Care Homes: Moving a Family Member

When it comes to the stage where a decision must be made about moving a family member into a care home or not, there is a lot to be considered before this difficult move is made. Storage Penrith

Even after all the information has been collected the decision to move a family member into a care home is still not an easy one. While it may seem preferable to keep the loved one with you at home, the medical care and assistance offered by a care home is a strong selling point in its favour.

Upon finding a good care home, it is reassuring that your beloved family member is in good hands where specialized care is on offer to help them live comfortably. Still, it’s a tough time for all when it happens.

One of the decisions to be made is what to do with the roomful or household of possessions left behind? They certainly won’t be needed when moving into a care home. We will consider the benefits offered by self storage such as Stop & Store Penrith can offer when having to deal with a quantity of household possessions that need storage.

But first, let’s discuss a few important things about care homes and what to ask when looking for a suitable one.

Finding a Care Home

If you decide a care home is the best place to meet your health and care needs, you’ll need to choose which type of care home is right for you.

Choosing a care home will be based on your loved one’s needs. There are two types of care home which are either managed privately, by local council or by a voluntary organization.

Residential care homes offer accommodation and basic care in the form of washing, attending to dressings, administering medicines, and assisting with toilet routines. Some offer excursions and similar activities.

Nursing homes are for those who need more health care support and are staffed with a nurse to attend to personal care needed such as disabilities or more complex health issues.

As you would expect a nursing home does cost more than a residential care home but be advised that you can enquire about what your local council can offer to assist with costs. They will conduct a needs assessment when requested to do so.

However, remember it’s critical that you don’t be hasty in packing up and selling your house or cancelling where you are renting before the council has made a decision. The same applies to selling your possessions.

What Type of Environment is Best?

By asking the questions you will be able to get the answers you need to find the ideal care facility for your family member. This is the most taxing part of all and once you have located the right place it’s easy from then on.

Health-related questions should be phrased to find out staff complements, specialist staff for health issues like physiotherapists, and medical facilities.

To find out social aspects ask about wi-fi, visiting hours and organized outings and events.

General safety, mobility and freedom are important when your family member is not able to drive to shops and other activities.

When choosing a care home, location is key. Best if it is near to the rest of the family for easy access and the local shops. Cost always has a role to play combined with the services on offer.

You will get a first impression from the first time you make contact. Ask to speak to the person in charge, as this will set the tone for the personal feel for the place and probably for the way the rest of the staff run the care center.

Check for cleanliness and look at the weekly menu to see the variety of food being served to the residents.

If you can have a chat with residents to get their feedback and listen to their grumbles, if any.

When you have shortlisted the care homes you have in mind, contact the Care Quality Commission (CQC) which is an organization that controls the health and adult social care facilities in the UK.

Preparing for the Move

Getting used to the idea of moving is advisable. This can be achieved through discussion before the move and perhaps a visit or two to the care home.

This helps familiarize your family member with the new situation, and perhaps even meet staff members and other residents.

If available measure up and plan the layout of the new room so that you know what furniture will fit in where, and how you will help decorate the room. Especially important to have close by in the room will be the personal items, pictures, and sentimental possessions.

This will determine what to take with and what is left behind. As many of the household items leftover have been around a long time, be careful not to dispose of them in a hurry.

Instead, we recommend putting them in storage until you are all sure what should happen to them. If anything is needed it can be retrieved from the self-storage unit.

Final Thoughts

Having to move a loved one to a care home is often good in a situation when they are battling on their own or have a medical condition even with the family support you are giving them, you find you cannot cope. In many instances, a needs assessment will help give you the right answers you are scared to make yourself.

Storing possessions at Stop & Store Penrith is easy. Simply rent a unit for as long or as short as you need it. Just forward your information and follow up with an online contract. Sign it without having to print or scan it and it automatically is sent back to our office. When you have made your payment, you can access your unit. It’s a stress-free way to get a self storage unit from us, Stop & Store Storage Penrith.

When you need short or long-term storage in or around the Penrith area, call us for a no-obligation quotation on this number: 01768 800291.