Choosing and encouraging a loved one to move into a care home can be incredibly difficult. It’s an emotional decision for everyone, but it’s also natural to have doubts about whether you’re making the right decision.
If you think your loved one could have a better quality of life, have less to worry about at home and would generally benefit from having support on hand at all times, then this guide may be the reassurance you need.
If day to day life is challenging
If your loved one is forgetting to do some daily tasks or starting to find them more challenging, they might benefit from moving into a care home. Sometimes though, if there are family and friends nearby who can help with some of these challenges then it might not be time for a care home just yet.
What do people often struggle with?
Usually we hear about things like dressing, shopping, grooming, cooking, cleaning and washing – or, more simply, chores and personal care.
For a lot of these it’s possible that friends and family can help. If you’ve booked your shopping for home delivery, you might add some extra items to share with your loved one, or you might bring a load of washing back after your visit.
With 6.5 million of us caring for loved ones in the UK, it’s likely you’re doing some things like that already. If the level of support needed increases, that would be when you need to start considering a care home.
Could we start with a short term stay?
When you’re doing all you can, but meeting all your loved one’s care needs is just a little too much or starts to feel overwhelming for friends and family members, sometimes a break is all you need to catch your breath.
Short term stays, called respite care in our industry, are available and we often hear that just a little bit of time to yourself is a real help. These short stays are really useful and we often have loved ones for a couple of weeks in the summer holidays, or after an operation to ensure they receive all of the care they need, without any long-term commitments. You can find out more about our respite care here.
Their home is at risk of becoming unsuitable
While performing everyday tasks can become more difficult, the prospect of maintaining a house and gardens can quickly become worrying and unsafe.
Normal items around the home which may become causes for concern, are things like:
They are at risk of becoming socially isolated
Sometimes even with extra care from friends and family members popping in, your loved one may become more socially isolated and lonely. While it’s lovely to have people popping in, it can become frustrating to feel you’re stuck inside in one place and it’s then easy to be out of touch with day-to-day life.
Here care homes are fantastic: giving all of the care your loved one needs, as well as the chance to make new friends and being able to share stories and conversations with like-minded people. On top of that care homes have a huge array of activities that residents can take part in, including things they might not have done for years like flower-arranging or bread making.
They want to move into a care home
Sometimes when you sit down for a cup of tea with your loved one, they’ll tell you straight that they need to move into a care home. Reaching this decision on their own makes the entire process much easier and ensures a much more comfortable life for your loved one.
If your loved one has already suggested moving into a care home, offering them the support arranging visits to different homes and backing their choice will help both know you’re taking the right decision.
And what if they’re not keen to move into a care home
If your loved one doesn’t want to move and they’ve not received a care needs assessment recommending a move, you have to respect their wishes. Lots of care homes offer day visits and respite care: both of these options are good ways to show your loved one what a care home can offer, in case they change their mind in future.
Summary
Choosing to move into a care home is a big decision with many different factors to weigh up. The decision ultimately is what is best for your loved one. Whether that’s moving to a care home, or shorter stays from time to time.
If you’d like to talk through the options available, please get in touch with our team. We’re more than happy to talk through the different options, make recommendations based on your situation or arrange a visit to our homes if you’d like.
