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The importance of choosing the right care home for your loved ones Care homes have been in the news over the last few years, often for the wrong reasons. High profile reports exposing the mistreatment of vulnerable elderly residents have caused many people to seek alternative options for the care of their loved ones. Not all care homes, however, deserve to be tarnished with the same brush as those in the news. The right care home can provide an enriching and enjoyable experience for residents in the twilight years of their lives. What are care homes and why are they important? Care homes are residential establishments that provide ongoing, around-the-clock care to elderly people who are no longer able to look after themselves. British care homes come in many different shapes and sizes. Some are state-run, which means they are staffed and regulated by their Local Authority. Others are privately run as businesses. A good care home will actively enhance the lives of its residents by providing high quality and relevant care, engaging activities and the opportunity for an active social life. They also significantly reduce the burden on relatives and friends who are often forced into being de-facto carers whilst also struggling to hold down jobs and raise families. But what are about the horror stories? Where are the highest residential care home death rates in Britain? It's true that poorly run care homes risk causing irreparable damage. Unfortunately, numerous cases of abuse and mismanagement in British care homes have arisen in recent years. It is essential for the lessons to be learnt so as to avoid the same mistakes being repeated. One of the most horrifying examples of care home negligence in recent years centred on the now-closed Orchid View care home in West Sussex. After recording one of the highest ever death rates in a British care home - with 19 deaths in quick succession - a police investigation was launched, finding that five of the deaths had been cause as a direct result of neglect. Stories also emerged of squalid conditions in the home with residents left to wash in cold water and trapped upstairs due to a broken lift. Several other care homes have faced media scrutiny for poor records of care. Mu’Gbortima Care Services in Northampton failed a series of inspections after inspectors discovered members of staff working there without the requisite criminal record checks as well as patients being left unattended for up to 13 hours at a time. Equally worryingly, reports in early 2015 suggested that almost 15,000 care home neglect complaints are filed each year. Cautionary tales such as this have led to a general tightening up of care home regulations, including much more stringent reporting of the deaths of elderly residents. However, these tragic examples should serve as permanent warnings to cut no corners when choosing a care home. So how do you go about finding the right care home? There are many factors to consider when assessing the suitability of nursing care homes chippenham, especially as the costs can rise quickly. There are, however, some essential points on which you should never compromise: · Cleanliness: Dirty premises are an instant give-away of poor quality, whereas a clean building suggests the staff care about their work and, consequently, the residents. · Friendliness: It is imperative that your loved ones can live in a friendly environment where they will feel welcome rather than a burden. An active social calendar with lots of communal activities is always a very good sign. · Are the rooms a good size? Elderly people moving into a home having been in a flat or a house previously will need to get used to smaller living spaces. This is a difficult transition and it is important that their new room is not overly cramped and stuffy. · Is it visitor friendly? Living in a home can be a pleasant experience, but residents often greatly look forward to being able to spend quality time with family and friends when they visit. Make sure the care home welcomes visitors, is not too far away from where you live and has enough suitable space (gardens are ideal) to allow for some privacy.
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