This is all new for us, so any tips on what to look for and what questions to ask when visiting homes would be so useful.
The last 3+ years have been so bumpy with constant UTIs, falls and neediness. She now has moderate dementia (Alzheimer's) and is in hospital with another UTI and all the crazy that goes with that.
Hubby, brother and us DiLs are so ready to hand over the reins to professionals. We visited a new place recommended by the hospital social worker today that was like a hotel (cinema, bar, salons, etc) - we quite fancied booking ourselves in😁 But I’m concerned we have missed something.
She has enough to fund a care home for a few years, so it’s important that we claim any benefits that she might be entitled to make her funds stretch as far as possible. Any tips most welcome - we are in the UK.
Go by your gut. If it doesn't look or feel right then eliminate it from contention.
Hospital social worker recommended one,? Automatic pass. When they do that there's a good chance the hospital has a vested interest in it, whether it's good or more often then not, low rated.
Good luck
???
Which I hope doesn't happen much!!!
Try to take note of how well staffed and how you see staff engaging. Ask about programs they may have. I would know more to tell you about an ALF I think than about Nursing Home. Ask to attend a meal. Look at cleanliness of the facility.
I think that if you visit several you, yourself, will begin to see differences. Wishing you good luck. I sure know less about the UK than about the USA.
Dot, what sort of hospital is this, what range of options did the social worker offer, and whereabouts in the UK are you, roughly?
The problem with a brand new place, depending on who built it, is that there will be no inspection reports from the CQC and you will be relying on the ability of the parent company to recruit good leaders and good workers. Given how bonkers the care sector is at the moment (we've been having a major recruitment drive. The team is now only 30 under strength) I don't think you can take that as a given, and it isn't only about the £/hr pay rate.
So a good question to ask would be about staff ratios - what would be acceptable in a dementia specialised unit.
Yes, I take the point about being too new to rate. SW suggested that we just drop in to places to catch them at normal activity, which we did and plan to keep doing.
They may be nothing more then a venture capitalist in the establishment but, it is a conflict of interest. That is often times hard to track because of corporations holding LLCs and that type of set-up.
All completely legal in some sectors and a bit fishy and borderline in others, especially the medical field. However, it is a lucrative business and it is common here.
That is what happened with the Doctor mom saw after her PCP "dropped" her, he was/is the NH doctor at several NHs, as well as being a PCP at the hospital. He would not see the patients at the NH he was affiliated at every day(probably the first time the patient was at the NH), he would send his Nurse Practitioner. He/she would come around, spend less then 5 minutes and leave. He could then bill for this visit.
The quality of care relies so much on the quality of leadership, is the thing. If the managers and team leaders in a home or centre don't individually believe in training, professionalism, and all of the other lovely concepts covered in the Care Act and the Code of Conduct, then the staff haven't a prayer, and workers become stressed, miserable and cynical. They can't do their job well even if they want to.
I wouldn't pay too much attention to cinemas and computer suites unless you also see residents using them, for example. The gardens might be lovely, but can people living with dementia access them safely and independently? - in one home I visited (which I really did love, though it wasn't an MHA place and mother never got to try it) there was a raised fish pool in the enclosed garden that you could walk round, see the fish and the planting and enjoy the sound of the water, but not climb or fall into. Look at how everything's been designed, ideally watch how it's being used in practice.
Other "tells": what questions did they ask about your MIL? Did they seem genuinely interested in understanding her personality? What did you think of how they interacted with the residents you saw? Were the staff pleasant and helpful to one another, as well as to residents and visitors?
Not sure how the entire conversation went with SW as BiL can’t remember everything that was said. We have asked for an assessment and written report.
TU Dot for saying u were from the UK or you would have gotten answers based on our health system here. Country Mouse and I think Tothill are both from the UK.
She has been in a couple of council run homes for rehab from hospital, which we’re so below the standard we are seeing for private care, it certainly has made us feel less anxious for her.
I THINK THE STAFF ARE THE MOST INFLUENCIAL FACTOR WHEN COOSING WHERE A LOVED ONE IS PLACED. THEREFORE, ONE THING I HAVE TOLD OTHERS IS PAY ATTENTION TO HOW MANY STAFF APPEAR TO BE ON DUTY. ASK FOR A COPY OF THE SCHEDULE DURING THE TOUR- COUNT THE NUMBER OF HOURS STAFF ARE WORKING. HOW MANY STAFF APPEAR TO BE ACTIVELY WALKING AROUND HALLS AND ENGAGING WITH OTHERS?
MORE IMPORTANTLY, CHECK HOW MANY STAFF ARE IN THE DINING AREA WHEN A MEAL IS BEING SERVED. MEALS CAN POSE HUGE SAFETY RISKS FOR MANY; MANY NEED ASSISTANCE OPENING CARTONS, CUTTING FOOD OR HAVE CHOKING RISKS JUST WITH SWALLOWING. ALL VERY COMMON SAFETY RISKS FOR THE ELDERLY. SO HOW MANY ARE AROUND DURING MEALS?
I THINK A WELL RUN AND SAFE PLACE FOR OUR PARENTS COMES DOWN TO HOW MANY STAFF AND HOW ACTIVE THEY APPEAR ON THE JOB. IT MIGHT SEEM LIKE COMMONSENSE BUT MOST ARE LOOKING AT THE ENVIRONMENT, THE SIZE OF THE ROOM OR TOO BUSY ASKING ABOUT WHAT PERSONAL ITEMS YOUR LOVED WHEN CAN BRING ON MOVE IN DAY.
THE STAFF WILL DETERMINE HOW SAFE, HOW ENTERTAINED, HOW HAPPY AND HOW HEALTHY OUR ELDERLY FAMILY MEMERS ARE WHEN YOU CAN'T BE THERE. HOPE THIS WAS HELPFUL.
A CALM AND SENSE CAREGIVER
Ive been her carer for 9 years and I'm physically exhausted now, my back and hip are receiving physio and mentally I'm at the end of my tether.
My mum isn't self funding so I can't help with that, but as I said don't just focus on how the place looks, read the care reports and good luck!