Funding Care
Whether you are looking for residential care, respite care or specialist care for people living with dementia, we hope our website will assist you in making the right choice for yourself or a loved one.
Choosing a Home
Choosing a Care Home for yourself or a loved one can be an emotionally challenging time. It’s so important that the home you choose will meet your needs in terms of not only physical care, but also emotional wellbeing, lifestyle choices, hobbies and interests. At Cornwallis Care, we believe that the home has to be a ‘fit’ for the person, and not the other way around.
Of course, there are some factors which will be important in the decision-making processes such as proximity to family and friends, but to ensure that you are choosing the home that will best suit your needs, make sure you visit a number to get a better idea of what is available.
Spend some time there so that you experience the environment; it’s always a good idea to visit us as a day centre client – spend the day, have a meal and a chat, see how you feel.
All eight Cornwallis Care Homes across Cornwall have an open-door policy so you can visit when it is convenient to you. Just let us know when you would like to come and someone will be on hand to help and show you around.
If you want to be sure to meet one of our Registered Managers, it is a good idea to prearrange a time.
Questions to Ask
As with any big decision, there will be lots of questions you want to ask and things you need to be sure of before deciding on which Home to choose.
To make sure you have the answers you need, we have provided a Checklist which will prompt you to ask the right questions and discuss what is important to you.
Location and surroundings
Ask:
- Is it easy to get here by public transport?
- Where is the nearest bus stop / train station?
- How frequent is the bus / train service?
- What local amenities are there and how can I get to them – eg shops / church / park / pub?
- Does the home have its own transport?
- What is it used for?
- What links does the care home have with the local community?
Buildings and communal areas
Ask:
- Are there visiting hours? Can my visitors stay overnight?
- Are children welcome? What facilities do you have for them?
- Are there communal lounge facilities with and without TV?
- Who is responsible for maintenance?
- Are all areas safe and accessible?
- What are the security arrangements? Can visitors go in and out?
- Is there somewhere I can get privacy / peace and quiet other than my bedroom?
My room
Ask:
- Can I bring my own furniture?
- Can I decorate or rearrange my room?
- Where can I keep my valuables? Is there a safe?
- Does the home’s insurance policy cover my possessions?
- How many people do I have to share the bathroom with?
- Can I have my own phone with a separate number?
- Is there internet access? Do I have to pay extra for this?
- Can I change rooms later if a better one becomes available? What’s the process and cost for this?
Daily life
Ask:
- What social activities are there? Are there any exercise classes? Outings?
- Can visitors stay for a meal or make themselves a drink / something to eat?
- Who does the catering? Can I see a sample menu? Do you cater for special diets? Is there a choice of menu?
- Can I bring a pet? Can my pet visit?
- Can I have snacks and drinks at any time?
- Are there any rules about going in and out?
- How will you support me to practise my religion / faith?
Healthcare
Ask:
- How do you assess residents’ care needs before moving in?
- Does each resident have their own personal care plan and how is this reviewed?
- What medical help is available?
- Can I still see my own GP? How will I get to hospital or my GP? Will anyone help me / come with me? Do I have to pay for this?
- What access is there to other health services – eg a chiropodist / physiotherapist / dentist / optician? Do they visit? How often? How much does it cost?
- Can residents choose to have a male or female carer?
Independence
Ask:
- How flexible is the daily routine? Can I get up and go to bed when I like?
- Can I make snacks and drinks for myself?
- Can I choose whether to have a bath or shower and how often?
- Can I come and go as I please?
- Can I lock my room?
- Can I help in the garden / have my own flower bed?
- How do the staff get to know about a resident’s life and experiences?
- Is there a residents’ committee? How are they involved in decisions about the care home?
Staff
Ask:
- How many staff are on duty – during the day / at night / at weekends?
- How long have the staff and manager been here / what is the turnover of staff and managers?
- What training do they get? How often? Who trains them?
- What qualifications do they have?
- Do they have any special training / experience – eg in dementia care?
- Do you use agency staff? How often? What’s the ratio of agency to permanent staff?
Coping with changing and specialist needs
Ask:
- Can you offer the level of care I need / cater for my specific condition?
- What happens if my needs change or increase? Will you be able to provide more care if I need it in the future?
- How do you support residents who have difficulty seeing or hearing?
- How do you support residents who are living with dementia?
- Will I have a member of staff particularly responsible for my care?
- What support do you offer for end-of-life care?
Paying for your care
It is a fact of life that funding is at the centre of the care system in the UK and this issue above all others can cause the greatest concerns.
If you do need to go into a residential home, there are many ways that you might get help towards paying the fees. The Local Authority may pay some of the cost and you may be able to claim extra Social Security benefits.
The weekly charge payable by yourself will depend on your own financial circumstances ((i.e. how much savings or income you have and whether you own your own home). Use the links below to find a lot of the information you need, or please contact our Finance Manager, Miss Jenna Knights: jknights@cornwalliscare.com
Warmth • Dignity • Kindness •
People First • Respect •
Welcoming and attentive
I find the home very welcoming and attentive to my husband's needs. The staff are always polite, kind and willing to help where they can. The staff are helpful to me as well as my husband, which I find excellent as it's difficult to be without him.
The care has been fantastic
My wife, who has Alzheimer's and needs 24/7 supervision, feeding and toileting, washing and dressing, has been cared for on two occasions of one week at Addison House. The caring has been fantastic, and she has been clean and happy when I have picked her up. Because she is very mobile, I know she is safe and secure at Addison House.
The best care I could have wished for
I would like to commend Trecarrel on the excellent level of care given to my Mother. All the care givers are so professional, and the senior staff go above and beyond.
I have always been made so welcome and, very much feel part of the Trecarrel family.
My Mum has resided at Trecarrel for 8 years, and in that time I cannot fault the level of her care. I can leave Mum knowing she is getting the best care I could have wished for.
Thank you to the wonderful people who make Trecarrel such a wonderful home for the residents.
A wonderful experience
The family Christmas lunch was a wonderful experience, the staff were so friendly and my Dad said how much he felt the spirit of Christmas. Dad has been a resident here for just over 12 months and he is always complimentary about the level of care and how attentive the staff are.
My partner is very well looked after
The biggest compliment I can give to Beech lodge is that, having visited a few care homes there is just a good feel about the place. All staff, management & care assitance always appear happy & very helpful. I am always greeted with a smile and my partner is being very well looked after.