How to choose a care home for yourself or your loved one

When choosing the right care home for yourself or a loved one you may find yourself looking at quite a few before making a decision. Here at Jackman’s Lodge, we understand how difficult this decision can be. Our compassionate team have carefully put together a choosing a care home checklist to help you become aware of things to look out for and questions you may like to ask. Some of our care home advice includes:

  • Make sure the care home provides the right level of care for your needs.
  • Check to see if the care home has any vacancies for residents, if they do not then it is important to find out how long the waiting list is.

  • Read any brochures and the website before your visit and either call/email the home to speak to a manager to get an understanding of the home.

  • View the most recent CQC inspection report for the home. You can either ask the home directly for it or look on the CQC website.

What questions should you ask when finding the right care home?

First Impressions — Are the grounds maintained? Does the staff seem welcoming? Does the home smell and look clean? Are the rooms nicely decorated?

Accessibility — Is there good wheelchair access to the home? Are there enough parking spaces for visitors? Are friends and family able to easily visit?

Staff — Do staff get to know residents’ interests and lives? Is there a manager on shift duty? Is there a suitable ratio of staff during the day and night?

Care Needs — Do the bathroom facilities meet your needs? Does the home assess residents before accepting them? Do residents have a named member of staff?

Safety — Is there a resident call bell system in place? Is there secure storage for medications? Can residents choose to have a female or male member of staff?

Food — Do residents eat meals together? Is food prepared fresh daily? Can residents and visitors make their own food?

Visitors — Are there any set times that family members can visit? Are children welcome? Is there a space for visitors and residents to spend time together?

Activities — Are residents encouraged to be social and stay active? Do residents seem happy and occupied? Are staff engaging with residents?

Contracts — Are you able to view the terms and conditions of the contract? Is there a trial period? What happens if a resident is unhappy and wants to move?

Fees — What are the home’s fees? Are they clearly structured and presented? Are the fees reviewed each year?

Feedback — Are residents and family members encouraged to give feedback? Are complaints dealt with appropriately? Is the manager approachable?

About 7

Why is Jackman’s Lodge the right care home for my loved one?

Here at Jackman’s Lodge, we are extremely proud of the outstanding levels of care we are able to provide our elderly residents. We strive to go above and beyond, ensuring that your loved ones feel completely at home. With our elderly care services, your loved one is not only able to live comfortably but thrive. So why should you choose our Surrey care home and why is it the best choice for your loved one?

  • Gold Standards Framework
  • Family orientated
  • Experienced residential and respite care providers
  • Professional, fully trained, and friendly staff
  • Daily activities tailored to our residents
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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is it so important to find the right care home?

When finding a care home for your loved one, you’ll want to feel reassured that they are going to be happy once they’ve settled in. Choosing a care home is a big decision but it should feel like home. Everybody is different and will have different needs. It’s better to take some time and start thinking about what you want and need from a care home. Care homes can provide different levels of care and it’s important to find the right facility so that your loved one can live comfortably.

How will I know if Jackman’s Lodge is the right care home for my loved one?

Our team of specialists is always available to answer any questions you may have about our home or our elderly care checklist. Our website is full of information about all of the care services we offer. Please book a visit with us today so that you can see what a wonderful home Jackman’s Lodge is.

How do I know if my loved one is ready to move into a care home?

It could be time to consider a care home if your loved one is struggling with daily tasks at home but still wishes to remain independent and have their own space. If your loved one needs a little bit of additional support and is struggling to live alone, it could be time to consider moving into a care home.

My loved one is worried about losing their independence. How do you encourage your residents to remain independent?

We encourage all of our residents to remain as independent as they can. All of our residents are able to decorate their rooms how they please and participate in any social activities that they feel comfortable doing within the home. We also encourage our residents to continue with the hobbies they enjoyed before they moved into our care home.

What happens if my loved one’s needs change?

Here at Jackman’s Lodge, our caring team understands that everyone’s needs are different, which is why we offer multiple care services. We provide residential care, convalescent care and palliative care. When you choose our compassionate care home in Surrey, you can have the peace of mind that we are able to assess the needs of each resident and alter this promptly when needs change.

Get in touch

For further information about our elderly care home checklist, get in touch. Our friendly team will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have about finding the right care home for yourself or your loved one.

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01483 761779
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