Choosing A Care Home

Having provided care for many years we recognise that choosing a care home can be a daunting experience.

You may feel unsure of where to start – so we are here to offer a helping hand, ensuring that finding a care home is less of a hassle for you. At Field House, a reputable care home in Stourbridge, our highly experienced team is available to offer their best support and advice to both residents and their families.

To make the process hopefully a little easier, we have created this guide to choosing a suitable care home, covering aspects such as ‘what is important’ and ‘what should I be looking for’.

Deciding what is important

The transition into a care home should result in a significant and positive improvement in the overall well-being of a resident. It’s essential that you choose a residential care home that meets your individual requirements. Knowing which type of care you need is a great place to start when choosing a care home. We recommend that you seek advice from your local GP or hospital if you are unsure of which care type is required.

Below we have listed some key points to think about before choosing a suitable care home

● The type of care required and the specific care needs and wishes of the prospective resident

● The quality of care provided

● Accommodation – size, décor and feel of the bedroom and the facilities in the home overall

● Budget

Once you have decided what is important, it’s a good idea to research a number of care homes in your local area, like our care home in Stourbridge. Booking a visit should be straightforward and you should feel you can ask plenty of questions. Give yourself time to look around – this is a very important decision when choosing a care home and you should never feel rushed.

What should I be looking for?

In the process of finding a care home, consider the following:

● Is the home inviting, bright and pleasant?

● Are there accessible and secure gardens?

● Are the bedrooms spacious, well decorated and furnished with good quality furniture?

● Does the home have internet access and televisions?

● Can you bring your own furniture and decorate your room?

● Do I / my relative really need a room with an en-suite and can I afford one? if so can the home provide this?

● Are the staff friendly, polite and demonstrably caring?

● Are visitors made to feel welcome?

● Do the other residents look happy and content?

● Are the residents taking part in any activities?

● Does the level of care meet your requirements?

● Is the nurse call system responded to efficiently?

● Are the residents taking part in any activities?

● Does the level of care meet your requirements?

● Is the nurse call system responded to efficiently?

Dignity Factors

● Do staff and carers address residents as they wish?

● Is privacy upheld? – Do the staff knock before entering the room?

● Do carers treat residents with the same levels of respect they would family?

● Are residents given the choice to be as independent as they wish?

● Can residents choose their own bedtime?

● Do residents have input regarding their care plans?

Questions To Ask When Choosing a Care Home

Whilst visiting a care home in Stourbridge or elsewhere, you should be given the opportunity to ask as many questions as you wish and believe you should have quality time with the manager or their deputy. Here are some examples of questions to ask when choosing a care home that should give you a better feel for the home and help influence your decision.

● Do Chiropodists, Dentists, Opticians or any other therapists visit regularly?

● What choice of food is available on a daily basis?

● Are visiting times restricted?

● Can family and friends stay overnight?

● Are residents able to go out for the day with their families?

● Does a Hairdresser or Nail Technician visit the home regularly?

● Are there any additional fees?

About Field House

Field House Private Care Home provides high levels of support and exceptional levels of care to each of its residents. Our team of dedicated, compassionate and highly skilled carers work closely with residents and their families to ensure that individual requirements are met at all times. As a family-owned and run business, we take great pride in the high levels of care, quality accommodation and first-class services offered at our care home in Stourbridge.