A new survey reveals choosing care for yourself or a relative is one of the biggest sources of stress compared to other events in your life.
West Sussex County Council is endorsing the Care Quality Commission’s latest campaign to make sure you know what to look for when choosing care.
According to a survey of 1,000 people carried out for the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 70% of adults who were responsible for choosing care found it more stressful than choosing a school or nursery for their child or a venue for their wedding or civil partnership.
52% of people surveyed said choosing a care home is in their top three most stressful life decisions. The vast majority (72%) of respondents said that seeing a care home for themselves was the most important factor in helping make their decision.
To also help people make an informed choice, the county council has a checklist of the areas to consider when looking at a care home or package of care. It includes the following advice:
• Check the current CQC rating and reports
• Confirm a registered manager is in place
• Make sure a care plan can be changed to adapt to your needs and preferences
• Be aware of how to raise a concern or make a complaint
• Understand costs
• Assess whether current residents are involved and content
• Consider whether staff appear caring and attentive
Amanda Jupp, Cabinet Member for Adults and Health said: “Being able to access information quickly is vital when choosing care, particularly when decisions may be made in times of crisis.
I urge anyone to plan ahead as much as they are able to and use the West Sussex Care Guide when making this all-important decision. Alternatively people can visit our information and advice website ‘West Sussex Connect to Support.’
Bryan Turner, the Chairman of the Health and Adults’ Social Care Select Committee said: “Choosing care can be hugely stressful for people and having clear, independent and trusted information to help them make the right decisions for themselves or their loved ones can make a big difference.
Andrea Sutcliffe, CQC’s Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care said: “Choosing care can be a real worry for people, their families and carers, wondering who or where to turn to – but CQC can help.
“The public needs to know about the quality of care services available and they also need to be reassured that if there are any problems, these are being identified and tackled.
Find out more at www.westsussex.gov.uk/careguide where you can also access the checklists or visit www.westsussexconnecttosupport.org
CQC ratings can be found at http://www.cqc.org.uk/
Join in the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #CareAware
