Simple (but important) things to remember about choosing a care home

Making the decision to move a loved one in to a care home can be a daunting process. 

 

You may find yourselves looking at lots of different homes before finding ‘the one’, and sometimes it’s hard getting all the information you want out of an initial visit. With that in mind, we’ve put together some simple points for you to keep in mind when it comes to viewing and shortlisting the homes. 

 

Does it suit their needs?

Does the home offer the care that your loved one requires? Commonly potential residents will take part in an assessment to determine the level of care that they need and if they will require more specialist treatment, such as for those living with dementia, from there the home will be able to advise if your family member is able to join them.

 

What do they have on offer?

It’s all well and good finding a beautiful home, but you want to make sure that your loved one is going to enjoy living there. This is where the home activities team can explain what the homes will have on offer to keep your loved one occupied and social. At The Burlington, our activities team create a varied and fun calendar for our residents, from quiz nights to flower arranging sessions.

 

What’s included in the price?

We provide an all-inclusive service to give our residents and their families peace of mind. Boutique Care Homes provides compassionate care combined with a unique level of all-inclusive hospitality. Our transparent pricing policy makes it easy for everyone to understand exactly what's included. There are no hidden extras, meaning your loved one can focus on enjoying life in their new home. Our fees are subject to fair usage to ensure that we can meet all of residents’ requirements.

 

What is their CQC rating?

Every care home in England is regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The CQC inspect and monitor the services that the homes provide, ensuring that they meet the standards of quality and safety. Each home will have a CQC rating – Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement and Inadequate – the home will also have an inspection report that you can read to help you make your decision.

 

Remember that first impressions count

Finally, try to remember how you felt when you walked in to the home for the first time. Did you feel at ease from the moment you walked through the doors? Were you greeted by a member of staff who was on hand to answer any initial questions you may have?