Care guides
Regulation & Quality
How home care is regulated in England: what CQC ratings mean, how to read an inspection report, and what to check before you sign.
- All guides
- Cost & Funding · 146
- Regulation & Quality · 62
- Retirement living · 22
- Overnight Care · 11
- Personal Care · 15
- Alzheimer's & Dementia · 50
- Care homes · 124
- Reablement · 16
- London · 99
- End-of-Life & Palliative · 28
- Respite for Carers · 16
- Live-in Care · 15
- Carer Support · 48
- Elderly Care · 99
Care homes
Outstanding-Rated Care Homes: What the CQC Rating Means and How to Find OneIn short: Outstanding is the CQC’s highest rating, and it is rare: in April 2024 only around 4% of adult social care services in…
Cost & Funding
Care Home Fee Increases: Your Rights and How to ChallengeIn short: Care home fee increases should normally come with at least 28 days’ written notice and be based on a clear method set…
Elderly Care
Bed Rails Safety: When to Avoid Them and What to Use InsteadIn short: Bed rails safety starts with one fact: rails can cause serious harm as well as prevent falls, and the MHRA recorded 18…
Elderly Care
Mobility Scooter Rules UK: Classes, Speed and RoadsIn short: The mobility scooter rules UK set two main classes: class 2 scooters (usually 4mph or less) are for pavements, and class 3…
Elderly Care
What Is Ageism? Myths, Examples and Your RightsAgeism is stereotyping, prejudice or discrimination because of age. WHO found one in two people held moderately or highly ageist attitudes, and the Equality…
Care homes
How many care homes are there in the UK? (2026)There are around 17,400 registered care homes in the UK on the latest regulator counts: 14,902 in England, 1,003 in Scotland, 1,018 in Wales…
Care homes
Care home ownership: are all care homes private?No. Most UK care homes are privately owned, but charities run a share and councils or the NHS a small one. Private ownership does…
Care homes
Food hygiene in care homes: ratings, standards and what to checkCare home kitchens are inspected by the local council and given a Food Hygiene Rating from 0 to 5. CQC separately checks that residents'…
Care homes
Personal hygiene in care homes: standards families can expectThere is no fixed rule on how often a care home resident must wash. Care plans set the routine, while CQC regulations on dignity,…
Care homes
Equality and diversity in care homes: rights and what good looks likeCare homes in England must not discriminate against residents because of a protected characteristic and must treat everyone with dignity and respect. The Equality…
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