Thursday, September 22nd, 2011

Top ten tips: Choosing a care home

There are numerous factors to take into consideration when coming to a decision on your future care.

1 Do your research.

Remember, hopefully this will be your home for a long time, so make sure you'll fit in. Do you want somewhere that has its own putting green or allotments, somewhere that allows pets, or do you want access to health professionals such as a physiotherapist?

A good place to start is to look at the Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland website (www.scswis.com). Services are given a rating out of five, so it is worth investigating a home's latest report to see how it has fared in areas such quality of staff, environment and care. Also ask around for recommendations from people in your local area.

2 Visit the homes

Even if you have no plans to move into a home straight away, visiting nearby homes will mean you can make a positive and informed choice. Making the visits unannounced will also ensure that you feel you are seeing the home as it really is. Involving members of your family is also a good idea.

3 Put your name down

You can ask to go on to a waiting list for the home you prefer. If a place becomes available and you're not ready to move, you don't lose out by saying no. The place will still be available to you in the future; you are simply reserving your spot on the waiting list.

4 Try before you buy

Some homes offer respite care, allowing you to stay for short periods before a permanent move. Not all homes do this and many don't advertise it, however, if there is a room available they will often welcome you for a short stay (normally at least one week). You will be charged, but it can be worth it to get a break from the hassle of life at home, and will allow you to see first-hand what service the home provides and speak to residents, as well as getting to know the staff and environment.

5 Look at your finances

Making provision for care home expenses is a serious matter and it is important to seek professional advice - the earlier the better. Financial planning should also include putting in place a power of attorney (PoA) so that your matters can be dealt with should you be unavailable or become incapacitated.

A PoA becomes your legal representative and will ensure that your wishes in terms of care provision and financial matters are carried out.

6 State help

If you live in a residential care home you will need to pay towards your costs. Capital of less than £13,750 will not be taken into account.

Capital can be savings, income, investments and property.

If you have capital of more than £22,500, you will not be entitled to any help. If you have less than £22,500 savings, you will have to contribute to your costs. If you can't pay your accommodation and living costs out of your income and/or savings, you may have to sell your home to meet the costs.

7 Get a referral

You may not want to get the social services department involved, but without an assessment, you may not receive the free personal or nursing care allowances. They don't have to pick the home for you, but help with finances shouldn't be turned away. If you are a pensioner, it is likely that you will be eligible for "free" personal care from the Scottish Government, which covers the cost of your care to a certain level. The assessment can be arranged through your doctor. However, anyone can make a referral for an assessment. 

8 Location, location, location

Will you be close to friends and family? While you will have more company in the home, nothing beats visits from loved ones. Some homes provide accommodation for visiting relatives and this could be important to you.

9 Ask everything

Care homes do not want an unhappy resident so ask about everything before you move in, rather than find out it doesn't work later. Take the family and make sure they ask everything they want to know too. Some homes get residents involved in picking colour schemes for bedrooms through to taste-testing the menu.

10 Consider the alternatives

Sometimes care at home is not much more expensive and you may feel much happier staying in familiar surroundings. The direct payment system brought in by the government for care at home means that you can control how the money due is spent or even add to it to secure the level of care provision you would prefer. Again, refer to the SCSWIS website and ask for personal recommendations as you would do for a care home.

From the Business.Scotsman.com website by Lianne Lodge. To view please follow this link: http://business.scotsman.com/business/Top-ten-tips-Choosing-a.6839796.jp?articlepage=1

Topics: Care, Health