Moving Into a Care Home

Choosing and encouraging a loved one to make the right choice when it comes to moving into a care home can be an incredibly difficult conversation. It’s an emotional decision for everyone, but it’s also natural to have doubts about whether you’ve opted for the best conclusion.

If you think your loved one could have a better quality of life by moving into residential care, this guide can hopefully offer the reassurance you need.

If day-to-day life is challenging

If your loved one is forgetting to carry out some daily tasks or is starting to find them more challenging, they might benefit from moving into a care home. However, if there are family and friends nearby who are willing to help assist with some of those challenges, it might not be time for a nursing 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 tasks, 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 moving into residential care.

Could we start with a short-term stay?

If you’re doing all you can to help your loved one, but meeting all of their needs is starting to feel overwhelming, sometimes a short 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:

• Door frames, steps, rugs, or loose carpets can be trip hazards.
• Kitchen and heating appliances without automatic shut-offs that present a carbon monoxide or fire risk.
• Slippery bathroom fittings without grips and supports.
• Lack of security and ways to call for help.

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 as though you’re stuck inside in one place and it’s then easy to be out of touch with day-to-day life.

In this case, moving into a care home is a fantastic idea: 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.

Where to Start When Putting a Loved One in Care

Sometimes when you sit down for a cup of tea with your loved one, they’ll tell you straight that they’ve been considering moving into residential care. 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 support, arranging visits to different homes, and backing their choice will help you both know you’re taking the right decision.

What if They Won’t Consider Moving into a Nursing Home?

If your loved one doesn’t want to consider moving into a care home and they’ve not received 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 the 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 into a care home or shorter stays from time to time.

If you’d like to talk through the options available when it comes to recognising when it’s time for a residential home, 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.