Choosing a care home: questions answered

Question 1

What types of care home are there in England?

Accepted Answer

There are two main types: residential care homes and nursing homes. Residential homes provide personal care such as washing, dressing, meals and medication support. Nursing homes (care homes with nursing) also have registered nurses on duty around the clock for medical needs. Many homes of either type are also registered for dementia care. Some homes offer respite, short-term rehabilitation or end-of-life care alongside long-term places.

Question 2

What is the difference between a care home and home care?

Accepted Answer

A care home provides accommodation, meals and 24-hour care in one place, while home care sends carers into a person's own home for set visits or as live-in support. Home care keeps someone in familiar surroundings and suits people whose needs fit around scheduled visits. A care home suits people who need help day and night, company, or supervision that would be hard or costly to arrange at home.

Question 3

How many care homes should I visit before choosing one?

Accepted Answer

Visiting at least three care homes is a sensible minimum, because comparing homes side by side shows differences in atmosphere, staffing and cleanliness that brochures and websites miss. Try to visit your favourite more than once, at different times of day, such as at a mealtime and during the afternoon. A second visit with the person who will be living there helps check it feels right to them.

Question 4

What should I look for when visiting a care home?

Accepted Answer

Look at how staff speak to residents, whether residents seem engaged or left alone, and how quickly call bells are answered. Check that rooms and shared areas are clean and free from strong odours, that there is outdoor space, and that activities are actually happening. Ask to see a sample menu, a vacant room and the latest CQC report. Trust your instinct about the atmosphere.

Question 5

Should I visit a care home without an appointment?

Accepted Answer

Yes, an unplanned visit is a good way to see a care home on an ordinary day, as long as you respect residents' privacy and mealtimes. A booked tour shows the home at its best, so dropping in at a different time, such as late afternoon or a weekend, gives a more realistic view of staffing, noise and how residents spend their time. Good homes are usually happy to welcome unannounced visitors.

Question 6

How do I check a care home's CQC rating?

Accepted Answer

Search for the home by name or postcode on the Care Quality Commission website, which shows its overall rating, a rating for each of the five key questions and the full inspection report. Every care home in England must be registered with the CQC and display its latest rating in the home and on its website. The Care Panel's care home listings also show each home's current CQC rating and when it was given.

Question 7

What do the four CQC ratings mean for a care home?

Accepted Answer

The CQC rates care homes Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement or Inadequate. Outstanding means the home is performing exceptionally well; Good means it meets expectations; Requires Improvement means it is not performing as well as it should; Inadequate means it is performing badly and enforcement action may follow. Ratings are given for each of the five key questions (safe, effective, caring, responsive, well-led) and overall.

Question 8

Does it matter if a care home's CQC rating is several years old?

Accepted Answer

Yes, an old rating may not reflect the home today, because managers, owners and staff can change. The CQC has no fixed inspection timetable and inspects according to risk, so a Good home can go years without a full inspection. The Care Panel's analysis found 49% of care home ratings in England are over four years old, so check the date and ask what has changed since.

Question 9

What percentage of care homes in England are rated Good or Outstanding?

Accepted Answer

About 82.6% of rated care homes in England are rated Good or Outstanding by the CQC, according to The Care Panel's Q4 2026 Care Fees and Quality Index. The rest are rated Requires Improvement or Inadequate. Because many ratings are several years old, the headline figure is a starting point; reading the latest inspection report for any home you are considering gives a fuller picture.

Question 10

Does a care home need to be registered to care for people with dementia?

Accepted Answer

Care homes do not need a separate licence for dementia, but their CQC registration lists the groups they cater for, called service user bands or specialisms, and dementia is one of them. Check that dementia is listed for any home you consider. Then ask how many staff have dementia training, how the building supports orientation and safe walking, and how the home handles distress or behaviour changes.

Question 11

How do I choose a good dementia care home?

Accepted Answer

Look for a home that lists dementia as a specialism and can describe its dementia training and approach in practical terms. Good signs include calm, unhurried staff, clear signage, safe outdoor space, flexible routines, meaningful activities and staff who know residents' life histories. Ask whether the home can keep the person as their dementia progresses, including nursing or end-of-life care, to avoid another move later.

