Choosing Residential, Nursing or EMI Care
Need help with paying for care? Complete our enquiry form for a free, no obligation, initial consultation.
Firstly...
If you’ve had a section 47 assessment from your local authority social services department, you should know the type of care required. Essentially there are five types of care and you need to choose the one most appropriate to your needs.
Care at Home
Residential Care Homes
Care homes with nursing
Residential EMI (Elderly Mentally Infirm) Homes
Care Homes With Nursing for the EMI
There are also Dual Registered Homes where you may have residential and nursing care available on the same site, or residential and emi care.
Once you know the type of home required...
For example, if you like gardening, are you allowed to tend a patch of the garden yourself? Some homes have raised beds just for this purpose.
Here are some other things to consider...
Can you take your own furniture and personal items into the home?
Do you like the type of food they offer? Is there a choice? Can they cater for any dietary requirements you have? Can you eat in your room if you wish?
Are hot drinks available when wanted?
Do you want regular trips out? Does the home have it’s own transport?
Do you want to join in with regular activities?
Do they have places to be quiet and read outside of your room?
Are there a range of lounges and places to sit where there isn’t a TV on?
Are the rooms large enough? Do they have nice views? Are there en-suite facilities?
Do you want religious services?
Do you want a regular entertainment programme?
Does the home have pets or allow you to take your own pet?
Do you want a home that is modern and purpose built, or a more characterful older property that has been converted?
The Visit
Before arranging a formal visit it is always advisable to pop into a home unannounced to see how it really operates. If the home is unhappy about this or unwilling to show you around, ask yourself why that might be. Also have a think about the following:
How does it smell? (it’s a cliche but sadly too true of many homes)
Is it clean?
Do the residents look well dressed and happy?
Does it appear that the residents are encouraged to retain their individuality?
How do the staff treat the residents? Do they talk to them with respect?
Does it appear to be a happy environment?
Is there a garden and can the residents use it?
Ask to see the Service User’s Guide. This should tell you about the policies that the home operates.
This article about what to look for in a good care home, written by a care home owner, may be useful on.
Alternatively you might prefer to have a carer living in your home so that you can stay amongst everything that is familiar. Please see our section on homecare.
Where would you like to go now?
Post a comment