Choosing the right care home – What to look for in premium care for the elderly

Considering a residential care home for your loved one is a significant and impactful moment in everyone’s lives. The decision requires careful research across various factors and this article will guide you through that research process, giving you points of consideration and questions to raise, with the hopes that this phase becomes easier for you.

What makes a good nursing home?

There are key factors to consider when choosing a care home:

  • The needs of your loved one: Is nursing care required, are they living with dementia, how does the home enhance quality of life? Is the environment and décor of a high standard?
  • Staff qualifications: The expertise and attentiveness of the staff are crucial indicators of a high-quality nursing home. Families could look for the number of registered nurses (RNs), specialised training in EMI (Elderly Mentally Infirm), palliative and respite care for example.
  • Carer to resident ratios: A higher carer ratio as found in premium care homes ensures a more personalised care routine where close relationships with your loved ones can be fostered. Practically speaking, higher ratios also ensures quicker response times in emergency situations.
  • Medical care: A premium care home with nursing should provide comprehensive medical care including, 24/7 on-site medical supervision, chronic disease management for conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and osteoporosis, rehabilitation services to assist with physiotherapy and speech therapy, and have emergency response protocols in place.
  • Enhancements to quality of life: Can you picture your loved one being comfortable and content in the room provided? Is it airy, does it have nice views, does it have modern comforts such as WiFi, and is it well-furnished to a high standard? You could enquire about the menus and personalised meal plans, ask after wellness provisions such as massage therapy, and relaxation areas, and find out what recreational programmes are on offer.
  • Cleanliness and welcome: A premium care home presents immaculate, private and well appointed rooms, you will recognise excellent hygiene standards when you visit. Likewise, the staff are always welcoming and accommodating to your needs as well as your loved ones, and outdoor spaces such as wellness or tranquillity gardens offer fresh air, scenic views, and the sights and sounds of nature. All these things benefit the wellbeing of your loved ones, and the staff who care for them.
  • Cost: The cost of care in high-affluent areas can reach £1,000 per week or more, so it can be beneficial to look slightly further afield as you may be pleasantly surprised by the quality you can find only 15 minutes away, at a lower price.

How to assess the quality of a care home

The factors listed above help you assess the general provision a care home can offer. However, before making your decision, there are often quantitative measurements you can consider, and of course your overall feeling of a home.

Check the Care Quality Commission (CQC) rating and reports

The CQC is an independent regulator that ensures the quality and safety of all care facilities in England. Whilst it’s a very good indicator of the standards you can expect, it’s also important to remember that the care sector is still recovering from the pandemic and the CQC is under significant pressure to re-inspect homes.

Look for online reviews and social media mentions

The online reputation of a care home can be an excellent way to assess the quality. Google Reviews, the carehome.co.uk score and social media comments and website testimonials are pure, unfiltered and up to date opinions of people with real life experience of the facilities you’re considering.

Visit in person

We always recommend a personal visit to any facility that you are considering for the care of your loved one. Observe the environment, talk to other residents or family members if possible, interact with staff and even stay for a meal or snack.

Visiting in person allows your natural instincts to kick in, and your gut can often be the final deciding factor!

Welcome to Ash Lodge Care Home

Ash Lodge is a care home that specialises in general and EMI nursing, palliative care and respite care. We would be delighted to welcome you to our facility in Smethwick to view our well-appointed rooms and wellbeing provisions, whilst discussing the nursing care needs of your loved one. Please contact us to book a meeting and free assessment with Home Manager, Helen.

In the meantime, here is what one of our family members said about Ash Lodge:

“For the short time my mum was with Ash Lodge, she was given the highest standard of care. We cannot thank them enough for everything they did. The staff are friendly, extremely caring and very professional. We as a family are so glad we chose this home and would always recommend it.” Debra Smith, Google Reviews