Our parents look after us and raise us to be positive members of society and it is very much part of Thai culture for children to look after their parents when they become old. Of course, as our parents age, they become less independent and knowing when they require more assistance than we are able to offer can be difficult. Most people are very independent and do not ask for assistance, which means we have to be aware of how they are coping with life.
If you have come to the decision that a care home would be the best long-term solution for an aging parent or relative, here are a few aspects of finding elderly care in Rhode Island.
- Caring staff – It is important that the staff love their work and while the management would carry out screening when looking for carers, it is important that the carers are kind and compassionate. How can you discover whether or not care home staff are of a suitable disposition? Talk to a few residents and that will tell you about the overall level of care, which will give you peace of mind.
- Privacy– When caring for an elderly family member or friend, it is easy to unintentionally infringe upon the person’s privacy. Keeping in mind that when in a care home persons can sometimes feel more relaxed, you should help maintain their personal boundaries using medical privacy screens, it creates a sense of privacy where you can also customize it.
- Secure facility – Of course, security is paramount and every care home should have top-notch security, with video surveillance. CCTV is essential for many reasons; when residents need immediate attention, the CCTV system can help, in the event of a disagreement, video footage can resolve the issue. There should be manned security at the entrance, which should be around the clock.
- Social calendar – Of course, all residents should have an opportunity to socialise and any good care home would have a busy social calendar that they can join if they wish. Weekly activities would include card and board games, singing, watching TV and movies, with regular social trips outside. The care home should have its own minivan to transport the residents to outside venues. Have a chat with some of the residents and check out the weekly entertainment/activity schedule to get a clear picture of social interaction.
- Award winning care home – There is a great nursing home in Bangkok that has won many awards and this is a reflection of good quality care and service. Awards exist as an incentive for care providers to go that extra mile and when looking for the right care provider, awards are a good indication that you can use to guide you to making the right decision.
- Onsite medical professionals – It is important to have registered medical professionals on duty 24/7, in case there is an emergency and treatment can be carried out promptly. Each resident should have their own physician who sees them on a regular basis, while the care staff would develop meaningful relationships with all the residents. One needs to have patience when working with the elderly and an understanding of how difficult things are for an aging person, while also being a good listener.
- Government registered – Every nursing home should be registered with the government, which ensures they are in full compliance with all government guidelines. The facility’s licence should be framed somewhere in the main office and the care home staff would be happy to produce this paperwork, should a potential customer require it.
- Relaxed atmosphere – This is perhaps the most important aspect, at least from the residents’ perspective, with smiling staff with a ‘can do’ attitude. People like to be around happy people, especially when living in a group environment. Working with elderly people requires special skill sets and always being upbeat is important; for the residents, life revolves around a handful of people and it is critical that good relationships are fostered. Click here for tips to promote good health & well-being.
The Thai government takes care for the elderly very seriously and nursing homes should be of the highest quality to offer the best care to the aging population. Take your time when looking at nursing homes and at the end of the day, it should be the elderly person that makes the decision, as this will be their next home.
