Choosing a care home during lockdown

Choosing a care home prior to the COVID-19 era was already a difficult and challenging task, but in these unprecedented times, it is even harder than ever.  No longer can you visit multiple homes, let alone sample the food or sit in on some activities to get a feel for the place.

It is natural to worry about whether your loved one will be safe considering the pandemic, whether you will be able to adequately keep in touch, what the visitation rules are, and whether your loved one will have to ‘shield’ in their room on first arrival.

Families looking for care today have a huge number of extra things to worry about, so we have put together an article to help you approach this task in a methodical and structured way.

What is the home like?

This used to be an easy question to answer. On average when choosing a new care home people look at about ten online, call five and then visit three. After this lengthy process we would choose one out of the final three, but as we all know, that is no longer possible.

Many care homes now have a virtual show around which can give you a real insight into what a home looks like. Some even have the facility to let you ‘virtually’ into the home and show you around and explain all about the home as you go.

Does the home have time to talk to me?

This is a huge decision, and you need a home that treats you well and takes time to help you through the process. If they do not have time to support you before you move in, that should be a warning sign.

Many homes employ people specifically to support new families in navigating the often confusing world of care. First impressions are important and trusting your instincts can help you make the right decision.

What will life be like in the home?

Asking about all aspects of the home i.e. activities, food, care or even laundry will help you to picture daily life there. You will want to know what your loved one’s day to day life will be like, so ask as many questions as you need to. Again, it is not the same as visiting the home and really getting to know it, but most care homes will have provisions in place to allow you as good a tour as possible.

Do they follow the rules to the letter?

Many of the rules involving the safety of care home residents can be unpopular with potential new families. For example, not wanting your loved one to stay in their room for two weeks after admission (due to COVID-19) is perfectly understandable.

However, in order to comply with the government guidelines, care homes have to follow the rules, and therefore for the safety of all residents, new residents do unfortunately have to shield for the full 14 days.

For more information or if you wish to discuss care for your loved one please email care@greensleeves.org.uk