Independent Care Advisors

[Emsy]

Hi,

Does anyone have any experience of using an ICA company to help find a suitable care home?
They do seem expensive but I have to find care for both my parents who have very different care needs but want to stay together & I really don't know where to start!
I work full time too so I'm not sure how ill find the time to research the vast number of homes out there!

Thanks

Em

 

[clareglen]

How about doing a bit of online research from the CQC reports first, in your area, to give you an idea of what is out there? http://www.cqc.org.uk/

 

[Kevinl]

I hate to sound boring but if you put in a geographic location, just a town, city or whatever then it does help. If you're in city A and you need a home than will take someone with say aggression issues then unless I know that's what you're looking for it's difficult to help other than to say you don't need to pay for the advice if we can understand where and what you're looking for. Sorry to bang on about it but provision varies by region so it's no use me telling you about Cornwall if you're in Aberdeen.
K

 

[jenniferpa]

But if you take Kevinl's advice, be aware that people should only contact you via PM.

Also, of course, you may not for privacy reasons wish to post this information and that's perfectly acceptable.

 

[Not so Rosy]

My County Council produces a handbook containing a list of all the Care/Nursing homes in the County including their specialisms and tips on how to pick one. It's not perfect but at least a good starting point, maybe worth checking to see if yours produces one too.

 

[Kevinl]

But if you take Kevinl's advice, be aware that people should only contact you via PM.

Also, of course, you may not for privacy reasons wish to post this information and that's perfectly acceptable.

"Should only contact you via PM", why not in public? My thinking is if someone starts giving you advise in PM check them out big time where as if you have nothing to hide post on public you won't have a problem.
Sorry Em we're going a bit off topic, are you prepared to disclose just generally where you'd like to find a care home and what any special needs are someone on here may well have some good advise.
K

 

[jenniferpa]

On the whole I agree - I've actually advised people to post on the forum with questions because I think those sorts checks and balances are important. However, we do not permit specific care home or care providers to be referenced on the forum. Those are the forum rules.

 

[Raggedrobin]

I could have had access to an ICA through a health care programme, but I failed to see how they could know more about the homes in the area I was in than me. I had gone round all of them myself, canvassed opinions on them etc. So I never used one, but I guess if you are not close to the relative requiring care, it might be helpful.

 

[Emsy]

Thanks folks there are some good ideas to get me started.
It just seems so daunting & overwhelming at the moment.
I'm about an hour from mum & dad so not too far.
I don't mind saying they are in Leicestershire & are open to most areas in the county.
Dad has moderate Alzheimer's & gets a bit muddled & forgetfull but still has days when he seems fairly on the ball, but also his spine is crumbling & he suffers with a lot of pain. Mum has MS & had a leg amputated a year ago so requires a lot of physical help but is still very active 'mentally' being a young 73.
They have coped in the home with support from carers & myself up until now but they are both exhausted & Dads needs aren't being adequately met in the home anymore.
So we have all made the decision that residential care is the best thing.
Somewhere temporary for now so they can get some rest & not to have to worry about the day to day stuff for a few weeks while we look for the right place on a permanent level.

 

[Kevinl]

There's a lot listed here in the Leicester and surrounding areas, there may be something of interest. If you're an hour away you might want to look at something closer to home to save the drive if your parents are happy with that, basically though if you go north you may find you get better value for money rather than heading south.
No two care homes are the same it's very much down to the staff and this is just my view but I think the well run independent ones are often better than the group owned ones, possibly someone in the east midlands area can recommend somewhere (within the rules of the forum) in that area.
K

http://www.carehome.co.uk/care_sear...tershire/searchchtype/alzheimers-and-dementia