I have 88/89 year-old neighbours who are getting very close to having to accept the inevitable and leave their home to go into care.

They still have all of their faculties, but are physically very infirm - one can just get round with a Zimmer (a few feet at a time), while the other is chair-bound. They're just coming round to accepting that, even with daily help visits, the house is too much for them.

If they don't manage to find a suitable home they like and can move into together, I am concerned that things will come to a head at some stage in the near future and they'll end up in whatever is available at the time, or worse, even separated.

Having looked on the net for homes in Sheffield, I was dazzled by the number of places out there.

They’re fussy (who can blame them at their age). Can anybody recommend somewhere that fits the following criteria:

- Specialises in physical ageing/disability rather than mental issues or dementia.
- Is nicely appointed (comfortable sitting rooms, upmarket decoration)
- Good food and staff
- Can provide twin or double rooms for couples
- Can accept some of their own furniture and ‘precious things’
- Ideally on the West of Sheffield, but at least close to Sheffield
- Price isn't the biggest issue, but obviously good value is preferable


Any tips would be appreciated – this couple are really struggling and I need to find somewhere they will be comfortable (and like enough to accept) before things go wrong for them.

I have visited a few on my travels. Obviously not going to name and shame the bad ones in public, but one of the better ones Ive come across is the Grosvner care home Just off Barnsley road a little further up than the norwood crossroads. can only go on what Ive seen, but seems a well run, genuine caring environment though I think just residential care. also impressed by Swallownest court, though a little further out of town, they do also provide nursing care. I wouldnt trust many of them with my dog, let alone my loved ones

Try here www.csci.org.uk

They are the body that relates and inspects care homes, there should be a contact number on their site. Plus if you cant find them on the site their probably not registered.

Hope this helps :thumbsup:

I hope that your neighbours find somewhere they can enjoy the rest of their lifes together

I hope that your neighbours find somewhere they can enjoy the rest of their lifes together

A fine sentiment - they've 'done their bit' over the years and need to remain together in comfort for a while longer.

This website might help

http://www.townpages.com/south-yorkshire/sheffield/residential-care-homes.htm

I like the look of the Aviva Lifestyle assisted housing at Loxley, it is expensive, but maybe they will get help from Social services? I think that the rental is per flat, rather than per person, so they ought to be able to claim that it would be cheaper to put them together there than to payfor two places at some of the other homes?

Best of luck to them, you hear of terrible stories of elderly couples being separated when they are ill, and even put into different homes :(

I don't know if its any good but the Alexander court in crookes looks nice from the outside...seems upmarket

This website might help

http://www.townpages.com/south-yorkshire/sheffield/residential-care-homes.htm

I like the look of the Aviva Lifestyle assisted housing at Loxley, it is expensive, but maybe they will get help from Social services? I think that the rental is per flat, rather than per person, so they ought to be able to claim that it would be cheaper to put them together there than to payfor two places at some of the other homes?

Best of luck to them, you hear of terrible stories of elderly couples being separated when they are ill, and even put into different homes :(
Thank you very much for this link - I think the 'Extra Care' housing development option, allowing them to have their own flat but with specialist support and facilites right on the doorstep, might be just the ticket.
I'll contact Aviva tomorrow.
Again, many thanks.

They are lucky to have such a supportive neighbour. Do they have a full home care package,ie up to 4xvisits a day for help with meals and personal care.Shopping service,aids and adaptations to their home,ie stairlift,extra grabrails,electric bath seat etc etc.They can always have extra help with medication and housework as well as an alarm system for emergencies? There is a lot of help out there so that couples like your neighbours can stay in their homes-sometimes youve just got to know whats available in the first place.
I hope this post does not appear patronising in any way-especially if the couple are already aware of whats available,but have decided to explore 24 hr residential care anyway? :)

They are lucky to have such a supportive neighbour. Do they have a full home care package,ie up to 4xvisits a day for help with meals and personal care.Shopping service,aids and adaptations to their home,ie stairlift,extra grabrails,electric bath seat etc etc.They can always have extra help with medication and housework as well as an alarm system for emergencies? There is a lot of help out there so that couples like your neighbours can stay in their homes-sometimes youve just got to know whats available in the first place.
I hope this post does not appear patronising in any way-especially if the couple are already aware of whats available,but have decided to explore 24 hr residential care anyway? :)

They have a daily home visit to help with cleaning, a stair lift (which the old lady can't even get to most of the time; she has to use a commode downstairs), an alarm system, but they've been told that because they are capable of washing themselves, they don't qualify for more support than they currently have.
They might be able to get by for a while with a bit more help, but they're getting worse not better and do need to 'take the plunge' sooner rather than later.

