some time, but that will change once you get used to all the new people and the new environment.
Ready to find a care home?
Everyone is welcome at an Abbeyfield retirement home. Wherever you find us, you’ll find we’re warm, open and friendly. Abbeyfield is more than a retirement home, it’s a neighbourhood, a community, a family.
Next steps
Tips for settling into your retirement home
At Abbeyfield, we want new residents to feel at home as quickly as possible, so we’ve put together a few tips, as suggested by our residents, to help you settle in quickly.
Moving into a care home
Moving to a care home can be an emotional time but making plans early and getting the information and advice you need will help make any changes much easier and less stressful.
Beginning the conversation
Conversations about health, care, managing of finances and moving home are not everyday topics and lots of us don’t feel confident when bringing them up. However, it’s important to have these conversations so you can ensure that your loved ones are thinking about the future and know you are there to help.