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Choosing a Care Home Guidance for Older People in
the Royal Borough of Greenwich
Royal Borough of Greenwich
May 2017
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Ashgreen House SE18 7EX Marlborough Court* SE28 8RB
Brook House SE28 8GA Puddingstone Grange SE18 3RD
Cedar Court* SE2 9TA Riverlee SE13 7QT Cullum Welch Court SE3 0PW The Oaks SE9 3PW
Charlton Park SE7 8DZ Time Court SE7 8EX Gallions View SE28 0FH Westcombe Park SE3 7RZ
Meadows House SE3 9YG Weybourne SE2 9AH
Greenwich Care Homes
Outstanding
Good
Requires Improvement
Inadequate
Unrated/under appeal/suspended
CQC rating key
* Located in Bexley Borough
CQC ratings correct as of May 2017
go to www.cqc.org.uk for up to date information on care home ratings
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Contents
Introduction 4
Types of care homes 5
Having an assessment 7
Paying for the care home 8
Funding support 8
Conditions 9
Choosing a care home 10
Getting more information about a care home 11
Questions you may want to ask 12
Further information 14
Useful contacts 14
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Introduction
A care home is one of the ways you can receive the care you need when you become
unable to care for yourself, particularly when you need support during the night - but it
is not always the only option.
If you are reading this booklet because you have had an assessment by your social
worker, nurse or assessing officer and you have been told that you need care in a care
home, please go to the next section on page 5.
If you are reading this because you are starting to find it difficult to look after yourself
at home, or are in hospital and are worried about returning home, it is possible to stay
at home with help from family or friends and support from Social Care Services and
the NHS.
You may need a lot of support at home during or after a crisis to be able to regain
some of your independence without going into a care home. You may also want to
consider other options such has adapting your home with specialist equipment that will
allow you to retain your independence.
The Age UK website has some useful information on home adaptations, including
access to financial support: www.ageuk.org.uk
This booklet provides information about the different types of care homes in
Greenwich, but before anything else it is recommended that you or the person you
are caring for should have an assessment to talk through the options and look at what
is best for you.
Assessments are explained in section 2.
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1. Types of Care Homes
Care homes in Greenwich provide for a range of support needs, from personal care to
specialist support for people with dementia or complex health problems.
It is important to understand what each care home can offer both to you and your
family or carers.
There are four types of care homes to consider
1. Residential Care Homes
2. Residential Dementia Care Homes
3. Nursing Homes
4. Nursing Dementia Care Homes
Residential Care Homes
Residential care homes provide personal care, such as washing, dressing, bathing and
assistance with toilet needs, if required, but they do not offer nursing care. Care homes
in Greenwich have care staff on site 24 hours a day.
Some provide specialist care for people with mental health difficulties, physical
disabilities, learning disabilities or autism. If you have a health problem that needs a
qualified nurse, this care will be provided by the District Nursing Service on the same
basis as for people living in their own home.
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Residential Dementia Care Homes / Nursing Dementia Care Homes
Residential Dementia Care Homes are residential homes that specialise in caring for
people who have a high level of dementia but do not have nursing needs. Staff will
have had specialist training in working with people who have dementia, and the home
should have some adaptations that help people with dementia - such as making it
extra easy to find your way around, and having additional activities that will help
stimulate memories and enjoyment. Nursing Dementia Care Homes are residential
care homes that provide specialist nursing care for those with a high level of dementia
and nursing needs. As with Residential Dementia homes, the facilities are specifically
adapted for people with Dementia.
Nursing Homes
Care homes with nursing provide nursing care 24 hours a day. Usually people living in
these homes will be very mentally and/or physically frail or immobile and have health
care needs that can only be met by a registered nurse. Some offer general nursing
care for older people, while others specialise in care homes with nursing dementia,
mental health problems or physical disabilities.
How do I know which type of home is right ?
The best way of finding out which type of home can meet your needs is to have an
assessment. This is explained in section 2 on the next page.
