Residential Care Homes
Care homes offer a private room (some with an ensuite) along with hands-on support for daily activities like bathing, dressing, and eating. They also have communal dining areas and organise social events for residents. It's important to note that nursing care isn’t provided. If medical needs arise that require a nurse, you’ll need to consider a nursing home (sometimes called a care home with nursing). Care homes tend to be more affordable than nursing homes, as they don't have full-time nursing staff.
Nursing Homes
Nursing homes provide all the support of care homes, with the added benefit of registered nurses on-site 24/7. The average cost for a privately funded room is around £1,300 per week, though this varies by region.
Dual-Registered Homes
These homes offer both standard care and nursing services. If you select a dual-registered home, you won’t have to move if your health needs change and you require nursing care later on.
Respite Care
Some homes offer short-term respite care, perfect for temporary needs. This might be used after a hospital stay, to give family carers a break, or just to see what life in a care home is like. It's a good idea to book ahead if you’re considering respite care.
Finding a Care Home
Use Carehome.co.uk's postcode search to find local care homes that fit your needs.
Carehome.co.uk →
Making an Informed Choice
Choosing a good quality care home can be tricky, especially since many have appealing websites and engaging sales teams. To get a clearer picture, check the Care Quality Commission (CQC) reports. The CQC is an independent body that inspects care homes in England and gives them ratings based on safety, effectiveness, care quality, responsiveness, and management. Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales each have their own regulatory agencies.
CQC ratings range from:
- Outstanding: Exceeds standards.
- Good: Meets all essential standards.
- Requires Improvement: Does not meet all standards and needs to improve.
- Inadequate: Fails to meet standards, and action is taken against the provider.
You can use the CQC website to check homes’ ratings and read their inspection reports. Remember, new care homes may not have a report yet due to a 12-month grace period.
Find services and inspection ratings in:
Wales →
Scotland →
Northen Ireland →
What to Expect When You Contact a Care Home
Most care homes will invite you for a tour, with some even offering virtual tours. During your visit, be sure to ask key questions to help assess if the home is the right fit for you or your loved one. Afterward, the home will conduct a needs assessment to ensure they can meet your specific care requirements.
The weekly fee generally includes personal care, accommodation, and meals, but additional services like hairdressing may cost extra. If you choose a nursing home, ensure that nursing care costs are clearly listed. This helps when applying for NHS Nursing Care Contributions or NHS Continuing Healthcare funding, which may reduce the overall cost.