The AskBart journal
Advice, guides & stories for families.
Clear, jargon-free guidance on choosing care, funding it and supporting someone you love — written by our independent care experts.
When Is the Right Time for a Care Home? (2026)
The signs that suggest it may be time to consider a care home, and a calm way to make the decision as a family.
What Is a Care Needs Assessment? (2026)
What a local authority care needs assessment involves, who can have one, and what happens afterwards.
Care Home or Home Care? Pros and Cons (2026)
How a care home compares with care at home — the benefits, the costs and how to work out which suits you.
Lasting Power of Attorney, Explained (2026)
What a Lasting Power of Attorney is, the two types, how to set one up — and why doing it early matters so much.
What Rights Do Care Home Residents Have? (2026)
The rights of care home residents — dignity, choice, privacy and safety — and what to do if they aren’t being met.
Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), Explained (2026)
What DoLS means, when it applies in a care home, and how it protects people who can’t consent to their care.
How to Complain About a Care Home (2026)
A step-by-step guide to complaining about a care home — from raising it with the home to the Ombudsman and the CQC.
Moving Into a Care Home: A Checklist (2026)
What to pack and prepare for a move into a care home, and how to make the first days as smooth as possible.
What Is Respite Care? Benefits and How to Arrange It (2026)
What respite care is, how it helps both the person and their carer, and how to arrange a short stay.
Settling Into a Care Home: How to Help (2026)
Practical ways to help a loved one settle into a care home, what to expect in the early weeks, and when to seek help.
Palliative and End-of-Life Care in a Care Home (2026)
What palliative and end-of-life care in a care home involves, and how families can be supported through it.
Life in a Care Home: What to Expect (2026)
What daily life in a care home is really like — routines, food, activities and keeping in touch with family.