Moving is a stressful time for anyone – the emotional journey of moving into a care home makes it doubly so.
For many, moving into a care home gives the individual and their loved one’s peace of mind, knowing that they’re going to be cared for around the clock and get far more support than they would have in their own home is a comforting thought. This doesn’t make the move any easier though, either emotionally or physically.
Following this step-by-step guide, you can help to ease some of the stress by planning ahead.
Visit care homes
One of the first things you and your loved ones should do before making any decisions about the move is to visit a few care homes to help you get a feel for the location and home environment. You can look at care homes in your local area, or if you would like to be closer to family and friends, there are plenty of options up and down the country.
Each home you visit will have different levels of care staff available. Oakland Care, for example have purpose-built care homes across the South East of England which offer a mix of residential, nursing, dementia and respite care with a range of facilities and daily activities to suit a variety of residents. They are a small chain, offering similar approaches across each home. Others may be individual independent homes, or NHS-linked.
While you may move in needing a minimal amount of care, choosing one which has nursing and end-of-life care facilities available, should you need them, will enable you to stay in the same home for as long as you need.
Meeting your care needs
A key thing to look at when choosing your care home is the levels of care they provide to residents. You may still be able to live semi-independently when you first move in, but as you age any existing conditions may begin to worsen and you will need a higher level of care. Choosing a care home that has the facilities and support systems in place, like dementia care, and having nurses on hand, will allow you to continue receiving care without you having to move elsewhere for more support.
Having staff and nurses available to talk to throughout the day as well as management is also a good sign that the home is a welcoming environment, and you will get the correct levels of care and support you require. Friendly staff are one of the main things that will help ease the transition; being welcomed by a friendly face can set the tone for the day and being able to talk to someone in charge when you need them is invaluable.
Something residents may worry about when entering a care home setting is the prospect of having to give up their hobbies. However, most modern care homes like to keep residents engaged, hosting regular events to keep individuals interacting with each other and the local community. Choosing a home which has a daily schedule of activities or facilities to keep doing the things you love can help you feel more comfortable during the transition and help you connect with your new community.
Contracts and fees
Once you have finalised your choice and you know which care home you will be moving into, it’s time to focus on the admin side of things. Before you sign any contracts, make sure you and your loved ones have read and understood the care homes policies and know which services you will have access to during your stay.
Some homes will allow you access to everything available in the home as standard, while others charge a higher fee or opt for a pay as you use policy for certain in-home services such as beauty treatments and dental care. Understanding what is covered within your fees will help you prepare for the move as you will know you need to pack toiletries, for example, if these are not provided by the home or included in the overall cost.
Higher levels of care may also come at a higher cost, so it’s important to check if there is a flat fee for living in the care home, as you may face a rising bill over time as your care needs progress. All of these costs and fees should be discussed with the care home staff prior to your move, with yourself and your loved ones present, to keep everyone informed.
Keep people informed
Other than your friends and family, there are a few people who should be kept in the loop and informed when you make the move into a care home setting.
These include your GP, your bank, your carers and community support workers, your local council, the post office, and any benefit providers like Pension Credit.
Similarly, just before you move, make sure you cancel any contracts and subscription services. Things like your TV and internet or your gas and electric bills can be cancelled, while any magazine or newspaper subscriptions can often be sent to a home. Ensuring everyone is aware of your move will help to make the transition easier, cancelling any direct debits and redirecting any important documents to your new residence will help keep your affairs in order.
What to pack
Figuring out what to pack and what to leave behind can be one of the harder tasks when preparing for your move. Reading through your care home contract and any information packs they give you before the move can be handy as they will often have a list of things you will need to bring with you, but this isn’t always an extensive list. Things that you will need in the future, like any important documents and personal items, can be brought with you or left with a trusted person or loved one for safe keeping.
Many care home rooms come fully furnished so you will not need to buy new, but if there are any large furniture items you would like to bring with you, make sure to check with the home if this is allowed. Often, they will allow you to bring small personal items and decor to make your new room to make your room more comfortable and feel like home by adding a touch of your personality.
Something you will definitely need to pack is clothing, making sure you have enough outfits and underwear to last a few weeks. Your clothes will be laundered regularly but you will most likely want to bring a few options for the different seasons and temperatures, with layers like cardigans being especially useful.
It’s best to pack clothes that are comfortable and easy to wear every day, as well as a pair of shoes and a set of slippers.
When you’re packing, you should clearly label all items of clothing with your name, and room number if you know it, to ensure they get returned to you after laundry day. Clothing and small personal items can often go missing or end up in the wrong room, so labelling everything helps to prevent this from happening.
Making the move
Once you are all packed and have everything organised and ready to go, there’s nothing else to do but to make the move!
On the days leading up to moving day, you and your loved ones may be feeling mixed emotions, and this is totally normal. Having open and honest conversations about how you’re feeling can ease any stress or worries before the day. Talking about or writing down your emotions can help, but for any genuine concerns or questions you have, you can get in touch with the team at your chosen care home. Speaking to and getting to know the carers and staff working in the home can help make the transition easier, and they will be able to answer any questions you have before the move.
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