Many families feel guilty about moving a relative or close friend into a care home, yet some people are actually happier being around other people and knowing that they will get regular meals and medical attention.
They may actually feel more independent when they no longer have to rely on family or friends to take care of them. Still it isn't an easy choice and this section has been developed to help you, the users and purchasers of nursing and residential care, to choose a care home and to seek the highest standards of service from providers. The right choice can only be made if you users and purchasers are well informed and have the confidence to demand high standards. There are several hundred nursing and residential care homes in West Sussex, all of which are regulated by either the West Sussex County Council Social Services Department, the West Sussex Health Authority or both if the home is dual registered. However, from 1st April 2002 all care homes will be registered by The National Care Standards Commission.
Sometimes admission to a care home, either for convalescence or a longer stay, may need to be organised in a hurry. Particularly if the person needing care is in hospital after an illness that prevents them from going home immediately or has been assessed by the hospital medical team as needing long term care in a residential or nursing home. There are so many things to do - sorting out finances, choosing and visiting homes and making decisions about which one to choose.
At caringinfo.com our aim is to give you as much information as we can on the choices open to you. But above all be realistic. It is unlikely that one home will provide everything you hope for. Some decisions that will be taken will be based on practical aspects of providing care and may have nothing to do with what you would prefer in terms of home comfort.
The following brief guide is presented in sections that take you in easy stages through the various steps in reaching your goal of finding the right care home. Refer to our "Jargon Buster" for brief explanations of some of the common terms that you will hear used by medical and care professionals.
