How do you choose a home?
Choosing a care home which is right for you
It is important that you choose a home that will be right for you. Some of the things to consider and some essential information you should be aware of is shown here.
- Is a care home the right choice for me?
- Can I choose to go to any home?
- Questions to ask
- What documents can I ask to see?
- Can I visit the home before making a decision?
- What should I think about when choosing a home?
- What about payment?
- What happens if my care needs change?
- Other useful information
Is a care home the right choice for me?
There may be other options that you can consider too, such as care at home or extra care housing. If you want to stay in your own home, maybe one of these solutions will be better suited to you.
Can I choose to go to any home?
You are free to choose any care home as long as the care you need is provided and you can pay the costs that are charged by the home.
You should always check the latest report by the Care Quality Commission for a care home to help in making a choice.
You can download a list of all care homes available within Salford from the bottom of this page.
If you don't want to move away from family and friends, choose a home that is local to you and is easily accessible to those who will be visiting you.
Questions to ask
Before you visit a home it is a good idea to write down a list of the questions you would like to ask. A number of organisations produce a checklist of questions someone might want to ask before choosing a home.
Questions that are often asked include:
- Are there any extra charges I would be expected to pay?
- Can I keep my existing GP?
- Can I keep and administer my own medication?
- Can the home meet my dietary needs?
- Is there a smoking policy?
- Does the home cater for my language and cultural needs?
- Is there public transport to the home?
- What links are there with the local community?
- Can the home cater for my religious needs?
- How will I get to know what activities or outings are happening?
- Can I bring my own furniture or equipment into the home?
- If I bring my own TV will I be able to get cable/satellite channels?
- How can I keep valuable items secure?
- Can I adjust the temperature in my room?
- Can I bring my pet?
- Is there a garden or an area to sit outside?
- Are there any restrictions on visiting times?
- Can I take visitors to my room?
- What are the arrangements for making or receiving telephone calls?
- Can I get access to the Internet or to email?
- What standards can I expect?
What documents can I ask to see?
Each home must by law produce a service users’ guide which includes a statement of the service provided. This will tell you what you can expect from a home and what to do if you have a complaint.
You can also ask to see a copy of the most recent inspection report from the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
After an inspection by the CQC has taken place, a report is written about the home which is available to the public. You can contact the CQC and ask for a copy of the report, or you can get a copy from their web site.
Before you move in, a written contract should be made with the home. If you are paying the fees yourself, the contract will be between you and the home. If Social Services is contributing to the fees they will make the contract with the home (called the Placement Agreement), but you should receive a copy.
You should ask to have anything you do not understand explained to you.
Can I visit the home before making a decision?
Yes, if possible you should visit any home before making a decision to move there. The staff at the home will expect this. You may wish to visit more than one home, and you may like to take a friend, relative or anyone else who has an interest in your care with you. You may like to ask if you can visit at a meal time and eat with the residents. In some cases it may be possible to have a trial stay.
To arrange a visit you should normally contact the home direct, but if you have difficulty with this your care manager will assist you.
What should I think about when choosing a home?
For most people and their families, it will be important that the home seems to be well-run, welcoming and comfortable with clear arrangements in place to help new arrivals settle in as quickly and easily as possible.
When you visit the home take a good look around. Talk to staff and other residents, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. You are about to make a big decision; a good home will understand this and will be happy to tell you anything you want to know.
Staff in the home
The staff who look after you are a very important element of the care home experience. If they are positive, friendly, welcoming and respectful to residents, this is also likely to mean that they will provide a good quality of care to residents.
You should expect to have a key worker. A key worker is a member of staff who takes a special interest in you and helps you to settle in to the home. They will show you around and introduce you to other residents and staff. Your key worker will help you in making decisions about how you want to live in your new home.
For example, finding out what time you prefer to get up, what social activities you would like to take part in and what food you like. They will also want to get to know you better, and find out about your past and the things that have made you the person you are today.
Your key worker will also be a help to your family and friends as they adjust to your new home and will keep them informed as you settle in.
Staff at the home should consult and involve you about a range of things. Most importantly they should talk to you regularly about the care you require and check that your needs are being met.
Other ways that homes involve residents are:
- Through residents’ groups who get involved in organising social activities
- Organising regular residents’ meetings to consult with residents about any changes that may happen in the home
- Ensuring that, as well as the official complaints procedure, there are less formal ways of making comments or suggestions
- Involving the families of residents in the running of the home
It is important for you to maintain as much independence as possible.
Consider how easy it would be for you to get around the home on your own. Look at things like lifts, steps, handrails, grab rails in bathrooms and how the emergency call system operates.
If you have visual or hearing difficulties, does the home have any facilities to help with these? If you use a wheelchair, what is the access like?
Remember that your needs may change over time.
When you visit the home it’s a good idea to chat to other people who are living there.
- are they positive about their experience?
-
are there other residents from the same sort of background as you?
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are the activities that take place at the home things you’d enjoy?
What about payment?
All homes should give you information in writing about the fees they would charge you (and what these cover) before you make your final decision.
Fees will vary from one home to another and may also depend on your assessed needs. The home fees should include the services which are provided for everyone living there:
- meals and hot drinks
- laundry
- heating
- cleaning
You may be expected to pay extra for optional items such as:
- hairdressing
- toiletries
- newspapers
- telephone calls
- dry cleaning
- chiropody
- physiotherapy
- outings or other leisure activities
Some homes provide rooms with different levels of facilities. You may have to pay extra if your room has, for example, its own bathroom, a private telephone or even a better view than other rooms in the home.
When you are living in a care home, you are still entitled to the same NHS services as people living at home. This could include things like:
- chiropody
- physiotherapy
Your written contract should confirm what the fees are and what is included.
If you are assessed by a registered nurse as needing nursing care, that part of your care should be provided by the NHS. This means that you will not have to pay the part of your fees which covers your nursing care yourself, whether or not you are paying for your personal care yourself.
If you have complex health needs and need regular supervision from NHS staff you may be eligible to have all your care costs met by the NHS. This is referred to as ‘continuing NHS care’.
What happens if my care needs change?
At the time you move into a care home, that home will make an undertaking that it can meet your needs. However sometimes a person’s care needs change over time, and may become more complex. This may mean that the home you are living in is not appropriately registered or skilled to provide adequately for your increased needs. If this happens the home has a duty to advise you of this and ask that you make alternative arrangements for your care. Support is available from Social Services where this situation arises.
If you have to move to another care home, and your care is paid for in full or in part by the local authority, the care home will normally have to give you at least 28 days notice that you will need to move to another care home.
Other useful information
Here are some organisations which could help you choose a home and tell you more about the financial arrangements:
AgeUK
Telephone: 0800 169 6565
Email: contact@ageuk.org.uk
Counsel and Care
Telephone: 0845 300 7585
Email: advice@counselandcare.org.uk
Care Quality Commission
Telephone: 03000 616161
Fax: 03000 616171
Email: enquiries@cqc.org.uk
National Carehome Association
Telephone: 020 7831 7090
Fax: 020 783 17040
Email: info@nationalcareassociation.org.uk
Mencap
Telephone: 020 7454 0454
Fax: 020 7608 3254
Email: information@mencap.org.uk
This page was last updated on 28 June 2011
