Finding a Care Home: Essential Facilities

Laundry services

Almost all homes have an in-house laundry where residents' clothing is washed and ironed and taken back to the person's room and put away. Unfortunately if clothing is not marked with the resident's name it can get mislaid.

Laundry services do not generally include articles that need to be dry-cleaned and it is usually the responsibility of the resident's relatives to take the clothes to the dry cleaners and pay for this service themselves.

GP services

Your relative's current doctor may be willing to continue to visit, monitor their progress, advise, and prescribe for them if and when they succumb to illness, on condition the surgery is near the home.

However, if it is not practical for your relative's own doctor to continue caring for them, they will have the opportunity to change to a more local practice. The matron will advise in this case.

Activities

Many care establishments have an activities programme. Some employ a person to draw up a daily activities list and put it into operation. It is difficult to suit all the residents all the time. They may enjoy some activities more than others but if they join in they will make new friends and enrich their lives.

Library services

There is generally a library within the homes for those residents who like to read. Sometimes the books are donated but in some areas the local library is able to bring a selection of books initially and change them at regular intervals. If there is no such facility, books can be borrowed by friends or relatives on a resident's behalf from the local library. However, the person borrowing the books is generally responsible for their safe return at the proper time.

Trolley shop

There are always a few residents who are too disabled or who have no inclination to go out. In nursing homes the residents are often too sick or frail to even think of leaving the home. With this in mind some matrons organise a weekly shopping trolley with things such as writing paper, envelopes, stamps and other useful items that the residents can purchase.

Gardens

Many homes have lovely gardens for the residents to rest or walk in. Sometimes the home's gardener or handyman will help residents to plant hanging baskets or tubs or even bulbs for them to have in their rooms or communal areas. It may even be possible to have raised flower beds to enable keen gardeners, if they are fit and well enough, to enjoy gardening again.

Religious services

The matron may already have arranged to have church services held within the home by the local clergy or pastors. If there is no religious service suitable for your relative, bring the matter up with the matron. They may be able to contact the appropriate minister and ask them to visit your relative when admitted. Alternatively, depending on distance, you could ask their own minister to visit.

Car parking

Many of the residents' visitors will have their own transport. One of their biggest worries is where they can park the car.

Most homes outside a city or town have car parking facilities both for staff and visitors. It is sometimes more difficult if the home is situated on a busy road with little or no space to park a car. The matron or the staff will know where the nearest parking places are. If the home is fortunate enough to have a car park it may prove difficult to find. When you phone to make an appointment to view the home, ask how to find it.