Considering moving a family member or friend to a care home is a big and very difficult decision. It can be hard to know when is the right time to move to a care home for someone with dementia and if they already live in some form of assisted living, when to move from assisted living to a nursing home. We’ve created a helpful guide to help you know when it is time to move someone with dementia to a care home and how to move someone with dementia to a care home in the right way to support them.

 

When is the Right Time to Move Someone With Dementia to a Care Home?

Dementia is an extremely complicated and varied illness. As such, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to moving someone with dementia into a care home. Moving to a care home comes at different times for people with dementia and can depend on a number of things. For some, particularly those with mobility issues, the move comes as they simply do not have the support in place to be able to live independently any longer. For others, a crisis, such as a hospital admission may indicate the need for moving them to a care home.

If your family member or friend is in need of 24-hour supervision or care, this is often the time when many people will move into residential care. In some cases, moving to care can be a means of socialisation for those with dementia who may have become cut off from the world. Whilst moving someone with dementia to a care home can often come as a result of an unexpected occurrence, it can help to prepare in advance for the eventuality in order to make sure everything is arranged and possible care home choices researched before more urgent action is needed.

 

What Should be Considered When Moving Someone With Dementia to a Care Home?

When moving someone with dementia into a care home, it is important for them to feel like they are involved in the decision. It is also important to consult those who have been caring for them to ensure the move considers all of the needs of the person involved. The most important thing when considering moving someone with dementia into a care home is what is in their best interests. If you have been providing care for a family member or friend, it is important to decide whether you can provide the care they need in order to live a healthy and happy life.

If you are providing care for someone who is objecting to care being provided for them, it can be challenging to know how to approach this topic whilst still respecting their individual wishes, our guide explores how to approach a dementia patient refusing care here. Care homes can provide enriching and stimulating environments for those suffering from dementia but it is imperative that all parties involved agree to care being given.

Some ways to help prepare someone with dementia for moving into a care home include planning some personal belongings such as favourite pictures to take with them and putting together a memory box with personal belongings they can take with them to their new home. It can also help to start the discussion on moving to a care home early on to avoid any rushed decisions or panic when the topic is raised.

 

Choosing a Care Home that is Suitable

One of the most important things when moving someone with dementia into a care home is choosing the right care home for them. It is important that the care home you choose has specialist knowledge about dementia and services in place to help support your friend or family member. At Select Care Homes, we offer a range of care homes providing specialist dementia care services across the UK. Our staff at these care homes are fully trained and experienced in helping those with dementia live an enriching life and feeling comfortable in their surroundings.

 

If you are looking for more advice on choosing a suitable care home for your friend or relative or more information on moving someone with dementia to a care home, our caring and professional team is here to help. Contact us online or by calling 01384 217900 to talk to one of our team about the options that are open to you.

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