Knowing where to start can be bewildering. The first step is to consider factors outside the range of personal choice.
Assessment
You, or your loved one, will most likely have already been assessed by a medical professional, to determine your level of need. This will indicate whether you need rest home care, hospital care or dementia care, as well as the level of care you need within those categories.
Vacancies
Whether you are looking for rest home or private hospital accommodation, your choice is limited by what is available at the time.
Making a choice
Having excluded a number of possibilities because of assessment, and availability, the next step is to determine suitable homes or hospitals from those that are available. The most important consideration is to find a home that will suit you. You may wish to think about the following:
- Location: For a variety of reasons, it may be important the accommodation is near to those who will do the most visiting.
- Resident mix: Some people prefer a single sex rest home or hospital, while others prefer a mix of men and women. Married couples may wish to check on the availability of a double room.
- Size: Some people enjoy the bustle of a larger place, while others prefer to be in the company of a smaller group of people.
- Single or shared rooms: A number of people request a single room for privacy, while others enjoy the company another occupant can provide.
Viewing the home/hospital
Having narrowed down your choices, the selection process becomes more personal, and this is where a visit to the home or hospital is essential to ascertain such things as:
- The 'feel' of the place
- Are the manager and staff welcoming and friendly?
- Do the residents or patients appear happy and well cared for?
- Does the manager address you directly or speak past you to your relatives?
- Are the residents treated with respect and understanding?
- Is privacy respected?
- What activities are there? Are people engaged in a variety of activities?
The Environment
- Is it clean, warm and comfortable?
- Look at the kitchen, living areas and dining room, as well as the showers, toilets and bedroom. Check for size, storage space, heating, call buttons and the distance from the toilet.
- Which items may be brought from home to personalise your room?
Medical services and personal care
- Can you have your own doctor?
- How many hours a day is a registered nurse on duty?
- Check on the frequency of bathing and laundry arrangements.
- Availability of commodes, catheters, insulin injections, wheelchairs etc.
- Do physiotherapists and speech-language therapists visit?
- If night care is needed, make sure the home provides staff on duty, not just on call.
Care and companionship
- What other services are available? For example, minister, activities officer, hairdresser, podiatrist, library, entertainment and outings.
- Are there extra charges for any of these services? Does the rest home have a list of what is provided?
- What is the menu like? Are your preferences catered for? Is there breakfast in bed?
- How flexible are things such as visiting times, bedtimes and the availability of refreshments?
Specialist dementia units
If you are viewing a dementia or Alzheimers facility providing a secure environment, enquire about what kinds of activities are provided for the special needs of residents. Staff in these homes should be trained in this specialised area of care. Things you may want to check are:
- The kinds of activities provided for the special needs of residents.
- Whether key relatives or former carers are able to be involved in making or revising care plans
- How challenging behaviours are managed
- Whether there is a written policy on restraint and if so how it is monitored
- Secure areas and the amount of oversight for residents
What does the residential care subsidy cover? Generally, the subsidy includes such services as meals, laundry, nursing care, house doctors' fees, pharmacy charges etc. Most homes and hospitals will gladly supply you with a list of what is included for your fees and what is not.