The Beginning of a Care Journey
There are currently 944,000 people with dementia in the UK, and over 70% of people who currently live in a care home have some form of cognitive impairment, whether mild memory problems or a formal diagnosis of dementia.
With an ageing population, it is undeniable that an increasing number of elderly people and their families will, at some point in the future, need to consider a move to a residential or nursing care home.
Looking for a suitable care home often occurs during a period of additional stress, for example, because of deterioration in the health of a relative or due to a family carer’s illness.
The first port of call, wherever possible, is for an individual or their family to approach their GP to seek support, which may include referral to the Local Authority or Community Health Service to ensure the right kind of care home is identified. Once this is underway, families can begin the process of finding a suitable home for their loved ones.
At Avery Healthcare, we recognise that moving to a care home is a significant event for new residents and their families, as the move heralds new beginnings for everyone.
By asking the right questions, offering clear explanations, and thoroughly assessing the needs of a new resident, we can ensure that the right level of care is provided so that residents can continue to live their lives to the fullest.
The focus for care home staff is often initially directed towards getting to know new residents, finding their likes, dislikes, preferences, and establishing routines to ensure care plans are developed in a way that residents continue to live life as they wish.
Whilst the resident is, of course, of paramount importance, it is also essential that care teams maintain sight of and recognise the needs of families during this time. For many family members, this is their first experience of a care home, which can be an overwhelming and sometimes confusing time.
Head of Memory Care at Avery, Jo Crossland comments, “We are trusted by relatives and loved ones of our elderly, and often vulnerable residents, to provide the highest standards of care and well-being. Our focus is to support residents to live the way they wish in their new home, with adaptions being made to reflect any additional support needs that a person may have in a respectful and dignified manner.”
