Residential care can be provided in a residential care home where you get personal care and your meals provided or it can be in a nursing home. It can also be short-term. This is known as 'respite care'.
If you are thinking about residential care we may be able to help with the arrangements. We will carry out an assessment of your needs and a service will be provided to meet these needs. For more information, visit our page on assessments.
Can I choose which residential or nursing home I go to?
You have the right to choose, as long as:
- A place is available
- It is suitable for your care needs (we will know what these are from the assessment)
- We can agree a contract with the homeowner to make sure that you are properly cared for
- It does not cost more than what we usually pay for the type of care you need. If it does, you will have to pay the difference
Finding a care home
The Care Homes Directory 2008 lists care homes that provide personal care and nursing care and domiciliary care providers.
For information about moving into a care home including how much it will cost, you can download the documents 'What to look for in a Care Home' (CCH37a) and 'Information on Charges' (CCH37b) by clicking on the appropriate link in the box 'Read more' on the right-hand side of this page.
Alternatively, get free, independent reports on the quality of your local homes and care services from the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI), to help you make an informed choice. For more information phone on 0117 9307110 (local office) or visit their website - see 'Other websites' on the right-hand side of this page.