A care plan is crucial to ensure you receive the right level of care and that it is given in line with your wishes and preferences. The care home’s needs assessment is a discussion about what a person wants to achieve by receiving care in the care home.
When someone expresses interest in moving into a Nursing Home or care home in Worthing, the Registered Manager or a Senior Registered Nurse will carry out an assessment of the Resident’s needs. The assessment is to talk about:
- What you need support with.
- Who you are as a person.
- Your preferences and goals.
Care plans are based on individual needs and are consequently different from person to person. Although each care plan is unique, they all serve the same purposes, including:
- Ensuring that you receive the same care regardless of which care worker is on duty.
- Ensuring that the care you receive is recorded.
- Supporting you to identify and manage your care needs.
Care plans are flexible, meaning that when or if your care needs change, the plan will be reviewed and adjusted accordingly to make sure it meets your needs and preferences.
We recommend that the person seeking care has a family member or person they trust with them for the care assessment, particularly if they are living with dementia, or cannot fully answer questions due to other medical reasons, such as having had a stroke.
Where is the assessment done and what is it like?
It can be done in person at home, at the hospital or over the telephone. There is no set time period, but typically they take between 45 minutes and 2 hours. Examples of questions you may be asked are as follows:
- How do you like to be referred to? He/Him / She/Her They/Them?
- Do you have a preferred name, and how should we (your care team) address you? (A person’s preferred name might be different to their legal name).
- What elements of your personality should we consider?
- Does your ethnicity, religion or culture affect your care needs?
- What medication do you take?
- Do you have a history of falls?
- Do you have any memory problems?
- Are there any elements of your life that are particularly important?
- Tell me about your job history before you retired?
- What are the essential routines you like to follow?
- What are your hobbies and interests?
- Do you smoke?
- What is your daily alcohol intake?
- Do you have any specific dietary requirements/needs? E.g., vegan, vegetarian, lactose intolerant?
- Who are the important people in your life?
- How involved are your family members?
As a result of this assessment, the team at our care home in Worthing will construct a care plan electronically on a system we use called Nourish. This is a plan for your care, designed by health professionals and you that meets your needs. If you wish, your family can be involved too and often are.
What does the Care Plan include?
- What your assessed care needs are
- What type of support you should receive
- What kind of mobility equipment you may need
- Your desired outcomes
- Who should provide care to you
- When care and support should be provided
- Medication
- Cultural and ethnic background, gender, sexuality, and any disabilities
- Dietary needs
- Mental wellbeing
- Records of care provided to you
- Risk Assessments
- Your wishes and personal preferences
- Previous health concerns and conditions
- Your biography
- End-of-life preferences
An effective care plan helps you to understand your condition and live as independently as possible. By being involved in your own care planning, you ensure you will be looked after the way you want and that you can keep doing the things you enjoy, such as pursuing hobbies and interests. Additionally, a care plan is important because it helps your family and other loved ones to understand your wishes and how they can support you as well.
Is it a static document?
No, it’s always changing and evolving just as your medical conditions and your preferences might. The nurses are responsible for the management of care plans and other health professionals, your family, and you will constantly feedback information to update your care plan.
Got further questions?
If you would like to learn more about our care home in Worthing, the assessment process and our care plans, do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
We are always happy to answer any questions you may have. Give our Registered Manager a call on 01903 830600, or email us at manager@countrylodgenursing.co.uk.