DO ⬇️

CHECK:

• Have you been referred by your GP / Health Provider for a Care Needs Assessment ?

• Have they referred you for a Local Authority Assessment or a Continuing Healthcare Assessment?

• Online if you can apply for an assessment (NHS) - LINK + (GOV) - LINK

DO ⬇️

ASSESS YOUR OWN NEEDS:

• With a friend / family member to be more prepared.

• Thinking how you want your life to be and what's important to you, such as ?

  • hobbies / activities

  • independence / shopping / driving

  • safety / equipment

DO ⬇️

THINK IF YOU NEED SUPPORTED or ASSISTED LIVING with nurse and/or carer support. There are different providers as below:

• Residential Care Homes. Provide personal care (e.g., washing, dressing, medication management) but no nursing care.

• Nursing Homes. Offer 24-hour nursing care for people with more complex health needs, provided by qualified nurses.

• Dementia Care Homes. Specialise in care for people with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia.

• Respite Care Homes. Offer short-term stays to give regular carers a break.

• Specialist Care Homes. Provide tailored support for conditions such as Parkinson’s, stroke recovery, or severe physical disabilities.

THINK IF YOU NEED a with nurse and/or carer support to help with:

• continence

• nutrition

• communication and speech

• psychological / emotional / cognition / behaviours

• mobility

USEFUL LINKS

• CARE UK - LINK

• CARE TO BE DIFFERENT - LINK

• HOME CARE ASSOCIATION - LINK

• AGE UK - LINK

DO YOUR HOMEWORK ! You are a CUSTOMER after all.

DO ⬇️

• Google Search reviews / ratings / reports from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) - LINK + (Carehome) - LINK

• Review Social Media posts.

• Go, Look, See - speak to residents and families.

• Take someone with you.

• Spend a day there.

What's you GUT FEELING / FIRST IMPRESSION ?

DO: ⬇️

• Go into each room and VISUALISE.

• Think HEAD TO TOE what will you NEED

• Get A FRIEND / FAMILY MEMBER to do it with you.

Examples:

• Accessibility / Safety - entrance to and space in rooms, stair lit, rails, safe in room, alarms

• Mobility - wheelchair, bars, hoists (ceiling or movable), walkers

• Kitchen – look at the height level of drawers / cupboards

• Bathroom / Wet Room - bath, shower chair, toilet

• Living & Dining Room - recliner chair

• Bedroom - profile bed and mattress, slide sheets

• Electricals - TV, kitchen appliances, alarms, telephone

• Comfort - cushions

• Outside - ramp / access

• Speech and Communication - equipment, sensory

• Personal Needs - prayer room / chiropodist / hairdressers / dentist

Who Works in a Care Home - LINK

KEY STAFF (and examples of support):

• CARE HOME MANAGER

  • overall management of your care

  • issues that are escalated from staff and clients

  • liaise with external functions for your care (local authority, care commissions)

• NURSE

  • medication /pain management

  • continence - stoma / catheter / supra pubic catheter

  • nutrition

  • observations – BP, Pulse, temperature

  • decisions if become unwell, liaise with GP and health advisors

• CARER

  • continence

  • repositioning

  • personal care (showering)

  • pressure sores

  • log feed, urine input and output, daily routine

  • psychological / emotional / cognition / behaviours

  • accompany to appointments

• ENTERTAINMENT STAFF

  • outings / hobbies / activities

• OTHER STAFF - Maintenance Cleaner, Caterer

SUPPORT SERVICES

• SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPIST (SALT)

- communication and speech

• PHYSIOTHERAPIST / OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST

- mobility

- rehabilitation

• DIETICIAN

- PEG feed / Nutricia

- weight management

DO: ⬇️

ASK EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO, REMEMBER YOU ARE THE CUSTOMER AND HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW EVERYTHING

FINANCE

• Can you provide a cost breakdown of everything that is included in the fees?

• Who pays for what - bills / food / equipment etc.?

• Will you include contents insurance?

• How do I secure a room, what evidence do you need?

• Do the fees increase every year?

• How long does the process take?

• How are finances passed over if from the Local Authority or Continuing Healthcare Commission?

• How long give notice if I want to change home?

STAFF

• What staff are there (nurses / carer/ doctors...)?

• Do doctors and outside medical people visit the home?

• Can I have external care workers in the home?

• Can I check the staff training / qualifications?

• Can I choose my care team with you and get to know them first / trial period?

• Can I see and review my agreed care plan and see who manages what (continence, personal care, mobility, meds, manual Handling etc.)?

• What is the staff to client ratio?

EQUIPMENT

• Safety (electricals, alarms, WIFI, tv, telephone)

• Stairs (stairlift, lifts)

• Bedroom (profile bed, mattress, storage)

• Bathroom - (shower, bath, storage)

• Mobility - (ramp, walkers. wheelchair, bars, hoist)

• What don’t you provide?

• Will my medication be delivered here?

SERVICES / ACCESS

• Is there an outdoor / garden area?

• Is there private parking?

• Can I do a trial visit?

• Do you offer respite?

• Am I allowed to leave the building?

• Do you offer the below?

  • dentist

  • hairdresser

  • chiropodist

  • therapies

  • transport

• Can I see the weekly entertainment schedule?

VISITING

• What are the visiting hours?

• Are pets allowed in?