Choosing the right care home can be a daunting task with over 18,000 options available in the UK. You want a place that feels like home and provides the care and support you need. Here are ten tips to help make the process easier.

How to choose the ideal care home

1. Determine Your Care Needs Before you start your search, it’s important to understand what type of care you need. This can include residential care, personal care, nursing care, respite care, convalescence care, dementia care, mental health care, bariatric care, palliative care, and end of life care. Consider scheduling a care needs assessment to better understand what sort of care would best suit your needs.
2. Plan Your Budget It’s essential to know how much you can afford each month. Care home fees tend to rise annually, and your needs may change, making your fees higher in the future. If you have a home, there are ways to free up more money, such as renting it out or releasing equity. If you can’t afford your preferred care home, a third-party, such as a friend or relative, may be able to pay a top-up fee.
3. Evaluate Your Eligibility for Benefits Your need for care may affect your eligibility for benefits. Moving into a care home may also impact the benefits you receive. Check if you’re eligible for any additional benefits and consider what benefits you may lose. If you need nursing care, you may be able to have the nursing care part of your fees paid for by the NHS.
4. Determine Your Priorities When choosing a care home, consider factors beyond care and cost, such as location and facilities. E.g. Gardening, Hairdressers, Faith and Religion, Social Activities. Create a checklist of what you’re looking for to help guide your search.
5. Utilize Care Home Resources CareFinder offers a free, service. They can help you find a care home that meets your needs and create a shortlist for you. Book tours of care homes to get a feel for the atmosphere, speak to staff and residents, and listen to your intuition. Consider booking a respite stay to test life in a care home before committing.
6. Check Inspection Ratings and Reviews Every care home in the UK must be registered with its country’s regulatory body and undergo inspections to assess the quality of service. Review the inspection reports and the care home’s reviews on our website or QCQ to get a better understanding of the care home’s quality.
7. Plan for the Future Unfortunately, there may come a day when you are unable to make decisions about your care home. Consider setting up a Lasting Power of Attorney to ensure you get the care home you want, even if you’re not ready to move in yet.

With these tips in mind, you can find the perfect care home here that provides the care you need and feels like home.