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2. Having an Assessment
To decide which type of home would be right for you, you should ask for an
assessment of your social care needs. If you live in the Royal Borough of Greenwich,
you can call us on 020 8921 2304, or you can ask the nursing staff, if you are in
hospital, to arrange one. You can still have an assessment even if you do not need any
help with funding.
An assessment involves talking to you about what you need and your wishes and
those of family and friends who care for you. A care manager will carry out the
assessment. Other professionals such as an Occupational Therapist, a District Nurse
or your doctor will also be involved, with your permission.
The assessment will help us understand you and build up a picture of the things that
you need help with and the things that you can do for yourself. This will be written
into your Care Plan.
For some people the Care Plan will recommend that the best way to meet your needs
is to move into a care home, but often it will make recommendations to help you to
stay in your own home.
Some people can get help with funding their care from the NHS if they have complex
and long-term health conditions which may require nursing care or equivalent. Your
care manager will refer you for a Continuing Healthcare Assessment if you are likely
to be entitled to this help.
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3. Care Home fees
Before you choose a home you will need to be clear about fees, what you will have to
pay and what help you will get from Social Services and/or the National Health Service.
Will I have to pay?
All care homes charge a weekly fee - and these can vary a great deal from home to
home. Nursing homes are usually more expensive than residential care homes. This is
in accordance with the Care Act 2014.
How will the charges be calculated?
We will conduct a full financial assessment of your circumstances. Your charge will be
based on the details you provide on your financial assessment form. The assessment
takes into account your income and assets to produce the amount that you will be
asked to contribute towards your care.
You are entitled to keep a weekly personal allowance of £24.90, so we disregard this
when working out your contribution. You can get more information about financial
assessments by calling 020 8921 3759.
For more detailed information about paying for your care please visit
www.greenwichcommunitydirectory.org.uk and search for ‘paying for my care’
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Conditions
If you are moving into a care home and need support with the costs, you will have the
right to choose any home you like in England and Wales as long as the following
conditions are met.
a) The home is suitable for your assessed needs: This means we must be sure the
home can give you the help your assessment shows you need. For example, a
residential care home will not be suitable if you require regular nursing. If we
consider a home to be unsuitable we will tell you why and ask you to choose
another.
b) There is a place available: We may be able to arrange for you to move to
another home while you wait for a place to become available in your chosen
home. If you are in hospital we will ask you to move to another home until a
place becomes available in the home of your choice. This is because once you
are considered to be no longer in need of hospital care, you will be asked to
leave, as another person will need the hospital bed.
c) The home owner agrees to our usual contract conditions: If they do not, you
will be asked to choose again.
d) The home does not cost more than we usually pay for the type of care that
you need: There are lots of homes in the borough that will accept what we will
usually pay, but you can choose a more expensive care home as long as someone
is willing and able to pay the difference between what the care home charges and
what we pay. Remember that the person who is willing to top up the charges will
need to commit to paying this for as long as you stay in the care home. It is not
a commitment to take on lightly, as you may need to move if the person is no
longer able to pay the top up.
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4. Choosing a Care Home
Choosing the right care home is important.
In the Royal Borough of Greenwich we have a small Home-finding team which helps
to arrange places in local care homes. Your assessor will make a referral to them for
advice and help and they will make contact with you.
The Home-finding team can give you a list of local homes with vacancies and can
advise you on whether Royal Greenwich can place you in a particular home you are
interested in, once they have made enquiries.
In most cases we will leave it to you or someone else you have asked to help you
(such as a family member) to visit the homes and decide which one would suit you
best.
If you do not have anyone to take you or if you do not want to choose yourself, and
you have no one else that you would like to do it, you can contact one of the
organisations listed on page 14.
If you are able to do so, we suggest visiting more than one home before you make up
your mind. You may be able to spend the day, have a meal and talk to people who
live in the home and meet some of the staff. You may even be able to have a trial stay
before you finally decide. This will help you to make up your mind.
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Getting more information about a care home
All care homes are registered and inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
All homes must meet standards set by the government on safety, quality of care,
management, and how they respond to people’s personal wishes and needs.
