When a loved one moves into a care home, it is only natural to wonder how this will affect day-to-day family life and interactions. However, just because your loved one now lives somewhere new, doesn’t mean that the usual family gatherings and celebrations have to end.

What to Expect When Visiting a Care Home

Visiting a care home to see a loved one should be a simple and enjoyable experience. Whilst things may feel a little different at first, especially if you are used to living with your relative or visiting them in their own home, you’ll soon get used to care home visits.

Visiting a Care Home With Children

Often children can find the move of a relative to a care home strange but are also the most adaptable of us when it comes to new surroundings. Keeping contact with a care home resident is extremely important for all ages. Regular visits mean that care home residents can still be an active part of children’s lives, both in terms of visiting a care home and arranging trips away from the care home.

Taking children with you to a care home can be beneficial to both them and the person they are visiting and relationships with older relatives especially have been seen to improve communication skills and cognitive performance. The most important part of visiting a care home with kids is to explain why they are there and who they are visiting. It may also be helpful to have a conversation about what to expect in the care home. If they are visiting a relative with a condition such as dementia, explain what this means so that they do not become upset if their family member acts differently or can’t remember something or someone.

Care Home Visiting Guidance

Whilst every care home’s visiting guidelines are different, there are some general guidelines that should help to make your visit simple. If you are planning on visiting a loved one who lives in a care home, many homes will ask that you give them notice before you arrive.

Depending on the home, this could be from an hour to a day and just allows the care home to ensure your loved one isn’t in the middle of a task such as washing or out on a trip and is often a good way to judge the temperament of the individual at the time. For example, individuals in the later stages of dementia somethings go through periods of agitation which could be upsetting for younger visitors so a quick call ahead will let you plan your visit better.

Taking Loved Ones Out for the Day

Just because your loved one now lives in a care home doesn't mean that you can’t still enjoy afternoons out as a family. Involving your relative in family events such as birthdays can be a great way for them to stay connected to family life. As with visits, be sure to call the home  head of time to ensure your loved one is prepared to go out, especially if they will need to be looking their best for a family event.

Visits out and about such as garden centre outings or visits to nearby National Trust properties are always popular with care home residents and can be a great way to spend time with grandchildren or other relatives in a fun environment. Depending on the needs of your loved one, it may be worth acquiring a fold-up wheelchair if there may be walking involved and perhaps a blanket to avoid having to cut the fun short. Checking the accessibility of the place you are visiting is also important for those who may have mobility issues.

Contact the Care Home Specialists

If you have a loved one living in one of our care homes and want to know more about care home visiting guidelines, contact your home directly and our team there will be happy to help.

Alternatively, if you have questions about our care homes in general or are looking for general care guidance, contact the Select Healthcare team.

 

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