A Starting Point
If you need residential or nursing care, it is advisable to first think carefully about your requirements and what you can afford.
If you can pay your fees yourself to begin with but cannot be sure how long your money will last, it is sensible to get your local
social services to carry out an assessment of your needs first. This is important because if you need help with the fees later on,
the local authority can do so only if it has assessed you, or your relative, as needing residential or nursing care. Although you may
be able to get reassessed, it is better to get it done sooner rather than later. By contacting the local authority in good time before
you move, you can get an idea of how much financial help you could get which could affect your choice of care home.
Those First Steps
Moving into a residential care or nursing home needn’t be stressful if you follow our suggestions. Most care homes
have brochures which give details about the facilities, number of rooms and scale of fees, as well as outlining the home’s aims
and objectives.
Ask if there is a waiting list and how long the average waiting time is. Some offer a trial stay of a month or so.
It is advisable not to just rely on brochures alone. Ask to visit the home and see if the residents seem happy and well cared for.
Talk to the person in charge, staff and, if possible, ask residents relatives for their views of the home.
A Care Home Checklist
When you visit a home it might be helpful to use a checklist. The following is not an exhaustive list and is provided for general
guidance purposes only.
You are advised to seek professional help where appropriate.
Click here for checklist
