Finding somewhere that feels right
Choosing a care home
Choosing a care home is about more than finding somewhere that can meet someone’s needs. It’s about finding a place where they can feel safe, comfortable, and at home.
If your loved one has complex needs, this guide can help you understand what to look for and what questions to ask.
Start with the person
Think about what your loved one needs now, what could change in the future, and what’s important to them as a person.
This could include their nursing and health needs, mobility, communication, or support with everyday life.
But it’s just as important to think about who they are – their routines, relationships, interests, and preferences, and what helps them feel comfortable and settled.
Not sure what type of care they need?
Look beyond the building
A home can look impressive and still not be the right place for someone.
When you visit, notice how the home feels as well as how it looks.
- Do people seem comfortable and at ease?
- How do colleagues talk and interact with people?
- Does the environment suit your loved one’s needs?
- Does the pace and atmosphere feel right for them?
- Are there spaces where they can spend time with others or have some quiet time?
- Can you imagine your loved one feeling at home there?
Ask how their care will work
For someone with complex needs, it’s important to understand how their care will work day to day – and what happens if their needs change.
When you visit, you might want to ask:
- Who will be caring for them, and how will the team get to know them?
- Is nursing support available 24 hours a day?
- How are staffing levels decided around their needs?
- What experience does the team have of supporting similar needs?
- What happens if their needs change?
- How can our family be involved and kept updated?
Think about who they’ll live alongside
The right home is also about the people your loved one will be living alongside.
Different homes and units have different groups of people, routines, and atmospheres.
At Exemplar Health Care, we consider this as part of our pre-admission assessment.
We look at whether the care, environment, and people they’ll live alongside are a good fit – not simply whether there’s an available room.
What happens next?
If you’re considering Exemplar Health Care, you don’t need to decide everything on your own.
Our Referrals Team can help.
