Our top tips for finding the right care home
The UK care homes sector is worth almost £16 billion a year, with around 410,000 people currently in living in 11,300 care homes. With these kind of numbers, finding the right care home can sometimes feel like finding a needle in a haystack with so many practical and emotional considerations to take into account – location, cost, care quality and standards. The nature and quality of care your loved one receives will have a huge impact on their health and happiness so it’s important to take the time to choose carefully. We hope these simple steps will help to steer you in the right direction.
What kind of care is needed?
This is an important starting point. In our previous blog, we explained the differences between a care home and a nursing home. Which one you choose will depend on the level of care required but you should expect most homes to undertake an initial care assessment with the person entering care, often with input from family or friends, social workers, care managers or their GP.
Choose the location
Once you have an understanding of the type of care required, you need to consider whether your loved one would prefer to stay in the same area or move closer to family or friends to make it easier for them to visit or provide additional support. Once you have identified the best location, you can start to narrow down your search and draw up a shortlist of homes, using Google or an online search directory of care homes.
Check quality standards
The established independent regulator for care homes in England is called the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and their role is to conduct regular inspections of all care homes to ensure they meet government standards and can help identify any areas for concern. At this stage it’s useful to read the reports of your shortlisted homes and if possible, some third party reviews, which are often available online (eg. www.carehome.co.uk)
Visit and meet the team
It is important to find a home from home environment in which you or your loved one feels comfortable so make time to visit all the homes on your shortlist. Get a feel for each place – look around, meet the manager, talk to staff and residents. Ask about the expertise, recent training and qualifications of staff. See if you can have a meal with residents – do they seem comfortable, alert and interested in what is going on around them?
Cost
The cost of care can vary hugely depending on the level of support required, so ensure you discuss the costs thoroughly with each care home manager to ensure you have a full understanding of what your care will cost. There may well be some options available to help fund the support you need so explore what your entitlements might be too.
Settling in
When you do find the right care home, moving in can be the start of a positive new life; making new friends, taking up new hobbies or rekindling interests that weren’t possible without the help of friendly and supportive staff.
At Birchwood, there’s always the option for potential residents and their families to enjoy a tour of our beautiful manor house and grounds, take a look around one of the 31 en-suite bedrooms, sample a meal in our sunny dining room, take part in one of our many activities – and of course meet staff and residents to find out more about life at Birchwood.
Other articles you may like
- Slow cooked beef casserole
We love Nicky Corbishley’s take on a lighter version of this classic British dish. It’s become a staple over the summer and our resident’s have enjoyed the fresh variation, which makes use of crisp vegetables and couscous. - Why routine matters later in life
As we grow older, familiarity often becomes increasingly important. Small daily routines – whether it’s enjoying a morning cup of tea, reading the newspaper after breakfast, tending to the garden, or listening to a favourite song before bed – can provide comfort, confidence, and a reassuring sense of normality. - Kentish Treacle and Lemon Tart
Chef John always creates the most delicious desserts, and he hasn’t missed with this one either. The mouth-watering Kentish lemon tart has not disappointed and is super easy to make. We have taken inspiration from BBC Good Food. - How can we protect our residents in the sun?
A few years ago, we’d be lucky to see a summer that would hit mid-twenty degrees. July would usually fall between 19°C to 23°C, and whilst it would be hot, it was nowhere near the mid-thirties! - Chicken Caesar Salad
Chef John’s salads are always a hit, so here’s another variation on a timeless classic. Chicken caesar salad uses little ingredients to create maximum flavour, and the dish is easily customisable to whatever you fancy. We’ve taken inspo from BBC Good Food for this one. You can also boost this dish with extra veg, like cucumber, carrot, radishes and tomatoes. In this heat, veg with high water content (such as lettuce) is also great for staying hydrated. - What are the different roles in a care home?
At Birchwood, everyone plays their part. We take so much pride and care in the work that we do, and knowing we can make a difference in our residents’ lives makes all the difference. We genuinely care about our residents, and the connections we make is what makes us so special. We make sure every resident can enjoy their time here, and feel cared for every day with loving, qualified staff. And because our team is nothing short of exceptional, we thought it’s time to introduce everyone! Here, we want to spotlight all the different roles in our care home, and just how each person supports our residents’ wellbeing. - How can we support adults with neurodiversity?
Neurodiversity is increasingly talked about in care, especially when it comes to meeting emotional needs. And whilst it’s so good to see this happening, sometimes older adults are left out of the conversation. Focus tends to be on children, particularly for school support and early diagnosis. - Pistachio and Honey Crème Brûlée
The Pistachio and Honey Crème Brûlé offers a sumptuous take on a timeless dessert, balancing comfort with sophistication. Hidden beneath its signature, shimmering caramel crust is a silky custard, enriched with the warm, floral sweetness of golden honey. - Prawn and chorizo pasta
This prawn and chorizo pasta offers a perfect mix of sweet and smoky flavour. The prawn brings a lighter, more delicate touch, whilst the chorizo gives the dish a richness. Plus, the fat from the chorizo is great for creating the sauce base! This one is from BBC Food and it’s super easy to prep and make, mixing lots of flavours in a way that feels warm and comfortable. Perfect for spring!
