Listen to siteIf you have been finding it difficult to cope at home, you might be considering moving into a care home.
There are various options which may make your life easier, but residential and nursing care are just two of these.
Is residential care the only option?
You may also feel that you only need a short stay in a care home, in which case Adult Social Care can offer to help you to continue living in your own home, such as home care, or it may be that another kind of housing would suit you better.
If you are having trouble coping at home, either because you are disabled, becoming more frail, or have been in hospital, we can discuss the various options available to you before you make a decision on what to do.
If you think you may need help or support please contact us (see 'Contact Details'). A member of the team will talk to you about your needs and offer you information and advice, this may answer your needs, and you won’t need anything further. It may be decided that help might be needed, and then a request will be sent through to the local area team. A visit will then be arranged to carry out an assessment of your needs. Information about the assessment process.
If the assessment confirms that your needs do require a move to a care home, you will then need to choose one.
Finding a home that suits you
Choosing a residential or nursing home is an important decision and there are many things which you need to consider, some possibilities are.
- Do you want a home near where you live now? You might want to stay in the same area to be near friends and people you know. On the other hand, you may prefer to move to a home nearer to relatives who live in another part of the country.
- Do you need specialist nursing care? All homes have staff who can help you with personal care, such as getting dressed, washing or bathing, and who will prepare your meals. Some people may need a higher level of care and this can be provided by a nursing home, which will employ qualified nursing staff. Your assessment will have indicated what type of care you require. If nursing care is required, this will need to be confirmed in the assessment process by your Primary Care Trust
- What kind of home environment do you prefer? Some people are happy to live in a larger home, with many residents, while others prefer a smaller place with just a few fellow residents. Some homes cater for people with particular needs, others take a mixture of different residents.
- What kind of leisure activities does the home offer? You may want to continue with hobbies you currently enjoy
Once you have a list of homes to suit you, it is advisable to visit them before making a decision. Visiting will enable you to meet staff and residents, talk to them about the home, and get a general feel for the place. It is important that you choose a home that you will be happy in, so do not feel embarrassed to ask questions when you visit. Taking a friend or relative with you when you visit could help you feel more relaxed, and they will be able to give you their thoughts on the home as well.
If you are unable to visit a home yourself, you can ask a friend or relative to visit on your behalf.
Before you visit, ask the manager for more information and a copy of their brochure, if they have one. You may also ask to see their most recent Inspection Report (see 'Downloads' under Commission for Social Care Inspection). Make sure that the home offers the kind of care you need, accommodation you want and that there are vacancies available.
It is also a good idea to check the charges before you visit. During your visit, you might want to ask questions about the following things:
- meals and drinks
- local facilities
- visiting arrangements
- activities and excursions
- what the rooms are like
- arrangements for different religious beliefs
- are pets allowed?
- can I still see my current doctor/dentist?
- services such as hairdressing or chiropody
- is smoking allowed anywhere in the home?
Making the move
Once you have found a home which you are happy with, you should then be able to move in providing:
- it is suitable for your assessed needs
- it does not cost more than the local authority would normally expect to pay
- there are places available
- the home has signed a contract with the local authority
If you have chosen a home which does cost more than the local authority would normally expect to pay, somebody else, such as a relative, can make up the difference, this is called a “third party top-up”.
If you can afford to pay for a place in a home yourself, then there are no restrictions on where you choose to live, although you may still want help from Adult Social Care in assessing your needs. Remember though, that you may need help with paying the fees in the future and the local authority may not agree to fund care at a home that costs more than they would normally pay.
Paying for your care
The amount you will pay towards your care depends on how much you have in income and savings. If you have more than a nationally agreed amount, currently £21500, in savings, you will have to pay full fees for the home. If you own your own home and remain in care as a permanent resident, you will usually have to sell it to pay the fees. Under deferred payments, you do not have to sell your home immediately. The local authority can give you an interest-free loan that is claimed back when your property is eventually sold.
Sometimes you will not have to sell your home if people continue to live there permanently. This includes:
- your husband or wife,
- unmarried partner
- close relatives over the age of 60 or under the age of 16
- vulnerable relatives under the age of 60
- carers
If you have less than the nationally agreed amount in savings - or your savings drop to this level - your income and the savings you have left will be considered when working out how much you will pay towards home fees.
Savings below £13500 are ignored altogether, while savings of £13500 to £22250 are converted into a weekly income.
Any state benefits you receive are taken into account when working out what you should pay.
The local authority must always leave you with some money to spend as you wish each week - the Government has set the current minimum amount at £21.15.
If you are going into a care home offering nursing care, your needs will be assessed by an NHS nurse.
When the local authority assesses how much you will pay, they will take account of any financial contributions you are entitled to for nursing care.
The Commission for Social Care Inspection
The Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) is an independent public body that registers and inspects care homes. It aims to ensure a consistent quality of service, improve the level of protection for vulnerable people and make sure care services meet national minimum standards and regulations set by the Government.
The commission also keeps a list of approved care homes throughout the country and copies of inspection reports, which you can ask to see (see 'Contact Details').
Last Updated: 14 July 2010
Also in: Older Peoples Service
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