Making the decision to move into a residential care home is not easy; however sometimes it can be the only way to ensure your safety and well-being.
Residential care homes provide living accommodation – usually a bedroom with an en suite bathroom – all your meals and help with personal care.
There are different types of residential care so it’s important to choose carefully and consider your current and future needs, including possible nursing care.
The benefits of residential care
There are many benefits to living in a residential care home, including:
- no household chores or cooking to worry about
- lots of new faces and friends
- being looked after by teams of carers
- specialist equipment on hand, e.g. hoists, shower rooms
- a structured routine with activities
- your family will know you are safe and well-cared for
When to consider residential care
It might be the right time for you to consider residential care when:
- you need more care and support than can be reasonably provided at home (by your family and/or care workers)
- you need support during the night
- physical frailty or memory loss makes it unsafe for you to live alone
- there is nowhere else where you could live safely
Don’t let yourself be pushed into residential care if you are not ready for it. There may be other ways to support you, like personal care, home adaptations or a move to supported accommodation.
Arranging residential care
If you think residential care might be the best option contact your local council and ask for a needs assessment.
You are entitled to get help from social services regardless of whether you intend to ask for help to pay your residential care fees.
Before you move into residential care, it’s important to be absolutely clear about who is funding your place and how much you have to pay towards it.
Residential care homes are regulated services, which means they are registered with and inspected regularly by the Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW).