Care homes
Where it is not possible to continue living in your own home even with the support of others, then moving to a care home can offer a comfortable and safe alternative.
Some care homes also offer ‘respite’ care, which are short-term placements for people after they have been in hospital, or for carers who need to take a break.
All homes must be registered and regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The CQC regularly visits and inspects care homes to ensure they are providing appropriate standards of care. They can instruct care homes to improve where necessary.
The CQC maintains a directory of all registered homes on their website, where you can find out more about the homes they regulate and view the latest inspection report for them.
There are two main types of care home:
- residential homes offer a place to live with care and support to suit your needs
- nursing homes offer 24-hour medical care from a qualified nurse as well as other appropriate care and support to meet your needs
Some homes often specialise in areas such as:
- older-aged residents
- people living with dementia
- people living with mental illness
- people living with physical disability
More information and guidance
- Visit the Care Quality Commission (CQC)
- Visit the finding somewhere to live pages on People First
- Visit the paying for a care home pages on People First