Ageing specialist urges families to avoid extreme worry when moving loved ones into a care home

Negative press coverage of the care sector has led to increasing paranoia over care home service quality, according to ageing specialist and psychologist Dr Lynda Shaw.

Dr Shaw wants to stress to those families feeling anxiety that anyone with in-depth experience of the sector will attest to its overall quality, meaning the vast majority of individuals who will come to rely on residential care can expect a positive experience.

She explains: “The horrors of the lack of care or poor standards by rogue care home workers are often isolated incidents that unfortunately happen in all aspects of our society. What is horrifying about them is that it is affecting some of the most vulnerable people in the country. However, a degree of understanding that these are unique cases and the vast majority of care home assistance is extremely positive needs to be highlighted before it truly affects the way our society views care homes.”

Dr Shaw advises families not to overlook the benefits of living in a care home, which she described as the ‘next positive stage’ of life: “My research has led me to find whilst there is a psychological adjustment that needs to be made if an individual considers care homes to be at the final stage of their life, the vast majority are able to focus on the benefits of entering care, not just for them but for their families too.”

According to Dr Shaw, many families even feel liberated by the experience. She continues: “Caring for older family members often results in time off work and unnecessary stress between relationships. Clients no longer have to rely on their family and family members no longer have to worry about fitting full care into their busy schedules and time together tends to be of higher quality.

“Relationships between family members can often improve once the extreme burden of looking after someone full time is lifted. It is near impossible to hold down a full time job, look after a young family and provide full time care to a parent for most people.”

For the care residents themselves, life in a care home can prove to be socially and emotionally stimulating.

“Older people can see going into a care home as entering a community of like-minded people. Those suffering from dementia still like to be with other people and care homes provide regular interaction and a bustling atmosphere.”

Dr Shaw concludes: “I have been talking to various wonderful care homes. If your care home offers a variety of care options from short and long term residential care to nursing and specialist services and the right people have been recruited then a care home could be a wonderful place for your loved one to live. Always ask around. Talk to other families when you visit a care home and ask their opinions. Trust your instinct to know if this is the place for your parent and go bearing a list of questions and gauge the atmosphere. See if your chosen care home offers the activities that your loved one is interested in. Chances are that a care home could be the perfect place for your mum or dad.”