Sponsored post by Dovehaven Care Homes
With our 40 years of experience as care providers, Dovehaven understands that selecting the right care home requires careful thought and is often a daunting, if not emotional, decision to make.
Let our years of experience guide you through the process.
We thought it helpful to share and discuss the three key areas which in our view require careful consideration. They are Why a move to a care home would be needed? Which home would be the right care home to meet the care needs to be required? How to fund a care placement now and into the future.
Why a move to a care home might be needed?
Various issues, health together with practical, may lead individuals or their loved ones to consider a move into a care home.
Whether it’s assistance with personal care and medication, the certainty that a varied healthy diet is enjoyed and maintained, lessening mobility is increasing the incidence of falls when alone, or the very need for company and support when living with memory loss or isolation; a residential care home can likely care and support in all such instances.
For more complex medical support, where the support of a nurse during any 24-hour period is required, a nursing home would be the place to aim your search for care. Potentially, new residents to care homes might be discharged to a nursing home following a stay in hospital following a crisis at home, or when a lifelong condition can no longer be managed by a community team of nurses because of increasing frailty or following a major health emergency such as a stroke, life-limiting diagnosis, heart attack or any other serious medical issue.
Determining whether moving to a care home is the right decision for a person living with dementia is maybe a less challenging decision-making process. If you can relate to any of the following points, it might be time to start looking into dementia care home now, with all the benefits that bring:
- Worries over security and safety living alone
- Incidents of falls
- Missed medication or medical appointments
- Interrupted continuity of care by home care agencies
- Long periods without support, such as overnight
- Isolation
- Family members and loved ones without ‘peace of mind’.
- Dependence on neighbours to maintain home living
Choosing the right care home
An individual’s own care needs decide which care homes should be considered.
Assessment of care needs can be requested from a social worker from your local authority, a hospital social worker before discharge or requested from the home you think you would like to consider for care. Any home manager will need to assess if their care team can meet care needs, and their assessment will support that decision. Assessments from social workers determine the care needs of each individual but, also go further to support the funding of that care with a financial assessment, as the local authority may fund the care placement (please move to the Funding section for further details).
However, once care needs are understood, then the search can begin. Location is key, as are personal preferences and wishes, and availability at your home of choice, but our best advice is to visit a home and meet those who can tell you more about their home and provide both care and all hospitality and support services.
Considering the location of the care home is important, as many individuals prefer to stay close to their current homes to support visits from loved ones and maintain social contact with those they know. Residents are encouraged to continue pursuing the social activities, hobbies, and interests that they enjoyed before moving into the care home. However, some individuals choose to move closer to their loved ones for easier access to visits and support.
Advice for Couples
At Dovehaven Care Homes, we understand that moving into a care home can be a difficult decision, especially for couples who have spent decades together. It is common for one partner to become the full-time carer for the other, and the thought of living apart may be heart-wrenching. However, there are situations where additional support is necessary to ensure both individuals receive the care they need and deserve. Dovehaven Care Homes aim to provide compassionate care to both, whether they have different care needs or require additional support.
We strive to accommodate and support couples to the best of our ability, offering personalised care plans that ensure they can, if possible, continue living together.
Funding
As care needs are a very personal thing, so is the funding of a care home placement. While we cannot provide financial advice, we can certainly signpost families in the direction of some excellent resources to assist with the understanding of the financial support available to all. The rules around the funding of care homes are decided by the government and there is a criteria around who pays their own care home fees, and who does not.
An excellent source of information is available from Care Funding Guidance, a not-for-profit organisation that will assist you with all of your financial questions. They have a very handy downloadable brochure (http://www.carefc.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Live-in-Care-Brochure_WEB.pdf) which provides comprehensive guidance on funding care. Remember, it’s always essential to seek independent financial advice from professionals specializing in long-term care to assess your specific needs and explore the most suitable funding options available to you, should you believe that you will be funding your own care.
When it comes to funding options for care home fees, it’s important to explore all available resources and gather accurate information. Other information sites include those who have served in the armed forces, they are The British Legion website (https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/stories/legion-welcomes-grant-for-care-homes) which offers valuable insights and updates on grants for care homes, which may provide financial assistance. Another resource worth exploring is the SSAFA website (https://www.ssafa.org.uk/derbyshire-1/derbyshire/latest-news/help-with-care-home-fees), where you can find information on potential support options for care home fees.
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