How to Choose a Care Home

Before searching for specific care homes, establish the key requirements:

• Type of care needed — Residential care (personal care, no nursing) or nursing care (registered nurses on site). If the person has dementia, specific dementia-registered provision may be needed;
• Location — Proximity to family and existing community connections matters for the person's wellbeing. Being near family who can visit regularly is associated with better care outcomes;
• Funding situation — Is the placement council-funded, NHS-funded (CHC), or self-funded? This determines the available options and who is commissioning the placement;
• Specific needs — Particular medical conditions (Parkinson's, MS, acquired brain injury), cultural or religious needs, dietary requirements, language needs.

Use the CQC's care home search tool at cqc.org.uk to find registered homes in the required area and check their ratings. Focus initial research on homes rated Good or Outstanding. Read the full inspection report, not just the headline rating — it often contains important detail about specific strengths and weaknesses.

A visit is essential before making any decision. Prepare for the visit by:

• Preparing a list of questions (see the related guide on 20 questions to ask a care home);
• Visiting at a mealtime if possible — the quality and presentation of meals and the atmosphere at mealtimes is revealing;
• Asking to speak with current residents and their families without staff present if possible;
• Looking at communal areas, the garden (if any), and (if possible with consent) the rooms available;
• Observing how staff interact with residents — are they respectful, patient, and engaged?

Pay attention to smells, sounds, and atmosphere. A well-run home will smell clean, not of urine. Residents should appear engaged and cared-for, not left alone for long periods. Staff should know residents by name and greet you warmly. Trust your instincts alongside the objective checks.

Before committing to a placement, review the financial and contractual terms carefully:

• Full fee breakdown — What is included in the weekly fee and what is charged as an extra? Common extras include incontinence products, hairdressing, some activities, physiotherapy, and transport;
• Fee increase policy — How much notice is given of fee increases? How are increases calculated (e.g., linked to CPI, or at the home's discretion)? Is there a cap?
• Notice period — How much notice must you give to leave? Typically 28 days for the resident, but check what notice the home must give to ask you to leave;
• Bed-holding fees — What is charged if the resident is in hospital temporarily and the bed must be held?
• Third-party top-up arrangements — If council-funded, is a top-up required? Is it clearly set out in a written agreement?

Ask for the care home contract in advance to review. If any terms seem unusual or onerous, seek advice before signing. Age UK publishes guidance on care home contracts.