Jul 06, 2017

How to Choose the Right Aged Care Facility

When a loved one is ageing and their care needs increase beyond what their family, friends and home care providers can offer, their alternative is to move into a residential aged care facility.

Residential aged care facilities can offer 24-hour care with staff onsite to support people with complex or high care needs. We are seeing people moving into residential aged care much later in life than previously, mainly for ‘end of life’ care, those who have very high care needs or due to financial constraints of needing more care than they can afford.

When faced with the possibility of moving a loved one into an aged care facility, the process can often be daunting and difficult. Here are some simple tips to help you choose a good residential aged care facility.

  • Visit the site and ask to see the facilities and features.
  • Who are the owners and the senior staff members? What is their experience in managing aged care facilities and individual customer needs? Do your due diligence and read reports, recommendations and even ask for references.
  • Meet the staff members who will manage the care of your loved one. Can you communicate with them easily? What is the process to speak to them about care concerns? Do you share the same standards of care?
  • Do they have the same values as you and your loved ones?
  • How many residents are there at the facility? Do they have enough staff on every shift to meet the needs of all the residents?
  • Is there always a Registered Nurse or General Practitioner available?
  • What services are in place for medication management? Is it just prompting or  assistance with medications or complete management. Do they organise medication with the General Practitioner and pick it up, or is it managed by the family?
  • Are there overnight staff skilled to meet the care needs of your loved one?
  • What clinical services/equipment do they have on site to manage relevant medical issues? If there is a medical emergency, what is the procedure?
  • Does the facility have all the services required for optimal care? E.g. carers, psychologists, transport, visiting clinical staff, podiatrists, physiotherapists, diversional therapists.
  • Are pets allowed? What are the procedures for having a pet?
  • How is the residents spending money managed?
  • How secure is the facility? What safety measures are in place? How do they manage wandering residents?
  • What does the meal plan look like? Is it nutritious and fresh? Does it cater to the taste of your loved one?
  • How much is the monthly fee? Does this include all the fees or are there additional out of pocket expenses?

Choosing a residential care facility can be daunting. It is recommended to try a facility for respite care first and see how your loved one manages that environment. If they appear settled and happy, that’s a good sign they would settle in quickly as a permanent resident.

There is a lot to consider before making a choice about which facility best meets the care needs of your loved one.

These days there are several websites and forums providing useful information about previous or current customers experience with aged care facilities. In addition to visiting several facilities and viewing the premises, asking the right questions can help you make the right choice for your loved one.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Retirement Villages: Read between the lines

“Supporting seniors to make more informed decisions is undoubtedly the way forward”. In Australia, there are approximately 180,000 seniors calling a retirement village home (Retirement Living, 2013). Residents occupying the villages are on average older than a decade ago with 95 per cent of residents now over the age of 65 years (McCrindle, 2013). The... Read More

Fine Dining For Dysphagia

Texture-modified foods are essential to the health and wellbeing of aged care residents, and with a little bit of effort - they can be just as enticing as dishes in their original forms. Read More

Seven Tips for Staying Healthy as we Grow ‘Bold not Old’

Sometimes it can be more difficult for older generations to stay on track with their health. And with more than 10,000 Baby Boomers turning 65 a day and our population aging, it’s important to keep as fit as a fiddle (as much as possible anyway)! So here are seven top health tips for seniors: Plan... Read More
Advertisement