Question 12

How important is location when choosing a care home?

Accepted Answer

Location matters a lot, because regular visits from family and friends are one of the biggest factors in a resident's wellbeing. A home that is easy for the main visitors to reach often works better than a slightly better-rated home far away. Also consider whether the person wants to stay near their own community, GP and church, and how fees compare, since prices vary widely between areas.

Question 13

Can I choose a care home in a different council area from where my parent lives?

Accepted Answer

Yes. People in England can move to a care home in another area, for example to be closer to family. If the council is paying, the person's current council usually stays responsible and must arrange the placement, though it will only pay the cost it would normally pay for that type of care unless a top-up is agreed. Self-funders can choose any home with a vacancy that will accept them.

Question 14

Can I choose my own care home if the council is paying?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Under the Care Act 2014, a person whose care home place is arranged by the council has a right to choose their preferred home, as long as it meets their assessed needs, has a place available, agrees to the council's terms and costs no more than the council's personal budget for the care. If the home costs more, a third party such as a relative can usually pay the difference as a top-up.

Question 15

Do care homes have waiting lists?

Accepted Answer

Some do. Popular care homes, especially those rated Outstanding or in areas with few beds, may run waiting lists, while others have rooms available immediately. Vacancies change quickly, so it is worth asking each home whether it has a vacancy now, how long its list is and how it offers rooms. Having a second choice ready helps if a place is needed quickly, such as after a hospital stay.

Question 16

Why is it hard to find a care home bed in some areas?

Accepted Answer

Supply varies widely across England. The Care Panel's figures show an average of about 43 care home beds per 1,000 people aged 65 and over, but some areas have far fewer, particularly for nursing and dementia nursing places. Rising demand, homes closing and nurse shortages all reduce availability. In short-supply areas, searching more widely or joining several waiting lists can help.

Question 17

Can you have a trial stay in a care home?

Accepted Answer

Yes, most care homes offer a trial period, often around four to six weeks, at the start of a permanent placement. It gives both the resident and the home time to check the place meets their needs. The contract should explain how long the trial lasts, the notice period during it, and what happens if it does not work out. Councils often review a new placement after a similar period.

Question 18

Is a respite stay a good way to try out a care home?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A short respite stay of a week or two lets someone experience daily life in a home, the food, staff and other residents, before committing to a permanent move. It also gives a family carer a break. Respite places are charged at a weekly or daily rate and are often booked in advance. If the stay goes well, many homes can convert it into a permanent place.

Question 19

Can I take my pet into a care home?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes. There is no legal right to keep a pet in a care home in England, so it depends on the home's policy. Some homes accept small, calm pets such as cats or small dogs if the resident or family can look after them, and many welcome visiting pets. Ask early, get any agreement in writing, and plan who will care for the pet if the resident's needs change.

Question 20

Can a married couple live in the same care home?

Accepted Answer

Yes, couples can live in the same care home if the home has suitable rooms and can meet both people's needs. Problems arise when partners need different levels of care, such as one needing nursing, so look for homes registered for both residential and nursing care. If the council is funding care, each partner is assessed separately and the council should consider the wish to stay together.

Question 21

Can a couple share a room in a care home?

Accepted Answer

Yes, some care homes have double or adjoining rooms for couples, but they are limited, so ask about availability early. Each partner usually has their own care plan and pays their own fee, assessed on their own income and capital. Some couples prefer separate neighbouring rooms so they keep personal space while staying close, particularly if one partner's needs disturb the other's sleep.

Question 22

Will a care home assess my relative before offering a place?

Accepted Answer

Yes, a care home will normally carry out its own pre-admission assessment before offering a place, to check it can meet the person's needs. A senior member of staff usually visits the person at home or in hospital, or speaks to family and professionals. The assessment covers health, mobility, personal care, dementia, risks and preferences, and it forms the basis of the first care plan.

Question 23

Can a care home refuse to accept someone?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A care home can decline a resident if it cannot safely meet their needs, if the needs fall outside its CQC registration (for example, nursing needs in a residential home), or if it will not accept the fee the council offers. A home must not refuse someone for discriminatory reasons covered by the Equality Act 2010. Ask the home to explain its reasons so you can look elsewhere quickly.

