Finding the right care home or support package for a loved one in later life can be a confusing challenge. Marina Jordan outlines the options
As we age, our accommodation needs change. Everyday tasks such as climbing the stairs and mowing the lawn can become challenging, or we might forget to make meals or take our medicines. When it comes time to move out of the family home, the right care package can be a huge relief for everyone involved – so here’s a handy guide to the various options.
Option 1: Support at home
Elderly people are often reluctant to ask for help, so look out for signs your loved one is struggling. They might lose weight because they can no longer prepare meals, suffer falls due to impaired vision and muscle wastage or become more forgetful.
If your elderly relative doesn’t feel ready to move yet, certain mobility aids can make living at home safer and easier. Examples include grab rails on the bath, raised toilet seats and stair lifts. Age UK has a range of such solutions, including pendant, wrist or key-ring alarms. Voice-activated units such as Alexa can also help older people feel less isolated by providing reminders and safety monitoring.
Look out for charitable schemes that provide help for elderly and vulnerable people in the community. Companies
such as Oakhouse Foods and Wiltshire Farm Foods offer doorstep deliveries of nutritious, microwaveable meals.
Lynette Hurren, deputy CEO of Age UK Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, says: “We offer many services to support older people in maintaining their independence at home and in their communities. These include wardens, information and advice, handy persons, hospital discharge support, day centres and befriending.”
Option 2: A retirement flat
Downsizing to a smaller property – perhaps an easier-access, ground-floor apartment – can make life easier, having fewer rooms to clean and no garden to care for.
Generally designed for people over 55 or 60 who seek a self-determining lifestyle, retirement or independent living flats are often part of a community where residents can get together and socialise. These are available to buy or occupy on a leasehold or shared-ownership basis, which allows the owner to release funds from the sale of their home. You might be able to use the proceeds from the sale of the old house to pay the deposit on the new property, then take out a lifetime mortgage to cover the rest. Alternatively, you might buy a home for lifetime plan or lifetime lease. The Elderly Accommodation Counsel (EAC) can provide more information regarding the financial aspects.
Remember that bills and council tax are still chargeable, and check which services are covered by the maintenance fees. Support is likely to be offered in the form of a daytime duty manager or warden, with an out-of-hours call centre.
Assisted living accommodation offers residents the chance to live independently in a self-contained flat while still being provided services such as a 24-hour duty manager, help with shopping, laundry and meals, as well as a communal lounge, dining room and gardens. Independent retirement flats, which generally don’t offer personal care, aren’t regulated by the Care Quality Commission, but care homes are.
Option 3: A care home
Once a person becomes too infirm to care for themselves or is at high risk of falling, the best solution is to move them into a care home. The standards of care – and costs – vary enormously, so be sure to assess them in person. Weekly fees are likely to be around £1,500 to £2,000 until the resident reaches the government’s savings threshold of £23,250.
“The cost of care varies greatly depending on the level of support your loved one needs,” says a spokesperson at Care UK. “Depending on your situation, you might be eligible to receive government assistance… but if you’re paying for the care yourself, it’s important to discuss the costs first so you understand what’s covered.”
Think about what your loved one needs from their accommodation and assess each home by its first impression:
is the home inviting, with welcoming staff? Does it have a clean appearance and fresh smell, with comfortable, well-decorated rooms and an attractive outdoor space?
Consider visiting times and parking, ease of access and local facilities. Ask about the ratio of staff to residents, choice of male or female carers, staff qualifications, training and turnover. Find out how a resident’s care needs are met, what will happen if their needs increase and whether families are involved in decisions about their care. You might also want to discuss the range of social activities, outings and food options on offer; whether they have facilities to bring pets in, go shopping or to a place of worship; and how spending money is handled. Try to get a chance to talk to other residents and their families to get an independent opinion, and be sure to check the care home’s ratings on the Care Quality Commission website too.
There are lots of good local examples to consider. For instance, Barley Manor Care Home in Great Shelford is part of the Porthaven Group and offers 24-hour residential, nursing, dementia and respite care in a stylish, comfy setting. Residents have a generously sized bedroom with en-suite wet room, plus access to a communal gym, cinema, cafe and hair and nail salon.
Care UK’s Heathlands House in Cherry Hinton also has a welcoming on-site cafe, comfortable cinema and hair and beauty salon. Each bedroom is individually styled and has its own en-suite facilities; many of the rooms on the ground floor also have their own patio doors that open directly onto the south-facing landscaped gardens.
Arlington Manor in Girton is run by Hallmark Homes and offers an all-inclusive package that comprises mouth-watering meals prepared by professional chefs, as well as hairdressing and beauty services. The beautiful private suites and spacious bedrooms at Cambridge Grove Care Home in Fulbourn are designed for relaxation and privacy. For a social experience, residents can visit an elegant cafe to enjoy a cup of tea and slice of homemade cake.
