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Moving into a care home is a big decision and it can cost a lot of money. Before choosing a care home for you or someone you know, it’s worth considering all of the options.
When to consider a care home
A care home may be the best option if you or someone you know:
is struggling to live alone – even with help from friends, family or paid carers
had a needs assessment that suggested a care home is the best choice
has a complex medical condition that needs specialist attention during the day and night
Care homes can reduce the stress of looking after your health and care. This may help you focus on other things, like your social life and general wellbeing.
Which? Later life care: when to consider a care home
Other ways to get care and support
Many people feel they don’t need to move into a care home, or are worried about moving out of their home.
You may want to consider other options, which could be cheaper or help you feel more independent.
Making changes to your home:
adapting your home – for example, adding stairlifts, hand rails or extra security
using household gadgets and equipment – to help you cook, clean and get dressed
Hiring a carer or getting more support:
hiring a care worker – where someone comes to your home to provide help and care
supported living services – where you live in agreed accommodation, with staff that visit you to provide help and care
Moving to a new home:
more independent housing options include extra care housing or retirement villages
If you decide a care home is the best place to meet your health and care needs, you’ll need to choose which type of care home is right for you.
Understanding the different types of care home
There are 2 main types of care home:
residential homes
nursing homes
Some care homes offer both residential and nursing care places. Care homes may be run by private companies, voluntary or charity organisations, or sometimes by local councils.
Residential homes
These provide accommodation and personal care, such as help with:
washing
dressing
taking medicines
going to the toilet
Some care homes also offer activities, such as day trips.
Nursing homes
These also provide personal care but there will always be 1 or more qualified nurses on duty to provide nursing care. These are sometimes called care homes with nursing.
Some nursing homes offer services for people that may need more care and support. For example, people with:
severe learning disabilities, severe physical disabilities or both
a complex medical condition that needs help from a qualified nurse – such as someone who has a colostomy or who is fed through a tube
How much will a care home cost?
The cost of a care home will be different depending on the type of care home you need and where you live.
Nursing homes usually cost more than residential homes as they provide nursing care.
The average cost of a care home in the UK is:
around £600 a week for a residential home
around £800 a week for a nursing home
Things to consider before choosing a care home:
where it is (location) – for example, do you want to be near your family or local shops?
how much it costs
whether they offer the right services or activities you need
how visiting and leaving the care home works – for example, do you want to be able to go out on your own or with staff assistance?
Signs of a good care home include:
staff and managers with the right time, skills and experience to do their jobs
clean buildings, rooms and bathrooms
a wide range of activities for residents at home and outside
good quality food choices and options about where to eat meals
fast and easy access to health professionals, such as GPs and dentists
the care home makes sure any cultural, religious or lifestyle needs are met
feedback from residents is asked for and used to improve care
How to research a care home
To get more information about a care home you could:
phone them
visit their website
request a brochure
visit the care home
request a temporary stay
There are also organisations that inspect care homes to see how well they are doing. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates all health and adult social care in England.
You might see a CQC inspection rating when you visit a care home or search online. Their 4 ratings are:
Outstanding
Good
Requires improvement
Inadequate
You could also search for care homes on the CQC website to see their full reports.
How to plan your move into a care home
Before you move, it may help to:
ask family or friends to help you move and settle you in
contact the benefits office, if you have one (including disability benefits, as these can be affected by care home stays)
make sure other services at your old address have been told you’re moving
let friends and family know your new address and when you might feel up to receiving visitors
let the care home know about any health problems or disabilities you have
Residential care homes are places of hope where a group of individuals are taken care of. If you have a loved one who needs constant supervision in a compassionate environment, then the factors we highlight below should help you to better understand the services offered by care homes:
- There are different types of care homes specialising in meeting the specific psychological and clinical needs of individuals. Examples of the areas care homes support can include dementia, learning disabilities, autism, Asperger’s, complex behaviour or elderly care.
- All care homes strive to provide a homely, comfortable environment and this should be apparent and obvious.
- They are well equipped with skilled professionals that undergo extensive training sessions to address the specific needs of the individuals.
- The staff of the residential care homes need to be alert around the clock and act with promptness whenever the situation demands.
- They design a therapeutic care roadmap customised to the needs of the individual liaising with the family as appropriate.
- Their intervention activities can involve communication and learning, daily living skills, speech and language therapy, emotional support, positive behaviour support and a lot more.
- People access health support from the local community like everyone else, unless the care home specifically needs nurses employed.
- The rooms are maintained with lighting and ventilation facilities specific to the needs and wishes of the individual.
- Their accommodation might include en-suite bedrooms, studio flats and self-contained apartments for those who would need to stay more independently.
- Their care home is surrounded by pleasant surroundings to encourage more peer-to-peer interaction or general opportunities to socialise and avoid isolation.
- They create customised meal plans and provide them to individuals according to their health requirements and their specific choices.
- Their main objective is to help individuals realise that they have the potential to live like any other individual, and sometimes even better.