Choosing A Care Home: How To Arrange For The Satisfactory Long-term Care Of An Elderly Dependent Or Relative

190 Pages·2004·9.79 MB·English

by  Mary V. Goudge

Choosing a
CARE
HOME
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Choosing a
CARE
HOME
MARYV. GOUDGE
howtobooks
Published by How To Content,
A division of How To Books Ltd,
Spring Hill House, Spring Hill Road,
Begbroke, Oxford 0X5 1RX. United Kingdom.
Tel: [phone]. Fax: [phone].
email: [email protected]
www.howtobooks.co.uk

All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or stored in an
information retrieval system (other than for purposes of review) without the
express permission of the publisher in writing.

The right of Mary V. Goudge to be identified as the author of this work has
been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act 1988.

© Copyright 2004 Mary V. Goudge

First published in paperback 2004
First published in electronic form 2007

ISBN: 978 1 84803 017 6

Cover Design by Baseline Arts Ltd, Oxford
Produced for How To Books by Deer Park Productions, Tavistock
Typeset by TW Typesetting, Plymouth, Devon

NOTE: The material contained in this book is set out in good faith for
general guidance and no liability can be accepted for loss or expense
incurred as a result of relying in particular circumstances on statements
made in the book. The laws and regulations are complex and liable to
change, and readers should check the current position with the relevant
authorities before making personal arrangements.
Contents
List of Illustrations ix
Acknowledgements xi
Preface xiii
1 Essential Requirements for Residents 1
Residents who need nursing care 2
Residents who are blind 2
Residents who suffer from deafness 3
Disabled residents 3
Elderly mentally infirm residents (EMI) 4
Terminal illness 4
Respite care 6
2 Assessing Your Relative's Needs 8
Making notes 8
Personal details 8
Physical needs 10
Psychological needs 13
Spiritual needs 15
Hobbies and activities 15
From home to home! 16
Leaving their spouse 17
Leaving a partner 17
Care manager (social worker) 17
Dealing with death 18
Checklist 19
Nellie's story 20
3 Dementia, Alzheimer's Disease and Care Homes 27
Dementia 27
Alzheimer's disease 28
Care for patients with Alzheimer's disease 34
Mrs Brown's story 36
V
vi / CHOOSING A CARE HOME
4 Different Kinds of Residential Care Homes 39
Buildings 39
Warden controlled flats 40 40
Residential care homes 41
Nursing homes 42
A complex 42
5 Care Home Facilities 45
Studying the brochures 45
The size of the home 47
Room sizes and suitability 49
Facilities 51
6 Gathering Information 56
Finding out where care homes are located 56
Visiting homes 58
Rules 67
Inspections and certificates 67
Checklist 69
7 The Finances 71
Involving Social Services 71
Comparing fees 72
The financial assessment 74
Basic fees 77
Paying the accounts 79
Applying for a grant 80
Sarah's story 83
8 Food and Drink 86
Meal times 86
Menus 88
Meals and refreshments for visitors 91
Sweets, chocolates and biscuits 91
Special diets 92
9 Paying a Second Visit 95
Why make another visit? 95
Preparing for your second visit 96
Visiting the second time 98
Checklist 100
CONTENTS / vii
10 Prior to Admission 101
The matron's visit 101
Self-funding 102
Reserving a room 103
Preparing the room 103
Installing a telephone 105
Date and time of admission 107
Receiving the contract 109
What to do before admission 110
A true story 120
Checklist 121
11 Moving In 122
Dealing with emotions 122
New experiences 124
Coping with new routines 125
Taking your relative on holiday 128
12 Meeting New People 130
Who your relative will meet 130
Official visitors 140
Moving 143
13 Overcoming Difficulties 145
Stress 145
Grieving 147
Moving in - the first few hours 149
Changing routines 151
Making complaints 153
14 Things You Need to Know 155
Useful information 155
Spirit lifters 160
Deterioration of health and dying 161
Mrs Winters' story 163
Useful Addresses 167
Useful Web Sites 169
Index 173
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List of Illustrations
1. Checklist 1 59
2. Comparison chart first visit 61
3. Sorting the information 62
4. Sample Residents' Charter 70
5. Qualifying for funding 76
6. Sample fees list 78
7. Sample grants application letter 82
8. Food on a plate relating to clock numerals 89
9. Sample of a weekly menu 90
10. Checklist 2 97
11. Comparison chart for second visit 98
12. Basic clothing required 114
13. Suggested toiletries 115
14. Methods of marking 116
15. Ways of marking personal prostheses,
equipment and property 117
16. Making a complaint 154
ix