AskBart
About usGet free advice

Guides

Choosing a care home guides

What to look for in a care home, how to read a CQC report, the difference between residential and nursing care, visiting and contracts, and what daily life in a home is like.

In short: start with a free care needs assessment from the council, so you know what kind of care is needed. Then shortlist homes that offer that care in the right area, check each home's latest inspection report, and visit more than once before you decide. Read the contract carefully before anyone signs it.

This guide takes you through choosing a care home step by step, with links to our detailed guides on each part.

Is it time for a care home?

There is rarely one clear moment. Common signs are falls, missed medication, weight loss, a home that is no longer safe, or a family carer who can't keep going. Sometimes more help at home is the better answer, so it is worth weighing up both.

The person who needs care should be part of the decision as far as possible. If they are reluctant, or refuse, it helps to understand why and to talk it through gently and more than once.

Start with a care needs assessment

Anyone who seems to need care can ask their council for a care needs assessment. It is free, whatever your savings. It sets out what help is needed and whether a care home is the right setting, and it is the first step towards any help from the council with the cost.

Which type of care home?

A residential care home gives help with personal care, such as washing, dressing and eating, plus meals and company. A nursing home also has qualified nurses on duty at all times, for people with health needs. Some homes specialise in dementia care. Some offer short respite stays.

There are also homes for particular needs: couples who want to stay together, people with learning disabilities, veterans, and people looking for a home that respects their culture, faith or identity.

Shortlist homes and check their inspection reports

Search by town or county to see the homes near you, with their latest inspection rating. Every care home is inspected by an independent regulator, and its latest report is public:

  • England: the Care Quality Commission (CQC) rates homes Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement or Inadequate.
  • Scotland: the Care Inspectorate grades each area from 1 (unsatisfactory) to 6 (excellent).
  • Wales: Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) rates homes excellent, good, requires improvement or requires significant improvement.
  • Northern Ireland: the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) inspects homes and publishes its reports.

Read the report, not just the headline rating. Look at when the home was last inspected and what the inspectors asked it to improve.

Visit, and ask the right questions

Visit every home on your shortlist, at least once at a different time of day if you can, such as a mealtime. Notice how staff speak to residents, whether people seem occupied, and how the home smells and feels. Ask about staffing, activities, food, visiting, and what happens if someone's needs change.

Costs and the contract

Ask each home for its fees in writing and what they include, as extras such as hairdressing and outings may be charged separately. Before anyone signs, read the contract: who it is with, the notice period, how and when fees can rise, and what happens if the money runs out or the council starts paying.

Moving in

Moving into a care home is a big change for everyone. Planning what to take, labelling clothes and bringing familiar things helps a room feel like home. The first few weeks are often the hardest, and it is normal for families to feel guilty or to disagree about what is best.

Staying involved

Regular visits, phone and video calls, and small gifts all help someone feel connected. Getting to know the staff makes it easier to raise anything that worries you early.

Rights, complaints and changing homes

Care home residents have the right to be treated with dignity and respect, to have a say in their care, and to see visitors. If something goes wrong, raise it with the home's manager first and then use the home's complaints procedure. If that doesn't sort it out, in England you can go to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, which also covers care that families arrange and pay for themselves. You can also tell the regulator about your experience.

A home can only ask someone to leave in limited circumstances, and should follow the notice terms in the contract. If a home is not right, it is possible to move to another one.

Useful background

Official information

Last reviewed 9 October 2026 by the AskBart editorial team. Figures and thresholds are checked against the sources on the methodology page when a hub is updated.

Find residential care homes

The areas with the most residential care homes listed on AskBart:

All choosing a care home guides

Data for your area

All care guides · Our editorial policy