Five Checklist needed to Find a Retirement Home for a Loved One ...

Posted By Joseph Akintaju on October 10, 2012.

Caring for a loved one with dementia can be difficult and often home care is inadequate. When this is the case, it?s best to find a retirement home that can properly handle a loved one?s needs and provide the necessary care. Since retirement homes can vary considerably in terms of quality, it?s important to know what to look for when making a choice. Checking these five areas should help you find a suitable facility.

1)? Facility Location

The location of a retirement home will usually be the first thing you should take into consideration. In most cases, you will want to find a facility that is relatively close to friends and family so you can visit your loved one on a consistent basis. This way your loved one will have a solid support system which should make it easier on them. You will also want to choose a place that?s in a safe neighborhood where crime isn?t a major concern.

2)? Specialized Dementia Care

While a normal retirement home may be able to handle individuals with dementia, it?s ideal to choose a facility with a special care unit that focuses on taking care of patients with dementia. This type of facility will have a designated area and staff members who are trained to care for your loved one. As a result, they should be equipped to take care of any special needs that your loved one may have.

3)? Cleanliness

Another major factor that will influence your decision is the cleanliness and organization a retirement home has. Most of the time, a clean facility will be an indicator that the staff is on top of its game and quality care is given. On the other hand, a filthy and unorganized facility probably means that the level of care is sub-par to poor. If you come across a retirement home that?s blatantly dirty, it?s a good sign that you should look elsewhere.

4)? Staff Members

Since staff members will most likely be spending more time with your loved one than you will, it?s critical that they exhibit signs of professionalism and empathy. The last thing you want is to leave the well-being of your loved one with staff members who show little regard for their well-being. You also want staff members who are fully trained and have sound experience for dealing with dementia patients. One of the best ways to get a feel for the quality of staff members is to spend some time interacting with them prior to choosing a facility. Ideally, they will be friendly, polite, courteous and happy to answer any questions you have. It?s also smart to talk to the family members of patients to get some additional input.

5)? Evaluate Current Patients

In addition, you can usually get an idea of a facility?s patient care level by evaluating the behavior of its current patients. If patients appear happy and calm, it?s a good sign of a well ran facility. If patients are screaming or exhibiting signs of distress, it?s likely that there is neglect or abuse going on and you should look elsewhere.

In summary, you should look for a facility that?s located close to you with a special care unit. It?s also important for it be clean and efficiently run with a compassionate staff. Besides this, a little investigation and patient evaluation should help you make the right choice.

Author?s name is Nisha, who represent a site called mha.org.uk. Feel free to visit her site for more information on care homes in Stockport.

Source: http://www.shoppersbase.com/24632/five-checklist-needed-to-find-a-retirement-home-for-a-loved-one-with-dementia/

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