Many people with multiple sclerosis need around-the-clock care. A care home can be a good option for providing this care. While you can use a general care home, care homes for MS sufferers can provide more specialist care and can allow residents to socialise with others who have the same condition.
There are many of these care homes that you can choose from, but it’s important to find the right one for your needs. Below are just some of the main things to consider when looking for an MS care home.
Specialist care
Some care homes may advertise that they cater to MS residents, but may also cater to residents with various other health problems such as dementia or parkinsons. Make sure to clarify whether an MS care home is specific only to MS patients.
You can then be certain that nurses are trained specifically to deal with multiple sclerosis, and that facilities will be built around this health condition. Residents can also mix with people who have the same condition and won’t be forced to mix with residents with mental deterioration.
Quality of facilities
It’s worth taking a look into the quality of facilities. For instance, how many staff members are there and how qualified are they? What type of meals are residents served? And what kinds of entertainment are available? Also, what condition is the care home in? It may require visiting the care home to truly assess the quality.
Atmosphere
The atmosphere is also something that can only be gauged by visiting the care home itself. Ideally, there should be a happy and peaceful atmosphere. If residents or staff seem to be stressed or miserable, this could be a red flag.
Location
The location of the care home could be important if you or loved ones want to visit regularly. Ideally, it should be somewhere that is accessible to the most important relatives. At the same time, you want it to be based in a friendly and pleasant area. If the surroundings aren’t nice, it could make living there less enjoyable, even if the facilities are generally good quality.
Reviews
Reviews are a very good indicator as to the overall quality of a care home. If the reviews are overwhelmingly positive, it is usually a good sign that you can trust the staff and that the facilities are good. You can find reviews online.
Cost
For some people, the biggest factor is the cost. Care home fees can vary across the country. While it’s important that you find somewhere with good quality facilities, you need to be sure that you can afford the monthly fees.
Determine exactly what your budget is and see what you can afford with this budget. Some care homes may offer temporary respite care for multiple sclerosis patients. If loved ones are providing care and need a short break, this could be something to consider. It may also be useful for giving residents a taster of whether they want to move into the care home full-time.
