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Welcome to 'Looking for Care' Care home
standards vary throughout the UK, and we know it can be difficult and
frustrating finding the right home to suit your personal requirements.
This section sets out to offer assistance in helping you find a quality
home of your choice, with some suggestions to reassure your confidence
in making the right decision. However,
if you would like to talk with a trained advisor, please call the: Our
Philosophy But before making any final decisions, you need to consider all your options. Some people may be able to remain at home with support from social services or community nursing. Private care agencies offer additional services - but a word of caution, full time care is expensive, and does not provide a solution for loneliness or isolation. Although becoming scarcer, another option is sheltered housing. Your local social services department will advise you concerning the availability of accommodation in your area. You are entitled
to a medical and financial assessment in order to establish your care
requirements, any allowances you are eligible for, and your ability to
pay. For further confidential information and excellent free advice about
meeting the cost of care, we recommend you contact: Although all homes fall under the category 'care home'. generally, a residential home is expected to provide the level of personal care that you would expect from a close relative. Staff are not required to be qualified nurses. However, a percentage of carers in each home should hold a professional qualification such as NVQ in health and social care, plus regular instruction in a variety of health and safety disciplines. A care home with nursing facilities provides all personal care, with the addition of qualified nurses to carry out specific treatments and procedures. People suffering from a long term condition or illness may require a nursing home to ensure they receive the appropriate care. All homes should offer attention to residents throughout the day and night. Medical assistance is provided through the individual's own GP, or in an emergency, 999 -casualty services. Care homes
must be registered with the appropriate local authority. They are inspected
regularly by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) to ensure
essential standards are maintained and their report is available for public
information. Location - Is the home in an area where you would choose to live? Are local amenities accessible and is it convenient for friends and family to visit eg. public transport, car parking etc. Size of home - A small home may appear more friendly and intimate, but make sure the business is sound and can maintain the standards you expect. Likewise, a large home may appear luxurious, but does the quality of care match up to its appearance? Remember, you are looking for a home, not a two-week holiday. You must feel comfortable with the surroundings. Always make an appointment to visit. It is unlikely you will see anything that could influence your decision by turning up unannounced and the proprietor or manager may not be able to give you the time and attention you require. Take someone with you, preferably a relative or close friend who knows you well and with whom you can discuss your impressions afterwards. However, the home has to be right for you. Compile a checklist of questions to ask and make notes during your visit. It is easy to become confused if you are visiting several homes in a short period of time. Some
suggested to cosider: Facilities Accommodation Catering Leisure
and Activities Personal
/ nursing care General Finally, and most importantly, would you like to live there? This list is comprehensive and isn't meant to scare you. They are just suggestions of questions you might want to consider. Perhaps you can pick out just the most relevant questions that are important to you and add them to your own list, to help you with your decision. Below are more details about the Classic Homes symbol of quality care and what you can expect if you decide to choose an accredited Classic Home. Classic
Homes For example, the emphasis at a Classic Home will be to ensure the overall comfort and health of each resident remains the ultimate priority, and this is reflected through the genuine warmth and dedication of the highly trained management and staff. They understand the concerns and initial anxiety of moving to a care home, and are always there to listen and talk with individual residents. The extensive social and recreation opportunities, the wholesome and nourishing food (catering for individual tastes), and the pleasant surroundings all contribute to encouraging a healthy and contented lifestyle. But the standards of a Classic Home are high all the time, not just when you visit. You will immediately notice the friendly and relaxed atmosphere that really is like 'home', with no stuffy rules and regulations - only for staff! All care homes vary in character and depending on your individual preference, you can choose which home meets your personal needs; that is, the location, size of room, decor, gardens, and of course the price, but if the home also carries a Classic Homes accreditation, you can be assured that the quality of care and attention, will complement the happy atmosphere to give you total peace of mind. After all, it's what the Classic Homes symbol stands for.
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