What I want from a care home.......hopefully a long way off!

What about those of us whose interest in pop music was fun at the time but has now passed over. This includes those who now prefer classical music, jazz, folk music etc etc?

I would also like to be spared singalongs, I am also uneasy about small children and brownies singing carols, it always seems so patronising. Either a proper choir comes and sings Christmas carols or I would rather do without.

My biggest fear if in a care home is the food. Over the last 30 year I have experienced meals in about half a dozen care homes when visiting family and friends. However well cooked it is so safe, so dull, so bland.

I want proper curries (not hot) but Indian not bland English interpretations. I want to be able to eat all sorts of different ethnic foods, still get a chance to try any new trends, be able to ask to be provided with the breakfast of my choice, not just cereals or white toast.

I'm not going because it will be full of old people and I want to live among people of different ages! I would have to self fund and would be moaning that it was costing me more because the LAs didn't pay the full cost. I would be quite grumpy I'm sure.

I also have no intention of moving into one of those apartments for older people. There is one being built quite near here which is bigger than those enormous cruise ships. Imagine living with all those old people, no thanks.

I plan to be like one of my neighbours who is 97, lives alone, walks to my house with the aid of a stick, has good hearing and eye sight and holds intelligent conversations without the interrupting some old people do.

If I were ever so unable to cope without going into a home I doubt I would care very much about the music, food or other residents because I would be completely gaga.

Imagine living with all those old people, no thanks
current projections are for an exponentially aging population, most people will be old people

BY the time you go into a home you usually have no choice in the matter. But even then the ambiance of the home can make a major contribution to the rest of your life there, whether you are happy content and relaxed or distressed and unhappy. These things matter almost more if you have dementia because your reactions are more instinctive.

Having spent nearly 40 years visiting friends and relatives in care homes of all levels, I am very conscious what a difference these things can make.