How to Choose the Right care for you or a loved one

January 17, 2022

Choosing the right care is an incredibly important decision and a highly individual one. There are a myriad of factors that need to be taken into consideration from what kind of care is required to financial means and family support. These are our top 10 tips to help you make that decision:

1. Understand that this is about retaining independence and quality of life, not about having your choices taken away from you. With the right care support, you might be able to continue with your usual routine in your own home. Ignore the issues, and a crisis situation might occur which will take some of the choices away from you.
2. Have an open and honest conversation. This can be difficult and emotionally charged. If you’re a relative, then it’s important to ensure that the person who needs the care realises they are still in control (you can read our blog post on Discussing your care needs for more help with this). It is also important that you are honest with yourself and recognise the areas in which you need help. Everyone needs help at different times. It isn’t something to be embarrassed by.
3. Involve a professional. It might be that a professional, such as a GP or social worker, has instigated the discussion about care, but if not then it is a good idea to get their advice about what level of need you, or your loved one has.
4. Do your research. There are several different options open to you from occasional home help, to regular care visits, live in carers, care homes, and nursing homes.
5. Look at your finances. If you are in Jersey then you may be able to get some funding from the government’s Long-term care scheme.
6. Look into the care agency/home staffing policies. Staff who work for a company which invests in their ongoing career, and welfare, are more likely to attract and retain staff. Continuity is important. For example, LV Care has its Care Academy which ensures all its staff receive ongoing career training.
7. If you’re looking at home care, check to see that they are registered with the right regulatory authorities??? and ask how they draw up care plans and keep records of ongoing care. Ask to be shown their charges and contracts. Are these transparent and clear? Ask about cancellation or the need to pause visits temporarily if you or your loved one goes away or into hospital for a short period of time.
8. Is full-time live-in care an option? It can be the next step from regular care visits at your own home, to going into a full-time care home. There are, however, often financial or living arrangement difficulties with this option, plus you need to ensure that should the carer be unavailable, such as when they have time off, or perhaps even resign, that somebody is available to take over.
9. If you are looking at a care home, don’t just look at their online information or brochures, visit the home. Marketing can create a nice glossy image, but you need to get a feel for the environment and staff.
10. If you are looking at Care Homes, make sure it has the right level of care and facilities for future needs, as well as immediate requirements. Dementia patients in particular, find it difficult to make changes and so they will be less distressed if they don’t have to move their home six months, a year or two years down the line because their increasing care needs require it. Look at the home’s inspection reports?? and staff turnover. What social activities does it arrange, and is the environment a stimulating and relaxing one?

At LV Care we are ambassadors for independence and the preservation of quality of life. If you would like to discuss your options for either care in your own home, or in one of our premium residential and care homes, then get in touch and we’d be happy to help.