There often comes a time in life when you realise a loved one needs extra support – care that you might not be able to provide 24/7. That’s where a care home comes into play. Care homes offer around-the-clock support for those who need it, ensuring residents are safe and comfortable.
Of course, there are different levels of care within that. Some residents might be fine living mostly independently but would benefit from home-cooked meals and not having to clean their space because of mobility issues. Others might need more hands-on care due to a condition like dementia. So, how do you know what level of care is best for your loved one? This guide will help you.
Understand Your Loved One’s Needs
The first step is understanding the level of care your loved one needs. If you’re their closest friend or family member, you should have a good idea of this, but it’s best to speak with your loved one directly as there might be some things they struggle with that you didn’t know about.
Can they go to the bathroom on their own? Are they able to cook their own meals? Do they sometimes fall? These questions will help you understand the level of care they need. Keep in mind that there are types of care specific to certain conditions – for example, if your loved one has dementia, you should be looking specifically for dementia care from care homes.
Browse Care Homes
Once you understand the level of care your loved one requires, it’s time to begin researching care homes, and you can do this from the comfort of your own home, as most have websites. Pay specific attention to the level of care they offer. Often, homes will provide the following types of care:
- Residential Care
- Nursing Care
- Palliative Care
- Dementia Care
- Respite Care
Hopefully, the website will be specific about the level of care they provide. For example, Signature at Reigate Grange Care Home is very detailed when it comes to listing the types of care they offer.
You’ll be able to see what they provide support for (including personal and palliative care), as well as the disabilities they support. Reading this will show you whether the home can accommodate your loved one. It’s a fast way of determining whether you should pay the care home a visit or if it simply isn’t the right one for you.
Visit the Homes
Once you have whittled down your search to a couple of care homes, it’s time to visit them in person. This step of the process will be the most enlightening. While researching care homes online gives you a lot of information, it doesn’t tell the whole story.
When visiting, it’s important to speak to a manager there to understand the level of care they’re offering to ensure it matches your loved one’s needs. At this point, you can ask all the questions you have, such as whether they provide 24/7 nursing care or if they offer more independent living situations.
Find the Right Level of Care for Your Loved One
Finding the right level of care for your loved one is crucial to their quality of life. You want to be sure they have the best team of caregivers and nurses around them to suit their specific needs, whether they have something like Parkinson’s disease, or whether they just need some help with meals and cleaning.
