To think Nursing Homes could have more modern bedrooms for the prices they are charging.

[raisinbran]

I am very frustrated having been to various nursing homes in the north west looking for a place for my Mother to stay whilst I am on holiday for 3 wks in theSummer.

They have elaborate gardens, restaurant, glowing staff reports but when it comes to the rooms they look like 70s or 80s guest houses, with mismatching furniture bedding and wallpaper some don't even have ensuite bathrooms. My mum's condition means she has to stay in Bed on oxygen all the time so its important that she has a lovely room/view.

Most websites give you a generic description and omit any pictures of bedrooms. They are charging between 500 / 800 pounds a week you would like to think they are at least equal standard to your own home.

Please if anyone knows somewhere suitable we live in Ormskirk but would travel a good distance for the right place please let me. know

Would they let you move in your mum's furniture etc?

Sorry I don't know the area you live in, but when my grandparents moved into a nursing home my parents were able to move in some of their own bedroom furniture to make the place more homelike.

I may have to resort to that, it's just she will only be there for 23 days. We live near Southport , West Lancashire.

You could perhaps pay a nurse (or 2 on job share) to care for her in her own home for that money.

i know a couple of excellent ones in the southport area... have you looked around there?

I read a study recently which said that the average Care Home room is smaller than a room in student halls of residence AND a prison cell! And they are meant in many cases to be able to accommodate the whole of an elderly person's life.

does your mum have a social worker? why do you have to pay? is she over the threshold for her care to be paid for/subsidised? a social worker can arrange short term respite care,or nursing care at home

I have looked at 2 in Southport one wouldn't take a patient for only a few weeks, the other is OK, just bedrooms that were left available were disappointing and not what my Mum wants. However please pass on the details, a lot of directories just list addresses so any recommendations would be great.

Paisley.... I know it would make sense to have live in staff but my Mum has ruled it out incase they are mean to her and she can't get hold of anyone!!! She has read too many Daily Mail stories!

whihc ones did yu look at? if you prefer to discuss via email, you can CAT me
my grandma had a full time live in nurse who was absolutely faultless. can try to find out the name of the agency she was from as it is north west based

Thanks LM, not sure how to CAT. Westcliffe Manor couldn't do short term and Barton Park highest price yet mediocre rooms. If you come across the agency details great.

it's a difficult one because of all the various legislation, all homes have had to provide level access in the past few years, to the detriment of some of the rooms because, it seems like the authorities don't care so much about the view but that people won't trip over a step!
you can check out the reports (it's a bit like an ofsted report) of residential homes using the care quality commission, it's seems to be a good starting point - www.cqc.org.uk

i'll ask my mum more about this, she runs one and knows much more about it.
the tricky thing is that it's for a short period of time, and most homes couldn't really tell you if they will definitely have space. and those that do....might not be the best option anyway.
sorry this isn't any help but speak to the CQC and see if they can recommend something. and maybe your mum's GP can help, perhaps suggest another way of doing it?
And ban the Daily Mail!! ha ha. if you could think about the in home care, could she have a piper alarm fitted too so that she has an, um, escape plan of some sort? Any other family nearish? not to take on the care, but to be there if (and i'm sure it won't happen) her care isn't up to scratch.

good luck - will let you know more if my mum has anything to add

Thanks MummyElk, The site looks good. I can totally understand its a business and they need to fill rooms asap. I am an only child and her full time carer have doesn't even have any friends so she is going to feel a little exposed. this holiday was boked last year before she became ill and I thinkits important for my ds to have the normality of a family holiday.

Social services have provided a list but its time consuming going around each one only to find they are all similar. SS are not allowed to recommend places.Mum has to pay as her savings are over the threshold.

I suppose I should try to find one or 2 possible and then nearer the time book fulltime carers if we can't get in anywhere suitable.

Thanks everyone for the support and suggestions.

could she not buy one of those ridiculousley expensive beds out of her savings ,to take her below the threshhold and then flog it on ebay Good luck with your care home hunt ,tbh though i would be more interested in the staff and thier attitude to the patients than if the room compares to a holiday inn .Its no good lieing in a lovely room if you are left for hours on an end and no one answers the bell so you end up wetting yourself .

Yes good point I'll put that to her although she is fond of Holiday Inn. Mum has her house paid off so she would have to buy a very luxurious bed to get below the threshold!

Just looked at the cost of home care and it would be 630 pounds a week just for night care.