Entry into a retirement home occurs later and later, when the person's state of health no longer allows them to live in total independence, or even when their state of dependence is no longer compatible with life at home. and that she could put herself in danger. In fact, the retirement home becomes a place of care, although it remains above all a place of life. The choice of a retirement home is therefore not a choice to be taken lightly as it will condition the comfort and well-being of the resident.
Before developing the different criteria that should help you choose the establishment, it is important to clarify the different types of structures that the elderly can live in, which will probably be the first criterion. of choice, depending on the person's needs.
In general, the choice of a retirement home should be made according to the quality of the overall care of the resident, in relation to the monthly cost of accommodation and your financial capacity. It should also be noted that a notion of "feeling" is extremely important during the visit to the establishment and the first exchanges. If your first impression or your intuition is positive, if you have been well received, it is because the establishment and the team have been able to adapt to your needs, your choices, quite simply to you. Finally, before going into more detail on the quality of care for the resident, an establishment located close to his entourage will be essential to maintain social ties with loved ones, and we know the true adage "morale is health ".
It is important to ensure that quality care can be provided by qualified caregivers. To do this, several conditions must ideally be met.
State-certified, authorized to provide quality technical care thanks to appropriate training, the care team must also be made up of professionals from various trades, such as nurses, caregivers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists , speech therapists, etc. of which you should, if possible, ensure the number or at least the frequency of weekly intervention. Indeed, if each professional has to take care of too many residents, the management of care and the time for discussion and interaction will be altered.
It is important to ensure that a night, weekend and summer team is in place. 24/7 continuity of care is essential. In the same line, this continuity must be able to be maintained by the regular presence of a coordinating physician. As its name suggests, its role is to coordinate the various stakeholders in the medical profession. If his presence within the establishment is too exceptional, the quality of care could suffer.
Whether it is an urban or rural establishment, of whatever size, it must have a network of healthcare professionals, such as a nearby pharmacy, or the sector hospital for the possibility of care by the geriatric department if necessary.
In general, residents enter retirement homes and live there until the end of their lives. This involves worrying about the possible palliative care provided to the resident, which is the care that aims to relieve and soothe the suffering person, to maintain respect for their dignity and to support loved ones in this difficult stage. Finally, some establishments have a funeral service to support families following the death of a resident.
Some establishments offer a wide range of quality services, others offer very few. Depending on the budget of course, it is important to take into account the services offered to feel good at home.
The retirement home must clearly present its establishment project and its current pricing to you.
The school project :Each retirement home has had the obligation since 2002 to maintain this project, which must generally define the ambition of the establishment, both in terms of the life project and the care project for residents. It defines the commitment and the values represented by it, as well as the methods for implementing the missions on a daily basis. If the retirement home does not send it to you, do not hesitate to ask them in order to have full knowledge of how it works.
Financial transparency :The monthly rates in retirement homes are strictly regulated with regard to the provision of care and the care of dependency, i.e. the relationship to the health of the resident. On the other hand, the costs relating to accommodation, the equipment available and the services provided are left to the sole discretion of the establishment. In fact, we observe differences ranging from simple to double, or even triple, depending on the retirement homes. It is essential to ask for an actual estimate of the monthly cost of moving into a retirement home, including additional services billed in excess, such as laundry service, telephone, television, hairdresser, etc.
Retirement homes are places of community life, associated with the provision of care by health professionals. Despite this, it is important for the resident to be able to maintain their individual freedom, a personal space in which to receive their loved ones and moments of sharing between room neighbors.
A daily life adapted to the pace of the person :What are the times to respect, whether it is getting up, going to bed, washing, meals, entertainment or outings. It must be ensured that flexibility can be granted so that everyone can find their own rhythm, and thus their balance.
A fulfilling social life :It is necessary that at least one collective place be accessible, such as a lounge for board games or sensory and cognitive games, a place to listen to music, a TV lounge to share the program and discuss this which will be screened. Complicities can be born and this is obviously to be desired. It is important that the establishment offers time to get to know each other which will lead to friendships according to the affinities created.
A pleasant environment :As with any new home, the exteriors and appearance of the main building and surrounding areas are also important. Accessibility to premises, green spaces to sit outside on sunny days, a shared vegetable garden, a nearby market, etc.
Respect for privacy :The establishment must be able to answer you as to the possibility of receiving visits in its personal space and under what conditions (times, number, lunch on site, etc.). The link with relatives must be preserved and the establishment must ideally remain as flexible as possible when it comes to welcoming the family.
