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

3 Traps to Avoid When Moving Into Residential Aged Care

The transition to aged care can be a very challenging time, whether you’re moving in yourself or you’re helping a loved one to. The system is complex and can be overwhelming. Here are Care Guidance’s top 3 tips to avoid trouble as you navigate your way through to age care. All that glitters is not... Read More

Is ‘Pass or Fail’ the best way to measure the quality of care delivered in aged care?

With the simple ‘pass or fail’ metrics of the aged care regulators' quality standards as the only current government-approved indicator of care quality, organisations that provide exceptional service receive no distinction from those that barely meet the minimum standards of care. Read More

Open Letter: A Catholic Perspective on Voluntary Assisted Dying

These views are a reflection of the contributor and we believe it is important to give everyone a platform to share their opinion.  Catholic health and aged care services in Australia have a long history of providing palliative care and will continue to care for people in the best way possible at their end of life.... Read More
Advertisement