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It is a fact of life that we will all grow old one day. Life can move at a rapid pace, and you may find that your older relatives are showing noticeable signs of advanced aging if you only get to visit them occasionally. It can be a tough decision to make, when you realize that the time has come, for your elderly loved ones to be moved to a care home. Everybody wants their elderly relatives to keep their independence for as long as possible. But when mobility and health problems become more apparent, the best course of action, can be to relocate them to a care or assisted living home where they can a get the extra help they need. Care or assisted living homes are full of professionals trained in aged care, workers must complete a certificate in individual support (also known as CHC33015) before they can start work. This ensures a high level of care for your loved ones.
It can be difficult to choose the ideal care home for your loved ones, but by following some of these key tips, you can ensure you make the best choice.
Location is key
One prime consideration when choosing a care or assisted living home, is its location. Ideally it should be within a short distance from relatives who will visit the most. Your parents may already have a care home in mind that fits their needs – it’s of paramount importance to discuss this all together. If your parents are in a home that is too far away, it will become difficult the visit them regularly, and they may start to feel isolated. A journey by car of more than one hour, is likely to make regular visits more challenging, so it is good practice to sit down together and explore the care home facilities available in the local area.
Listen to Residents
When you have narrowed down a list of potential care homes in your locality, the next vital step, is to determine what the existing residents think about living there. A well-run care home, will allow visitors to take a look at the facility and talk to residents to find out their views. One key factor in all excellent care homes, is their transparency in what they have to offer. They will be pleased to show you around and be proud of the services they provide. If you are unable to visit all the potential care homes in person, another option is to read up on their websites. The websites of care facility providers such as Brandywine, include testimonials from residents and relatives, that indicate high levels of service are provided to residents. Researching can also give you insights into what a typical day for residents looks like.
What activities do the care homes offer?
Elderly people need to do daily activities to keep their minds and bodies stimulated. An excellent care home, is one that provides its residents with a range of recreational activities that are designed to interest and inspire them. Programs providing gentle exercise to music, are great for keeping residents active, and games such as bingo, are great for social interaction. There may also be materials on site to encourage artistic endeavours, and a wide selection of books, to encourage reading to keep their minds more active. If there are a wide range of enjoyable activities on offer at a care home, it is another practical demonstration of a well-run facility.