They have a daily home visit to help with cleaning, a stair lift (which the old lady can't even get to most of the time; she has to use a commode downstairs), an alarm system, but they've been told that because they are capable of washing themselves, they don't qualify for more support than they currently have.
They might be able to get by for a while with a bit more help, but they're getting worse not better and do need to 'take the plunge' sooner rather than later.

Sorry if my post came across as suggesting that they should simply 'get by' just wasnt sure from the op what care they were already receiving.
Aviva is very nice(i have been) Good luck finding them somewhere they can be safe and happy :thumbsup:

Sorry if my post came across as suggesting that they should simply 'get by' just wasnt sure from the op what care they were already receiving.
Aviva is very nice(i have been) Good luck finding them somewhere they can be safe and happy :thumbsup:No, it didn't come over that way at all - far from it.
I have been surprised by how little care is available to them through the social services organisations, but I suppose there are others in far worse states - at least these two are not in squalor (far from it to be truthful), while others are in desperate states. Too few resources to go round, as ever.

I know what you mean.In my experience you have to fight like Mike Tyson just to get the bare minimum. Glad they've got you to fight their corner :D

I don't know if its any good but the Alexander court in crookes looks nice from the outside...seems upmarket

sorry, but thats on my list of definately NOT. Many can make them look good on the outside and in reception, but its what goes on (or rather dont go on) inside that counts.
more that seem genuinly caring environments are the council-run one on Parson cross (sorry, cant think what its called, but someone may help out), the whitehouse, out on rivelin valley/Manchester road (Does residential and EMI care, though not Nursing care and definately has rooms for couples). the one on cocksutts lane in outibridge and both the ones just off owler lane in fir-vale seem nice. Also one right by the main road out towards Halfway that seems to provide excellent care (residential and nursing) Im not going to identify how I come to these decisions as that would identify who I am and what I do, but sharing my observations based on what Ive seen of staffing levels, knowledge and willingness of the staff and how 'cared for' the residents seem. I never find it a good sign when the staff know very little about the resident because its "not their floor" and the smell of urine when you walk down the corridors would make me think twice too.

Another option they might like to look at is that they could apply for direct payments from the social services, which means that instead of getting a home help sent to them, they get a payment which enables them to recruit their own carer. It was set up to enable people to have a choice about their care.

We did this with my mother, and she employed me as her carer, which worked really well for all of us, as I was doing the caring anyway, and she was very keen to stay in her own home. She was assessed as needing 32 hours per week care, including night time care. We did this for the year before she died and it enabled me to quit my job and become a full time carer for her. She would have hated being in a home, and would have been separated from my dad who was doing too much of her care and getting ill.

The only down side with this is that it can be a hassle to be an employer, as they have to get public liability insurance etc, and deal with national insurance and tax too. However there is an agency who helps with all this and mostly sorts it out for them.
Direct payments are a good option if they know someone who would be willing to be their carer, and who could sort out the financial side for them. It is quite a hassle to set up and run, and so they would need to have someone prepared to help with this.

Another option they might like to look at is that they could apply for direct payments from the social services, which means that instead of getting a home help sent to them, they get a payment which enables them to recruit their own carer. It was set up to enable people to have a choice about their care.

We did this with my mother, and she employed me as her carer, which worked really well for all of us, as I was doing the caring anyway, and she was very keen to stay in her own home. She was assessed as needing 32 hours per week care, including night time care. We did this for the year before she died and it enabled me to quit my job and become a full time carer for her. She would have hated being in a home, and would have been separated from my dad who was doing too much of her care and getting ill.

The only down side with this is that it can be a hassle to be an employer, as they have to get public liability insurance etc, and deal with national insurance and tax too. However there is an agency who helps with all this and mostly sorts it out for them.
Direct payments are a good option if they know someone who would be willing to be their carer, and who could sort out the financial side for them. It is quite a hassle to set up and run, and so they would need to have someone prepared to help with this.I'll look into this, especially if I can find an agency to manage it. If their finances will allow them to keep the house and pay for a full time carer, it may be a very good option. Thanks for the suggestion.