Advice and FAQ's

How to choose a care home

Where do I start?

At the Priory Group we understand that choosing a care home can be an emotional decision, which is why we have produced a guide to choosing a care home for you to download. We would recommend that before deciding on the care homes you would like to visit that you speak to:

• Your friends and relatives, for their recommendations
• Your local GP
• Your local social services department, which should be able to provide a list of registered homes in your area
• The Registered Nursing Home Association (Freephone: 0800 074 0194) for a list of registered nursing homes
• Visit the Care Quality Commission to search for a care home and view their latest inspection reports
• The Relatives and Residents Association can also offer advice and support (Tel: 020 7359 8136)

What do I do next?

When you have visited local homes and compared them.

• If you will be paying the care home fees privately you can contact a home directly and arrange a needs-based assessment for yourself or a loved one. This is usually undertaken by the home manager or a registered nurse from the home
• If the local authority will be paying the fees, depending on your circumstances you will need to speak to your relevant social services team who will undertake an assessment and produce a care plan for you or your loved one, this will detail daily living and nursing care requirements. Please note, if your local authority is assisting with funding, it doesn't mean you have to choose one of their homes. You can request any home that accepts clients funded by the local authority

For further information on how to choose a care home with a free downloadable checklist please click here.

For further information on paying for care home fees please click here.

Brochures

To request a brochure, please click on the brochure request link on the right hand side.