Finding a private nursing home for your loved one can be a daunting task. With so many care options available in Surrey, it is essential to conduct research before choosing a private nursing home.
Thankfully, there are many tools available to check the credentials and ambience of a private nursing home before you make your choice.
Compiling a list of questions is a helpful start. Many family members have similar questions, such as: “How can I be sure that staff will treat my relative kindly?” and, “Will my loved one be happy in the private nursing home I choose?
Here are our top three tips for picking the best private nursing home in Surrey for your family member:
1. Check the reviews on carehome.co.uk
Online reviews are becoming increasingly influential in our decision making. Whether choosing a gift, a local restaurant, or a nursing home, online reviews play a powerful role in the choices we make.
And a good nursing home will have plenty of positive reviews online. Families of nursing home residents willingly share reviews if they are impressed by the care that their loved one has received.
One of the best online directories for nursing home reviews is carehome.co.uk .This well-respected website is a must when searching for a private nursing home.
Those submitting a review on carehome.co.uk provide a summary of their experience – or their loved one’s experience – along with a rating according to how likely the reviewer is to recommend that nursing home to others.
Birtley House, our private nursing home in Surrey, has a particularly high review score on carehome.co.uk. Consistently large scores help instil the confidence that families need when making such an important decision. Read the reviews for Birtley House Nursing Home here.
In addition to carehome.co.uk, Google and Facebook are also excellent places to conduct research when searching for the best private nursing home in Surrey.
2. Read the nursing home’s CQC inspection report
Every private nursing home in Surrey is inspected by the Quality Care Commission (CQC) .The CQC is the independent regulator of health and social care in England. They produce a report on every private nursing home in the UK.
And, helpfully, the CQC speaks to residents and staff as part of their review process, and the report includes their observations at the time of inspection. These reports are readily available online and easy to find on the CQC website. Nursing homes are each given a rating by the CQC. Those with a Good or Outstanding rating show that the nursing home is meeting expectations and performing well. Read the CQC reports for Birtley House, Surrey nursing homes here.
3. Explore the nursing home’s social media pages
Scrolling through a private nursing home’s social media pages, such as Facebook and Instagram, is a quick way to get a feel for that home.
And good private nursing homes in Surrey will post regularly on social media. Their social pages will be full of images of a thriving and happy home.
When looking at a nursing home’s social media posts, it is wise to ask: “Is the nursing home running regular activity sessions?”, “Do the staff celebrate successes and mark special occasions?” and, “Do the residents look healthy and content?”.
Active social media pages provide reassurance to the loved ones of the residents who live in a home – a key consideration when looking for the best private nursing home in Surrey for your loved one.
Birtley House has a strong presence on social media. We pride ourselves on positivity and believe that our residents’ happiness reflects on our social pages.
In summary, finding the correct private nursing home for a family member is one of the most important and difficult decisions that you will have to make.
Using the above methods to compile a shortlist provides a positive start in the decision-making process.
But nothing beats visiting a nursing home in person and this is highly recommended.
When you make the right choice for your loved one, they will settle in quickly, and you will relax, knowing that your family member is safe, happy, and well cared for.
Birtley House is a private nursing home in Surrey. Family-run for almost 90 years, Birtley House offers exceptional private nursing care. If you are interested in finding out more about Birtley House Nursing Home, please email: info@birtleyhouse.co.uk or call 01483 892055
