Anyone who has already helped their parents to choose a suitable care home will tell you just how difficult this can be. Along with having a checklist as long as your arm to contend with, you are also juggling the various feelings that come as part of this emotionally draining time.
Watching your personal heroes start to deteriorate with advanced years is never going to be easy. You may need to dig deep to start repaying them for the great sacrifices they have made since you were born. Whether you like it or not, you need to set aside such feelings and really do a number on evaluating these care homes until we find the ideal place for our parents.
Here a few of the things that need to be considered when the time comes for you to step up to the plate for your own beloved parents.
What Type of Home?
There are many types of care homes and together with the all-rounders, you can find ones that deal with a particular type of care requirement. Try to identify the type of care and treatment that suit your own parents’ needs.
You should be doing the research well in advance because the waiting lists can be very long and we all know how expensive care homes can be. If your parents are suffering from a form of dementia, you will need to speak to doctors before you even begin your search.
Where Should It Be?
This may seem like a no-brainer, but the geographical area is vital to the final decision. If you have an extended family and they are intending to visit your parents, you will need to get together and work this out among yourselves.
It is a fact you should visit your parents as often as possible and this can be quite the challenge if you are looking at a four-hour round trip.
Personal Preferences
Your parents are the ones who will be living in the care home, so they should have the most input regarding the final choice. They need to be happy with the facilities and the access details.
Perhaps they have high standards regarding the actual furniture and menu options. Remember what looks good to you may look drab to your parents, so let them remain in the driving seat.
Quality Standards
Every Western country has a set of quality standards that need to be met when considering care homes. Use this as a guideline and speak to health care professionals about your shortlist options.
Use Your Gut Instinct
That website may look amazing and all, but you really need to visit the care homes in person. Make several unannounced appearances and try to get there during the busiest times. If they are coping with a busy dinner time and everyone is smiling, you can probably tick that box off the list with no issues. If you feel something does not look or feel right, walk away and never look back.
Be a Good Child
Your parents did the best they could when they brought you up, so please return that favor and help them to spend the rest of their lives in relative comfort. That’s all that they could wish for!
This article is contributed by Shruti Vaghe an employee at Abbey Cremation, providers of cremation services in Connecticut. She is a music lover and regularly attends concerts and music festivals.
