New care home guide from Age Concern
22/09/2008
New research by Age Concern reveals that two thirds of people over the age of 45 say they are not sure how to arrange care for themselves, a friend or a relative because they do not have the knowledge or experience to do so.
Age Concern's new book "Find the Right Care Home" can help older people, family or carers to consider all the options to weigh up when considering a move into a care home. The book is divided into 10 sections that can be read from cover to cover as step-by-step guide or dipped into as needed.
Choosing a care home is an important decision, often made at a crisis point such as a after an accident or an illness when it might be difficult to know what to do for the best. Family members or carers may feel guilty about making the suggestion that a loved one may not be coping on their own.
Because people do not know what to look for in choosing a good care home and it can be difficult to get the information needed to make the best choice, this process can be more stressful than it needs to be. Knowing what to do and what to look for can be a huge relief to both those needing to move into a care home and their carers.
Find the Right Care Home is written by two experts who have both professional and personal experience of needing to find a care home - Rosemary Hurtley and Julia Burton-Jones. It is illustrated by Punch cartoonist David Langdon - the oldest working illustrator in the UK at 95 years old - and the foreword is written by actor Richard Briers.
In the foreword, Richard Briers writes: "When looking ahead to our later years, most of us don't plan to spend time in a care home. In fact, it may be something we aim to avoid. ... This book is about turning an experience we may fear into a positive choice."
Some things to consider with the person moving into care are:
1) Care needs. An assessment by the local authority adult care services and/or primary care trust should help you to decide what support you need to stay in your own home or move into a care home.
2) Care home options. Find out if the care home provides personal care, nursing care and/or specialist care and if this meets your needs and matches the service you want to get.
3) Care fees. Care home fees can be a shock. Your local authority or primary care trust may pay some or all of the fees depending on your circumstances when you are assessed. If you pay the fees, think about what you can afford in the long term - the average care home place costs about £30,000 per year.
4) Get recommendations. Talk to friends and relatives who have looked for a care home for their recommendations. Also check the care home's rating with the Commission for Social Care Inspection (www.csci.gov.uk ).
5) Visit the home. This is a vital step towards deciding if you could be happy living there. Speak to the staff and to the residents - don't be afraid to ask them questions such as those in Age Concern's free "Care Home Checklist" (www.ageconcern.org.uk or 0800 00 99 66).
6) Location. Check out what amenities are near by, such as a local library, park, shops, and public transport, and think about how near it is to the people who you want to keep links with.
7) Facilities. Consider what facilities are important to you, such as ensuite rooms or if there is a garden, as well as practicalities such as the quality of care, food and cleanliness.
8) 'Home from home'. Ask if you can bring your own things such as pictures and furniture, or even your pet. Think about if the day-to-day routine suits how you want to live and if you feel comfortable with the other residents and staff.
9) Contracts. Check that terms of the contract are acceptable and legally correct. It should set out what is included in the fees, the deposit, what extras you will have to pay for, what notice is required and any charges made if you go into hospital or if you die.
10) Expert help. Seek out organisations that can help you. Elderly Accommodation Counsel or the Relatives and Residents Association offer independent information and advice on care homes, as well as Age Concern.
Title: Find the Right Care Home
Authors: Rosemary Hurtley and Julia Burton-Jones
Illustrator: David Langdon
Forward: Richard Briers
Price: £9.99
Binding: Paperback
Extent: 220 pp
Publication date: 1 Sept 2008
ISBN: 978-0-86242-428-2
To order, go to Age Concern's website, linked below or call 0870 44 22 120.