Frequently Asked Questions
Q.1 Are there different types of Care Homes?
Q.2 Are all homes registered and inspected?
Q.3 How is care in a home paid for?
Q.4 How is the care offered to each resident monitored?
Q.6 How do you maintain cleanliness in the Home?
Q.1 Are there different types of Care Homes?
A.1 There are primarily two types of Homes - those which provide mainly personal care (previously called Residential Homes, now called Care Homes) and those which also provide nursing care (Care Homes with Nursing).
PERSONAL CARE - People who can no longer cope with their day to day activities alone in their own home, even with a carer or outside help, need the support and expertise offered by the experienced staff of a Care Home. Accommodation, personal care (such as help with bathing and dressing), laundry, cleaning and meals are all provided.
NURSING CARE - People whose infirmity, illness or injury require nursing care on a regular basis, which cannot be provided for them at home by the District Nursing Services, also need a Care Home with Nursing (these used to be called Nursing Homes). This sort of care, the law says, can only be provided by a Qualified Nurse or under the direct supervision of a Nurse.
Nursing care generally requires higher fees than personal care because of this 24 hour care being by Qualified Nurses, on top of the personal care, accommodation and meals.
It is important to make sure that the home you choose is the right kind for your needs, both now and in the future.
Q.2 Are all homes registered and inspected?
A.2 Yes they are. The purpose of registration and inspection is to guarantee the standard of care you are entitled to receive. In order to be registered, a home has to comply with the Care Standards Act and the Care Homes Regulations. These specify the high standards required, for example the room sizes, number of bathrooms and toilets, food, services and facilities, fire safety and records to be kept.
Each home is regularly inspected. After each inspection a report is sent to the home detailing any recommendations and actions required. Our Homes are willing to let a prospective customer view the latest report, so ask to see it.
Q.3 How is care in a home paid for?
A.3 It is a complex process and this outlines just the key points. We would encourage you to seek further specialist advice.
The charges for staying in a Care Home are divided into two different elements.
- Nursing Care which is care provided by a Qualified Nurse.
- Personal Care (such as help dressing, eating, bathing, mobility etc) and accommodation (which includes food, heating and living costs).
Nursing Care:
You may be entitled to a contribution from the NHS towards your nursing costs. If you wish to be considered for support, the NHS will assess a person’s nursing needs. If you meet their criteria, the NHS will contribute an amount according to the level of nursing input. This amount is paid directly to the Care Home towards the cost of the Qualified Nurses.
Personal Care and Accommodation:
In England, if you have over a certain level of savings and assets (£21,000 as of April 2006) you will be expected to pay the full cost of your personal care and accommodation. If you have assets of less, your Local Authority will carry out both clinical and financial assessments to determine what type of care package best suits your needs and how much they believe you can contribute towards your care.
If you have assets of under this level, your Local Authority department will carry out both care needs and financial assessments to determine what type of care package best suits your needs and how much they believe you can contribute towards your care.
If the Authority is not prepared to pay the home’s full fee then this amount can be "topped up" by a relative/friend or charity.
If you own your own home prior to entering a Care Home the value of your home will be included in your assets, unless the house is occupied by your spouse (or in exceptional circumstances an incapacitated close relative). However, the Local Authority may disregard the value of your property for the first 12 weeks after your admission. After this period you will normally be expected to put the property on the market. Whilst the property is being sold the Local Authority will continue to make a contribution towards your fees, however, once the property is sold, you will be expected to repay them this amount. Alternatively, you can retain your property, with all payments made by the Local Authority deferred and deducted from your estate.
You should seek further specialist financial advice on these matters before making a final decision.
Q.4 How is the care offered to each resident monitored?
A.4 For the peace of mind of anyone being cared for in a Milford Care home, and their family, we ensure a unique care plan is individually prepared for every new resident.
The Milford Care Resident Care Plan ensures that:
- Your needs are identified by careful assessment, with your own involvement or that of your nominated relative/friend.
- The Plan will describe those identified needs and the way in which our staff will meet them.
- You or your nominated relative/friend can choose to be involved in the ongoing care planning process.
- Care Plans are reviewed periodically and also when your needs change.
At Milford Care we firmly believe that you, and if you wish, your family, should play an integral part in the care planning process.
A.5 Meals are an important part of the daily routine in any care home and we take great trouble to provide delicious and traditional home cooked dishes, with ingredients being selected on the basis of quality, taste and nutrition. All meals are freshly prepared in-house and our catering staff liaise with the Care Team to ensure special dietary requirements are fully catered for. We also endeavour to get input from residents as to the choice of the menu.
Q.6 How do you maintain cleanliness in the Home?
A.6 At Milford Care Homes we see cleaning as one of the most important aspects of our quality service. We employ cleaners who are trained in our procedures with the ambition to maintain excellent cleanliness. The cleaners clean the Home on a daily basis using a colour coded system to prevent cross-contamination. On entering and leaving the Home an Alcohol gel is also available for all to use.
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