Question 24

What does 'specialism' mean on a care home listing?

Accepted Answer

A specialism is a group of people the care home is registered with the CQC to support, such as older people, dementia, physical disability, learning disability, mental health conditions or sensory impairment. It shows who the home is set up for, not how good the care is. Checking specialisms first saves time, because a home not registered for a particular need may not be able to offer a place.

Question 25

Are large care home groups better than small independent homes?

Accepted Answer

Neither is automatically better. Large groups can offer training systems, policies and support from head office, while small independent homes are often praised for a homely feel and continuity of staff. Quality varies widely between individual homes in the same group. Judge each home on its own CQC rating, inspection report, staff stability and what you see on a visit, rather than on who owns it.

Question 26

Should I rely on online reviews when choosing a care home?

Accepted Answer

Online reviews are useful but should not be the main deciding factor. Reviews are often written by a small number of families, can be selected by the provider, and may not reflect current staff or management. Use them alongside the CQC rating and latest inspection report, your own visits, and conversations with current residents and relatives, which give a more balanced picture of everyday care.

Question 27

What activities should a good care home offer?

Accepted Answer

A good care home offers a varied programme of group and one-to-one activities that suit residents' interests and abilities, such as music, exercise, gardening, crafts, outings and visiting entertainers. Residents who stay in their rooms should still get individual time. Ask to see the activity timetable, whether there is a dedicated activities coordinator, and whether activities are actually taking place when you visit.

Question 28

How can I find out about staffing levels at a care home?

Accepted Answer

Ask the manager how many care staff and nurses are on duty during the day and at night, how often agency staff are used, and how long staff typically stay. There is no legal staff-to-resident ratio in England; homes must have sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff under Regulation 18. The CQC inspection report's safe and well-led sections often comment on staffing problems.

Question 29

What should I ask a care home about food and mealtimes?

Accepted Answer

Ask to see the menu, whether food is cooked on site, how special diets and texture-modified meals are handled, and whether residents can choose where and when to eat. Check that drinks and snacks are available throughout the day and that staff help people who need support to eat. Visiting at a mealtime shows how relaxed and well-staffed it is, and how much residents enjoy the food.

Question 30

Can someone with dementia be moved into a care home against their wishes?

Accepted Answer

Only if they lack the mental capacity to make that decision and the move is judged to be in their best interests under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. If a person has capacity, they can refuse a care home even if others disagree. Where someone lacks capacity and will be under continuous supervision without freedom to leave, the home must apply for a Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards authorisation.

Question 31

Who decides on a care home if my parent cannot decide for themselves?

Accepted Answer

If your parent lacks capacity to decide where to live, a best interests decision is made under the Mental Capacity Act. An attorney with a registered health and welfare Lasting Power of Attorney, or a court-appointed deputy, can make the decision. Without either, the council and professionals decide in consultation with family, and an independent advocate may be appointed if there is no one suitable to consult.

Question 32

Is an Outstanding care home always the best choice?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily. An Outstanding rating shows the CQC found exceptional care at the time of inspection, but the best home is one that meets the person's specific needs, is close to visitors, and has a vacancy at an affordable fee. Check the date of the rating and whether the manager has changed since. A well-run Good home nearby may suit someone better than a distant Outstanding one.

Question 33

Can the council help me choose a care home?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Anyone in England who appears to need care can ask their council for a free care needs assessment, regardless of their savings. The council can say whether a care home is needed, what type, and give information about local homes. Self-funders can also ask the council to arrange their care home place, although councils can charge an arrangement fee and many homes charge self-funders more.

Question 34

How quickly can a care home place be arranged in an emergency?

Accepted Answer

An emergency care home place can sometimes be arranged within a day or two if a home has a vacancy and can complete its assessment quickly. Speed depends on local availability, the type of care needed and who is paying. If someone is leaving hospital, the discharge team can arrange a short-term placement. Families paying privately can contact homes directly, often fastest for residential places.

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