Finding the right home

Meeting needs and finding the right home for your loved one

Finding a home for a family member who has challenging behaviour can be difficult and distressing. Not all nursing homes have the experience, facilities or staff to care for particularly challenging residents, and this can often lead to them being asked to leave the home. This is called placement breakdown and can be very upsetting for everyone involved, as well as devastating for the resident.

1. Be as honest as you can

Tell the professional who is helping to find a nursing home everything about your loved one’s behaviour – the staff from the home will carry out an assessment and will need all of the facts in order to make a decision on suitability. Once they have done this, they may say that they cannot help – this may be frustrating but being honest will decrease the likelihood of your family member being asked to leave the home at a later stage when the care home cannot cope with his/her complex behaviour anymore.

Don’t lose faith though. There are really good care homes out there that do specialise in caring for residents with challenging behaviour.

2. Ask to be involved

Make sure that you are involved in any decision making. Go to see the homes that are being considered and let them know which ones you like.

3. Look for a specialist provider

Challenging behaviour can present at various levels and risks, most providers say that they can care for people with challenging behaviour but this is not their core strength. Look for a service with a proven track record of caring for people with similar conditions and behaviours. Ask for case studies or recommendations.

4. Don’t choose based on looks

Just because a home has plush décor, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are able to meet the needs of your loved one. Think long term and ask the person helping you to find a home to consider your loved one’s prognosis and rate of progression with their illness. The impact of having to move to a different home in the future can cause distress and anguish to both you and your loved one.