Choosing a Care Home - Independence and Choice

May 25, 2008 8:48 am RSS Feed Icon Eldercare

When choosing a care home for yourself or an elderly relative, it's important to find one that will enable you or your relative to remain as independent as possible. Just because you are living in a care home doesn't mean that you shouldn't be able to make your own choices about your care and lifestyle.

Decisions about Care

When you are admitted to a care home, the staff should draw up a care plan with you. This plan should be based on the Needs Assessment that you should have had before moving into the home.

The staff should involve you when drawing up your care plan, and you should be able to discuss your needs with them and tell them how much you want to be able to do for yourself. For example, you might want to be able to prepare some meals for yourself or be able to continue with activities that you do outside of the home. You might also want to remain registered with your own GP or hold onto your own medications. It's important to make a list of things that you want to do for yourself and discuss these with the staff.

When living in a care home, you should be able to see any records or information about you that the home has on file.

Decisions about Lifestyle and Activities

It's important that you can live your life the way that you want to when you move to a care home. Here are some things that you might want to ask the manager:

  • Can you take control of your daily routine? Can you get up and go to bed when you want to, take a bath without supervision, choose your own clothes, have food and drink when you want to or go out when you want to?

  • If the care home runs an organised programme of activities, can you choose whether or not to participate in these? Will you be able to continue with any existing activities, whether inside or outside of the home?

  • Can you lock the door to your room? Can you take your meals in your room if you want to? Can you have visitors whenever you want to and see them in private? Will you be able to refuse any visitors who you don't want to see?

  • Are the residents involved in decision-making processes and the home's activities etc? Is there a resident's committee?

  • Can you bring your own possessions into the home to make your room feel like yours?

  • If you have specific cultural or religious needs, will these be met? For example, will you be able to go to a religious service if you want to?


    • Decisions about Financial Matters

    When you move into a care home, you should be able to make your own financial decisions for as long as you want to or are able to. You should be able to access to your financial records and have consultations about your finances in private. Staff should not help you to make a will and are not allowed to benefit from residents' wills.

    It's a good idea to visit any care home that you are considering before you decide to move in and talk to the manager about your wishes. You can find out more about care homes in your area by using an online care home guide, make a list of the homes that sound suitable and then visit each of them before making your final decision.

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