Moving to a care home – 10 ways to get it right.

Moving into a care home can be as traumatic as bereavement –it is a life changing experience and its impact should not be underestimated.

Here are 10 ways to help you make the right decisions.

1. Most importantly - do you really need a care home or could you manage at home? Contact Social Services and get an assessment, this is free and everybody is entitled to one. You will get a professional opinion on whether staying at home is an option and if not, whether a residential or nursing home would be more appropriate. Carers are also entitled to an assessment.

2. How are you going to pay for the care? This is worth considering early on as quite simply it could affect which care home you are able to live in. If your assets are in excess of £23,250, including your home (unless you leave behind a spouse or dependent under 16) then you are classified as a ‘self funder’ and will need some financial advice to work out what level of fees you can afford and what allowances you may be entitled to.

3. Now you are ready to start looking for a care home that most suits your needs. Care homes are rated by the Care Quality Commission, the independent advisor for Social Care. They are rated by stars, 0 -3, with 3stars being the highest rating. The rating does not reflect the price of the care home but the standard of care being offered and I would recommend you start with the 3 star care homes.

4. Take a list of questions to ask the care home and visit as many as you can that cater for your needs. There is a lot to be said for instinct and how the home immediately makes you feel – a welcoming smile and fresh smell are good starting points.

5. Preparing for the move is an important task, both for the prospective resident and their relatives. Be aware that a move into residential care changes your identity from ‘householder’ to ‘resident’ and removes you from your usual day to day activities. If you are looking on behalf of somebody else, make sure you include them in as many decisions as possible so that they feel in control of their situation.

6. When you have chosen the home that most suits your needs it might be useful to spend a little bit of time getting used to it before you move in. If circumstances permit go for lunch a few times in order to orientate yourself and meet the residents and staff.

7. Make a list of items that need to be taken into the home; clothes, toiletries, radio, TV, favourite chair, photos – the list is endless and of course depends upon the size of the room – make sure you know how much space you have before packing. If you are helping somebody else ensure that you talk to them to find out exactly what they would like to take in with them. Look at where they usually sit and on bedside tables, the items that are positioned nearby may well be the items that would be most missed if not taken to a new home.

8. When moving in try and introduce yourself to the other residents. It is also useful to work out, if you have been unable to do this prior to your move, where all of the facilities are and what time lunch and supper starts. Make sure you have a watch or clock that you can read to ensure you don’t worry in the early days that you are missing a meal or event.

9. When your relatives visit you encourage them to get to know other relatives and residents – sharing experiences or concerns, or simply having another face to chat to all work towards a more positive experience.

10. Finally, embrace your new home. Make the most of the activities and new friends. The success of your new home will be reflected in your attitude towards it.

Debbie Harris is a Dignity Champion who owns www.best-care-home.co.uk an online register of 3 star care homes, including information on Questions to ask a care home, Preparing for the move, Are you sure you need a care home? Her site also publishes personal recommendations of the homes.