Stone Life February/March 2014 | Page 51

CARE HOME ACCOMMODATION Get advice on making the right decision over care home needs inding the right care home accommodation can be a tricky decision with a number of issues to consider such as the type of home‚ how to identify the right home for you or a loved one, and funding of care home placements. On their website, the charity organisation Age UK offers a wealth of helpful information on this topic including a useful fact sheet and a Care home checklist that can be downloaded with the key things to consider when you visit a care home to see if it is suitable including: Making a decision about going into a home; types of care homes; questions to ask when choosing a home; and Problems and complaints. Visit www.ageuk.org.uk for more details. Moving to a care home may seem like a big step, but they can offer the opportunity to form new friendships and provide a safe, comfortable place to live. Care homes are staffed 24 hours a day and all meals are provided. Care homes sometimes ‘‘ F provide nursing care too, so make sure what levels of care are provided before you or a loved one move. How you pay for a care home also depends on your personal situation. The local council may be able to pay all or part of your fees if your capital and savings are below a certain limit. There are also two main types of care home to consider. Some offer accommodation and help with personal care – activities such as washing, dressing and going to the toilet, others provide those services and also offer nursing care. Until recently these two types of care home were classified as ‘residential homes’ and ‘nursing homes’. The names of many homes still reflect this. There are also care homes for those who require extra care and support, often due to dementia. The Alzheimer’s Society can give advice to people with dementia and their carers and family on what to look for in a care home. It also gives information on suitable homes. ‘‘George cares about his painting. We care about that. At Hilderstone Hall it’s all about quality of life. We know how important hobbies and interests can be. That’s why we support the people we care for to continue their love of cooking and baking. We even have our own inter-home cooking competition, Cooking with Care, judged by celebrity chef – Paul Rankin! • Nursing / residential care • Day care • Social and physical activities • Dementia care • Respite care & short breaks • Physical disability care Rated Excellent Proud to be Dignity in Care Ambassadors by the CQC How can we help you? Why not call us or drop in for a chat over coffee or lunch? Hilderstone Hall Care Home Hall Lane, Hilderstone, Stone, Staffs ST15 8SQ Tel: 01889 505 468 www.barchester.com February/March 2014 51