What Should You Look Out For in a Senior Care Home?

If you have recently come to the decision that the best option for your senior parent or relative is to move into a care home, then the next step is finding the right one for them. It can feel like a daunting task having to visit a variety of care homes in the area, or even further afield if your senior parent is up to relocating. However, it is important to find the right place for them so that they are happy and you have peace of mind that they are getting the right support. If you aren’t sure where to start when it comes to your search, below are some tips to help you figure out what to look out for.

Is the Home Maintained Well?

When you are touring care homes to see what is on offer, make sure that you pay close attention to how well-maintained the place is. You want to know that your parent will be living in a healthy, comfortable environment. So checking for things such as how clean the home appears to be, if there are signs that the building needs repairs, or the outdoor areas appear to be neglected, this should be off-putting. While some care homes might appear more luxurious than others, they can often be ones that are more expensive. If you can’t afford this standard, then at the very least, you should make sure the care home is properly maintained to create a good living environment. You can see an example of the kind of standard you should be looking for at these nursing homes St Louis.

Look at Reviews of the Home Online

When you are on your tours of homes, they will be upselling their facility rather than listing all the things that are wrong with it. This is why it is a good idea to dig a little deeper and see if you can find reviews on the home online. Although you should take some of these reviews with a pinch of salt, if it appears that there is more negative feedback from previous residents or relatives of residents regarding the standard of living and care, you might want to consider looking elsewhere.

Location is Important

You don’t necessarily have to live in the same town as your senior parent’s care home, but it is important to make sure you or other relatives aren’t too far away. This is so that you can all manage to visit regularly, but more importantly, if there is an emergency, someone will be able to get to the home quickly. This might mean a relocation for your senior parent, but this is something that you will need to discuss with them prior to moving forward in your search.

Do The Staff Appear to Be Well-mannered?

This might be hard to gauge at first, but you should certainly be on the lookout for the bedside manners of the staff that work at the home during your visit. It is important that your parent feels safe in their new living environment, and rude, cold, and uncaring staff will not help with this. If you feel that the staff in the care home don’t have good interpersonal skills, you might want to hold out for somewhere that feels friendlier.

If you are about to start looking for the right care home for your senior parent, use these tips to help you find the perfect place for them.