Care homes

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Fees per week Quality rating* £ £ £

We suggest that you take paper with you when visiting care homes so that you can make notes. You can download and print this checklist at www.carechoices.co.uk/checklists

Staff

What is the minimum number of staff that are available at any time? Are staff respectful, friendly and polite? Do staff have formal training? Are the staff engaging with residents?

Activities

Can you get involved in activities you enjoy? Is there an activities co-ordinator?

Does the home organise any outings? Are residents escorted to appointments? Do the residents seem entertained?

Does the home have a varied activities schedule?

Life in the home

Is the home adapted to suit your needs? Can you bring your own furniture? Are there enough plug sockets in the rooms?

Are there restrictions on going out? Is there public transport nearby? Does the home provide any transport? Can you make/receive calls privately? Can you decide when to get up and go to bed? Does the home allow pets? Does the home use Digital Care Planning accessible to families? Personal preferences

Is the home too hot/cold? Can you control the heating in your room? Is the décor to your taste? Are there restricted visiting hours? Is there somewhere you can go to be alone?

Does the home feel welcoming?

Catering

Can the home cater for any dietary requirements you may have? Does the menu change regularly? Can you eat when you like, even at night? Can you have food in your room? Is there a choice of food at mealtimes?

Is alcohol available/allowed if you want it?

Can visitors join you for meals?

Fees

Do your fees cover all of the services and activities?

Are fees likely to change regularly? Is the notice period for cancellation of the contract reasonable?

Could you have a trial period? Can you keep your room if you go into hospital? Can you handle your own money?

All care homes and agencies providing care at home in England must be registered with the independent regulator, the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The CQC inspects every care home and home care agency, publishing a report along with a quality rating. CQC quality ratings must be displayed at the operator’s premises and on its website.

You can also find inspection reports and ratings for all services on the CQC’s website (www.cqc.org.uk ).

Types of care home

It may have been suggested that you need to move into a residential care home, because of an accident or an increase in your need for daily support, but this may not necessarily be the right decision. You should explore the other housing options available to you, seek advice, and make the right decision for you. See the information beginning on page 44 for alternative housing options to residential care.

Care homes without nursing

If you are finding it increasingly difficult to manage at home or in the community and need greater security and care, a care home may be the best option. Care homes can help you with maintaining or developing your independence, being part of the community and doing meaningful activities that you enjoy. Care homes can also assist you with bathing, dressing, moving, eating and drinking.

It is a good idea to have a care and support assessment from adult social care before you choose a care home to ensure it is the best way to meet your needs, see page 15 for more information about assessments.

Care homes with nursing

A care home with nursing provides the same care and support as a care home but with 24-hour nursing staff on hand. You will need to be assessed by adult social care or Health to determine your eligibility and needs. You will be fully involved in planning for your care needs.

If, after a needs assessment, a care home providing nursing care is the best solution for you, a social care worker will give you information to help you find a home which meets your care requirements. The cost of the nursing care part of your fees may be paid by the NHS to the home directly, the current amount is £187.60 per week. This figure may change over the lifetime of this Directory, please use it as a guideline only.

For help with finding care homes and care homes with nursing in your area, visit this Directory’s website at www.carechoices.co.uk

Activities in care homes

The word ‘activity’ can imply many different things but, in the context of a care home, it should mean everything a resident does from when they open their eyes in the morning until they go to sleep at night. Activities should stimulate residents emotionally, physically and mentally and, in a good care home, should encompass all aspects of daily life. They can range from choosing what to wear, to helping with tasks around the home or garden, to listening to the radio or joining in with an art or exercise class. Above all, activities provide a point of interest, fun and challenge to each day. They should enable people to participate in daily life, be engaged and maintain hobbies or activities they have enjoyed throughout their life, as well as offering the opportunity to try something new, if they wish.

Lots of care homes now employ a dedicated activity co-ordinator. What they do and how they do it varies from one home to another. Increasingly, they are fully integrated into the staff team, play a key part in developing care plans and ensure all staff appreciate the part they play in delivering high-quality activity provision. Ensure you speak to any potential care providers about the activities they provide in their care home before making any final decisions.

Care homes and care homes with nursing are regulated by the Care Quality Commission and all can say they support people living with dementia. However, there are ways they can demonstrate a focus on dementia care, have training in supporting people with dementia and make their home dementia friendly.

Some newer, purpose-built homes have family-sized units or gardens you can explore. Some homes will have cabinets outside of your room, containing your personal items enabling you to recognise your room. Some homes have rummage boxes filled with items to look through, some may be period items, these can be useful for reminiscing.

When looking at a care home, it’s important to consider what activities are provided. Meaningful daily activity can really help you to engage and have a good quality of life. There should also be group activities you can choose to be involved in – such as music, dance and exercise. The options are endless and should be developed with you, and other residents in mind. A good care home or care home with nursing will support you to make your own daily decisions. This may be as simple as choosing what you’d like to eat or wear that day or helping you to perform day-to-day tasks, like laying the table, folding the washing or gardening. This is relationship-centred care with person-centred outcomes – these simple approaches to daily living can help you to maintain control over your life.

Most people will want to be fully involved in your life if you move into a care home. A good home will ensure that your carer and close family are involved as much as possible in your care. If your carer feels that the home is not involving them as much as they would like, they should speak to the manager, who should value their input and knowledge of your condition and should see them as a partner in your care and support.

The Best in Care

Avery Healthcare offers a safe and supportive environment where residents can flourish, make new friends, maintain contact with their local communities and live a life of possibility.

• Residential, respite and dementia care • Nutritionally balanced seasonal menus • Spacious, beautifully decorated bedrooms • Safe visits for family and friends • Stimulating schedule of daily activities and entertainment • Highly trained staff teams

Hinckley House Hinckley 0116 4042025 South Lodge Leicester 0116 4042026