Professor Graham Stokes, Director of Dementia and Specialist Service Innovation at HC-One shares his experience and knowledge about choosing a dementia care home.
Where do I start?
We understand that choosing a dementia care home for you or your relative can often be a difficult and overwhelming decision.
The need to move to a care home often happens during a sudden health crisis or following a deteriorating health condition, or when the demands of caring are overwhelming and families have reached breaking point.
The first thing to do is speak to your GP who will be able to listen to your concerns and provide advice on the next steps you need to take. It may be that your loved one has never had a diagnosis, and this is the essential first step. This can often happen when someone has dementia.
If you or someone you care about has received a diagnosis of dementia, your local Social Services department can arrange a formal assessment of needs, for both the person living with dementia and their caregiver. You can get in touch with Social Services by phoning your local council and asking for ‘Adult Social Services’. They will talk you through the options available, which may include:
● Arranging support at home
● Getting in touch with a local support group
● Referral to a care home
Importantly, they will establish if you are eligible for care and support under the terms of the Care Act. This might also lead to a financial assessment to determine if you are eligible for any financial support toward the cost of care.
What type of care do I need to look for?
If your Social Services department has recommended a referral to a care home, they will be able to advise on what type of dementia care home you or your relative would benefit from.
There are different types of dementia care homes: residential dementia and nursing dementia care homes. Each provide different levels of care to suit the needs and preferences of each individual. Our dementia care homes are designed to be dementia-friendly, supporting each person’s individual needs in a comfortable and homely setting.
Understanding the different
types of dementia care homes will help you choose which type of care home would best suit your needs or the needs of your loved one.
●
Residential dementia care homes are designed for people who don’t need 24-hour nursing care but are unable to fully manage their own daily and personal care needs and are unable to live independently.
● At our
nursing dementia care homes a qualified nurse is always on site to provide 24-hour clinical nursing care for people who, due to a specific condition, disability or advanced stages of dementia, require assistance with daily living and at times of agitation and distress may need skilled support.
At HC-One, our dementia care homes provide a sense of community, where residents benefit from person-led care from an experienced care team. They will also be supported with personal care and are encouraged to build and maintain relationships, with a wellbeing programme that is carefully designed so residents can enjoy their hobbies and interests, in addition to visits out into the local area.
How do I choose the right location?
Once you know the
type of care that you or your loved one requires you can think about location. Many residents prefer to remain within their local community and the area they know well. Alternatively, some people may opt for a care home closer to family members, which may mean relocating to a new area so that family and friends can visit more easily.
The
find a care home search tool on our website enables you to search for HC-One care homes nearest to a post code, the results can be displayed as a list or on a map. The next step is to create a shortlist of preferred care homes that are in your chosen location and meet the care needs of you or your loved one.
What should I look for in a care home?
Reading impartial reviews from residents and family members on platforms such as carehome.co.uk is a good way to research the quality of services delivered in the care homes on your shortlist.
The independent regulator for care homes in England the
Care Quality Commission inspects all care homes to ensure they meet government standards. In Scotland, the regulator is the
Care Inspectorate and in Wales it’s the
Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW).
Next steps
The next step is to arrange visits to your shortlisted care homes, have a look around, meet the team and speak to residents and their family members that you may meet.
All of these little steps will help you decide if that care home is right for you and your loved one.
Once you have chosen a care home, it can be beneficial for the person living with dementia to be introduced to their care home before moving there, so that they can become familiar with the surroundings. Many care homes will happily support this to make the transition to a care home as smooth as possible.
At HC-One our dementia care homes are places where people living with dementia are supported to make every moment of every day count.
To find out more about dementia care at HC-One, visit our Dementia support and advice hub for families.