ElderlyWellCare - Information, Advice and Guidance on Elderly At-Home Care, Senior Residential Care Homes, Nursing Care Homes, Geriatric and Hospice Care Support for older people in Trinidad and Tobago.

• Care at-home support 
• Adult day-care centers
• Residential care homes
• Nursing care homes
• Specialist care homes
• Convalescent care
• Hospice / Respite care

• Care Quality Checklist

• Help for Caregivers

Feelings and Emotions

• Difficult time emotionally for families
• Life-changing decisions

Considerations
• Choice of a range of care homes
• Different levels of support and care services

Needs
• Limited level of care at home - Getting help in your own home with basic tasks, such as washing and dressing
• Short-stay respite care
• Receiving nursing care in a home - Being cared for in a residential or nursing home by professional carers


Finding the Right Care Home in Trinidad and Tobago

Location
• Is it clean, well-maintained, beautiful gardens?
• Homely environment?
• Convenient for relatives and friends to visit?
• Is there access to shops and services?

Accommodation
• What is the room size?
• Can residents own furniture and possessions?
• Garden and outside space to enjoy?
• Communal areas? 
• Areas for residents to sit?
• Quiet lounge without a TV?

Staff and Activities
• Professionally trained staff. 
• Staff welcoming & friendly?
• Home smells clean & fresh?
• Do other residents look happy and well cared for?
• Regular activities & special events?
• Exercise & trips outside the care home?

Medical Care
• How often care needs reviewed?
• Visiting doctors, dentists and opticians?
• Any complementary therapies & services: chiropody, physiotherapy and occupational therapy?

Key Specialty Areas: Care at-home support, Adult day-care centers, Residential care homes, Nursing care homes, Specialist care homes, Convalescent care, Hospice / Respite care, Old Age, Physical Disability, Dementia/Alzheimer's, Sensory Impairment, Hearing Impairment & Deafness, Speech Impairment, Stroke, Cancer Care, Challenging Behavior, Motor Neurone Disease, Huntington's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Parkinson's Disease, Schizophrenia, Colitis & Crohn's Disease, Epilepsy, Neuropathic, Orthopaedic Care.

CHOOSING AN ELDER RESIDENTIAL CARE HOME OR NURSING HOME

Choosing a residential care home for an elderly relative or friend is a difficult task. As a loved one, giving up the role as a primary caregiver is not easy. Finding the right care home requires looking for key qualities that can provide peace of mind that the senior loved one is properly cared for and has the best medical care available.

Cleanliness:

Cleanliness is key when dealing with seniors who might have a wide range of health problems. A residential care home should always smell fresh and clean without the scent of urine, harsh disinfectants or other unpleasant smells.

Beyond the smell, the home should have clean furniture, fresh linens that are clearly washed well and no clutter that might cause a trip hazard. The home is designed for older people who need more supervision than a family is able to provide due to health conditions. Cleanliness and the absence of hazards that might cause a family member to fall is vital to quality care.

Caring and Availability of Staff:

Any good elder residential care home should have several care and nursing staff members who are able to help as needed. A facility that has limited staff will often have problems meeting the needs of the residents.

Furthermore, the staff must also have a caring and positive attitude that encourages everyone staying in the home to enjoy activities and socialize.

The care staff is a constant part of the seniors’ lives and they must not have any problem conversing with the residents. The care staff should speak the language of the senior for good communication and care. Among the staff, there should also be security personnel to ensure safety.

Nutrition:

Nutrition is a vital part of good health and the nursing care home, and should have a well-planned out meal schedule that provides a wide range of food items for a healthy, well-balanced diet. When asking about the nutritional plans available to the seniors, the home should produce information relating to the meals, nutritional guidelines and methods of providing nutrition to those who are unable to eat normal meals.

Medical Professionals:

Depending on the nursing care home setting, the appropriate medical professionals will vary. A quality nursing care home will have a nurse on staff who visits regularly throughout the day and night to ensure the health and safety of seniors. They will also have one or two doctors available who visit regularly.

Activities for Seniors:

A necessary quality of any residential care home for seniors is a wide range of activities to keep residents active. Going to a care home can lead to feelings of isolation, but having several activities of personal interest available can help. The schedule of activities should have something for every level of physical ability and interest for the best results.

Choosing a quality care home is a necessary part of caring for a loved one who needs a little more help. The best elderly care homes will always meet the standards for nutrition, staff, cleanliness, safety and activities so that family can rest assured that all of their loved one's needs are met.

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