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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.