Finding a care home

You have a right to choose which home you move into. So you will probably want to find out what homes there are in your area and visit a few to get an idea of what they are like.

As a first step, try asking around - perhaps friends or relatives know of a home with a good reputation. But remember, although a personal recommendation is a good starting point, homes can change, and what suits one person may not suit another.

There are different was of finding out about care homes in your area:

• Contact your local care standards authority - they can give you information about the homes registered in the area.
• A charity Counsel and Care provides information and advice on finding a home and what to look for.
• The Elderly Accommodation Counsel (EAC) has a comprehensive database of care homes in the UK.

Who are care homes run by?
Care homes can be run directly by local councils; voluntary organisations (registered charities or religious bodies); or privately (by individuals or companies on a commercial basis).

Homes run by voluntary organisations may have special rules about who they can admit. For example, some homes are for people who have served in the armed forces, or for people from particular ethnic groups or religions.

Who regulates care homes?
Care homes are registered and regulated by the following care standards authorities:

• the Care Quality Commission in England,
• the Care Standards Inspectorate for Wales in Wales,
• the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care in Scotland and
• The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority in Northern Ireland.

In England, a three star rating system was introduced in May 2008. If a care home is given a rating of zero (0) it means the quality of the care provided is poor; if the care home is awarded a rating of one star the quality of the care provided is adequate; if the care home is awarded a rating of two stars, the quality of the care provided is good; and if the care home is awarded three stars, the quality of the care provided is excellent. The frequency at which a care home is inspected depends on how many stars the care home is awarded.

In Wales, care homes must be inspected at least once every year, although they can be inspected more often if it is felt necessary.

In Scotland, care homes are inspected twice a year; and in Northern Ireland, care homes are inspected twice a year.

After each inspection an inspection report is produced, containing information about how the care home operates. You should be able to get copies of these reports from your care standards authority (or health and social services board in Northern Ireland). See the Useful contacts page for details.

What kind of care do you need?
Care homes have to be very clear what level of care they provide and how they will meet each resident's care needs.

All care homes should be able to give you help with personal care if you need it - this could include help with washing, dressing and going to the toilet.

If you are extremely frail or unable to leave the bed, or have any sort of medical condition or illness that means you need a lot of attention from a doctor or nurse, you will probably need to look for a care home that can provide nursing care. This type of home should have a qualified nurse on duty 24 hours a day.

Finding a home for someone with very specific care needs, for example someone with severe dementia, can sometimes be difficult. If you can't find a home that provides the sort of care you, or your relative or friend needs, ask your local council to help; it has a responsibility to find a suitable home for anyone it has assessed as needing a care home place.

The Alzheimer's Society can give advice to people with dementia on what to look for in a care home and also give information about suitable homes for someone with dementia. Other specialist groups, such as the Parkinson's Disease Society can offer specialist advice and guidance.