Choosing the right care home is like any purchase. It needs to be right for you. This is your happy place where you can feel safe and comfortable, just like your home. So when choosing a care home, think about your needs and what you wish for as a starting place. Listed below are a series of questions which will help you establish if the care home is right for you:
- Is the care home accessible. Not just with lifts, ramps and wide doors, but also in a good location for your loved ones to visit. Can they park when they arrive and is the care home within easy access of shops, churches and other places of worship?
- The staff should be welcoming and interested in talking to you.
- The staff to resident ratio should be suitable, for the home.
Then there are the facilities:
- Are there grounds and gardens, is the exterior pleasant and easy to access
- Do the other residents have a similar level of needs as you do?
- Is there a call bell system
Dining
- Do residents dine together
- Does the menu change
- Can the home meet your dietary needs
Read the care homes brochure or website before visiting and also look for it on the CQC website.