Caring for your loved one can take time, especially when it comes to finding one that suits your budget. However, it is not impossible to find the right level of care with the price point. In this article, we will be providing you with 6 simple steps to finding the perfect care home in Guildford.
Take Your Time
One of the worst things you can do when narrowing down your options for care homes is rush. This is why we recommend that you take your time when making important decisions. This will allow you and the rest of the family to talk about your options, look at the facilities and make sure that it is the right place for your family member.
Keep Your Loved One As Involved As You Can
If possible, it is important to make sure that your loved one is involved as possible. Allow them to look at the care homes with you and make a decision on which they would potentially want to live in. Though this is not always possible for those, that have dementia or other illnesses, it is important to keep those that can as involved as possible. This will lessen the anxiety around them moving and allows them to feel involved in the process. Whether this is in the initial search or just narrowing down the shortlist, this is likely to leave everyone feeling happier about the process.
Where To Start When Looking For A Care Home?
It can seem daunting when it comes to finding a care home due to the sheer number of them out there. However, a tailored Google search can be enough to narrow down some of the options to a local area. A simple search for a care home in Guildford can be enough to give you direct contact information for some of the leading care homes in the area. From there, you can then begin to narrow these down based on the price as well as the level of care that they providing.
Arrange To Visit The Care Home
When you have narrowed down a top three or a top-five it is then time to organise visits. During these visits, you should arrange a meeting with the home manager and maybe even some of the staff. This is a great way of gauging how nice they are as well as making sure that they are friendly and welcoming. Whether you decide to visit the home alone or with your loved one, this is a great way of getting insight into the home.
Look At CQC Reports
The CQC reports are also just as important when choosing a care home as they are an official report written upon inspection. They not only report the findings of the last inspection, but they also give the care home a rating. This rating can then be used to decide which care home is right for your loved one and which should be avoided.
Consider The Different Types Of Funding
The final element to consider is the different types of funding that can be used to ensure your loved one’s care is covered. There are three different types of funding on offer and these are as follows:
Public Funding – This is when the NHS or a local authority is responsible for funding the care of your loved one. This will need to be applied for in advance to qualify.
Self-Funding – This is where you are responsible for funding the care of your loved one on your own.
Mixed Funding- Mixed funding is when you take some funding from the CHC (NHS) Or the local authority as well as your own money. This is often used by those that can afford the majority of the costs but need help to cover the final little bit.
With this in mind, there are several elements that you should consider when deciding for the perfect care home for your loved ones.