CQC use these standards when they inspect the homes. When you are deciding on
the care home for you, you can find reports on any registered home on the CQC
website www.cqc.org.uk. If you are visiting any home you can ask them to show you
their most recent CQC report. Our map of care homes in Greenwich on page 2 gives
the most recent CQC ratings.
Every home should produce a brochure or residents’ guide to tell people about the
services it provides and the facilities offered to residents.
Questions you may want to ask
Before you make an appointment to visit, think about things that are important to you
and the questions you want to ask. We have put together a broad range of questions
overleaf, covering different aspects of care home living which may be useful to
consider.
You can also use Your Handy Guide to Selecting a Care Home which has been
produced by the Alzheimer's Society.
Visit www.alzheimers.org.uk to download a copy or call their helpline: 0300 222 11 22
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Questions you may want to consider
Will I have my own room?
Will I have my own bath, shower or toilet?
Will I be able to lock the door of my room?
Can I stay in my room when I want to?
Can I bring some of my furniture and other belongings with me?
Can I have my own phone?
Can I bring my pet with me?
Is there a phone I can use to make and receive calls in private?
Can I get up and go to bed when I like?
Is smoking allowed?
Are there smoking/no smoking areas?
What are the fees?
What do the fees include?
Are there any extra charges?
Does the home accept people paid for by the Local Authority?
Can I carry on collecting my own pension?
What facilities are there? e.g. TV, music, library, hairdresser
About the home
About privacy and independence
How does the home deal with complaints?
Does the home seem well looked after and smell fresh and clean?
What is the area like?
Who owns and runs the home?
How many people live there?
Is there a garden or outdoor space for residents to use?
Do the residents have a say in how the home is run?
About the fees and facilities
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Questions cont’d
Can I go out when I choose?
Can I carry on the activities I enjoy now?
Does the home provide transport for social outings, shopping?
Does the home offer days out, activities, entertainment, holidays?
What arrangements are there for visiting the chiropodist, optician, or dentist?
Can I continue to look after my own medication?
Is it convenient for shops, public transport, my doctor?
Can I keep the doctor I have now?
If not, what choice of doctor do I have?
About social activities and choice
Is the menu varied – can I look at a menu?
Is there a choice at each meal?
How are likes and dislikes and individual requirements catered for?
Can I choose when I have my meals?
Can I eat in my room if I want to?
Can my visitors have a meal and is there a charge for this?
Will I be able to make drinks and snacks for my visitors and myself when I want to?
About meals - options and choices
These are just some of the things you might want to think about or ask when you are
deciding on which home to move to. You may have other questions we haven't listed here
so it is useful to write them down before you visit/speak to the home.
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Royal Borough of Greenwich Adult Social Care 020 8921 2304
RBG Financial Assessment advice and information 020 8921 3759
Alzheimer’s Society Greenwich 01322 524 950
Age UK Bromley and Greenwich 020 8315 1850
Advocacy for Older People in Greenwich 020 8269 0298
Greenwich Advocacy Partnership 020 8305 5000
Cedar Court 020 8311 1163
Marlborough Court 020 8310 8881
Bexley Care Homes
Age UK www.ageuk.org.uk
Care Quality Commission www.cqc.org.uk
Alzheimer’s Society www.Alzheimers.org.uk
Independent Age www.independentage.org.uk
My Home Life www.myhomelife.org.uk
Further information and advice
Greenwich Care Homes
Ashgreen House 020 8331 7240
Brook House 020 8320 5600
Cullum Welch Court 020 8463 8399
Charlton Park 020 8316 4400
Gallions View 020 8316 1079
Meadows House 020 8331 3080
Puddingstone Grange 020 8317 0912
Riverlee 020 8694 7140
The Oaks 020 8857 9980
Time Court 020 8301 8080
Westcombe Park 020 8293 9093
Weybourne 020 8310 8674
Information and useful contacts:
Some other organisations have produced useful information about moving to a care
home that you may like to see.