'Do have a look at what some of the other options are'
There are options other than moving into a care home. Caroline Abrahams, Age UK Charity Director, shares her experiences.
Your care home should be a happy and comfortable place to live. Choosing the right one can be a big decision – but you don't need to make it alone. Thinking about what you want and need from a care home is a good place to start.
There are a number of things that are good to find out on visits to care homes. Don’t feel you have to ask everything – think about what is most important or relevant to you.
We've packaged the questions above into a handy checklist. Take it with you when you're visiting care homes.
Think of it like buying a house, you need to get a feel for what’s out there before making a decision. You should make a list of local homes and visit a few to get an idea of what they’re like. There are different ways to find options to consider:
Find a local care home on the EAC website
When you find a care home that seems suitable, it's important to go and visit in person – and you can visit it more than once. Before visiting a home, you might like to:
Find local care homes and their inspection reports on the CQC website
If living at home independently is becoming difficult it’s worth considering your other options first. Make sure to look into all the options and seek advice to make the right decision for you.
Small adjustments around your home might be just what you need to feel more safe and independent. You might also be able to get some adjustments paid for by your local council.
Find out more about adapting your home
If you're having trouble with day-to-day tasks around the house, then arranging to have some help at home (also known as home care) could make you feel more comfortable.
Find out more about arranging home care
Sheletered housing (also known as retirement housing) allows you to live more independantly than a care home, but provides a little bit of support to give you peace of mind.
There are options other than moving into a care home. Caroline Abrahams, Age UK Charity Director, shares her experiences.
If you're starting to think about accessing social care, the first step is getting a care needs assessment through the adult social services departnment of your local council.
We offer support through our free advice line on 0800 678 1602. Lines are open 8am-7pm, 365 days a year. We also have specialist advisers at over 120 local Age UKs.
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