What to consider before you start looking for a care home
/Choosing a nursing home for a loved one can be a daunting and overwhelming experience. How will you know the home is right for them? What sort of care do they need?
Before you can start viewing potential homes, there are a few practical aspects to the process you need to consider. From what types of care are available to how much a home costs and how to pay for it, we answer some of the more fundamental questions we often get asked about our homes.
Once you’re ready to visit potential care homes, read our guide on some of the questions to ask at the viewing.
Get in touch to book a viewing at our care homes.
What type of care do you need?
Before contacting a home, the main thing to find out is if it offers the right kind of care that you need. Generally, care falls into two areas: nursing and residential care.
Nursing Care
The main difference between the two is that nursing care homes will have a registered nurse on site 24 hours a day, supported by healthcare assistants. So if you require some form of medical care, such as wound dressing or administering injectable medication, then you’ll need a nursing home. Nursing homes also offer end of life care, which avoids the need for a hospital and provides a more comfortable environment for this.
Similarly, if someone currently has support from a social worker, nurse or doctor, or is being discharged from a hospital into the care home, they will need a home that offers nursing care. And, if a person has Funded Nursing Care (FNC) in place already, then they’ll also need a nursing home with registered nurses.
We offer full nursing care and we’re experienced in end of life care at both of our homes, Hill House and Westside.
Residential Care
If you don’t need this level of medical assistance, then residential care is fine for you. Residential care homes will have healthcare assistants to help with the day-to-day activities and personal care, such as getting washed and dressed, eating, and entertainment, and are usually the right option for the elderly or those with reduced mobility. Residential care can sometimes also be known as ‘elderly’ or ‘personal care’.
Read more about the types of care on offer at Hill House and Westside.
Are you looking for long-term or short-term (respite) care?
Most residents move into care homes on a permanent (or at least long-term) basis, which is why choosing the right home is so important, and it’s essential the resident understands this too.
However, many homes do offer ‘respite’ care too, which is short-term for up to six weeks, usually to give the family a break from care, or to take a holiday. More and more, respite care is often used as a trial for a home before moving in long-term. If you are looking for respite care, you’ll need to find a home which offers this, and it’s worth noting that respite care tends to cost more than a permanent place.
How much does a care home cost?
Most care homes are priced on a weekly basis and the cost can vary greatly, but generally expect to see rooms priced between £900 - £2,000 per week.
Bear in mind this figure might (but doesn’t always) include the Funded Nursing Care (FNC) contribution from the NHS, currently £187.60 per week. If you need nursing care, then you are eligible for the FNC contribution, which is paid directly to the nursing home and will be deducted from your total price.
There may be additional costs such as an upfront administration fee or deposit, which the home should explain to you before you commit. In some cases where the resident has complex care needs or requires extra staff support, there might be additional charges. Again, the home will be able to give you a breakdown of the total costs they charge.
Get in touch to book a viewing and find out about our current availability at Hill House and Westside.
How will you pay for the care?
There are usually three ways to pay for a care home.
Privately (self-funding)
The total fees are paid by the resident, or their family, usually from savings or the sale of a property. A council may offer a ‘12-week property disregard’, where they will pay care home fees for 12 weeks, while a property is sold.
Local Authority (Council)
If the prospective resident has savings under £23,250 (including property), the Local Authority will contribute towards their care. However, depending on the home and the type of room, a council might not be able to cover the total fees so a top-up agreement will be set up. Then a third party (usually the family, but not the resident) pays the remaining fees. The resident’s own income e.g. a pension, can contribute towards the Local Authority payments, but not the top-up.
NHS Continuing Healthcare
In some cases, usually for end of life care for up to 12 months, the NHS will pay the care home costs. This is called Continuing Healthcare and is set at a capped amount. Some homes don’t offer this due to the rate paid by the NHS.
What’s the CQC status of the home and can you read its latest report?
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent inspector and regulator for all care homes, inspecting homes every 2-3 years (less during Coronavirus).
They inspect homes and evaluate them in five areas to determine if they are: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. They’re then rated and the four levels are: Inadequate, Requires Improvement, Good and Outstanding.
When you’re looking at potential homes, you should always be able to see its latest CQC report, and the home has to display its rating on its website.
Once you’ve thought about everything above, viewing a care home is the best way to make the right decision for your loved one. You’ll be able to get a feel for the home and see what day to day life would be like, and ask the team there any questions you might have. We’ve put together a post on some of the questions to ask during a visit.
Get in touch to arrange a visit at our homes, Hill House or Westside.
