FAQ

What is a care home?

A care home is defined as a place where personal care and accommodation are provided in conjunction. They provide daily care and supervision as well as a place to live for people who are not able to look after themselves independently in their own home. They are able to take care of every-day needs such as regular healthy meals, help with bathing and going to the toilet, and some leisure and social activities. In some cases, they can also help manage medical condition

What are the main types of care homes?

Most care homes can be sorted into two categories; residential care homes, and nursing homes. Both are in some ways similar but do provide some different services, specifically in terms of the level of healthcare their staff can administer. The key difference between nursing homes and care homes, is that nursing homes will always have a qualified nurse on-site to provide medical care or attention.

Residential care home

A residential care home is a facility that provides live-in accommodation and 24-hour staff supervision. Staff at a residential care home usually provide help with essential every-day personal care, such as moving around, washing, dressing, going to the bathroom, and taking medication. Residential care homes will also provide catering and usually social and leisure activities for residents in order to provide them with a good quality of life. This can be attractive when there is a situation where someone is finding it difficult to feed and wash themselves or to maintain a clean and safe environment at home due to limited mobility and age-related physical deterioration. 

Nursing home

Nursing homes are generally intended for those who are particularly frail or have physical or mental health conditions that require day-to-day medical attention. Residents generally receive the same kind of care they would in a residential care home, and also nursing care to meet their more advanced needs. A registered nurse creates and monitors care plans, and provides some treatments and medical interventions. This could include administering injections or intravenous medication, as well as treating wounds such as bedsores or managing recovery after an operation.

What kind of activities happen in a care home?

There are many varied and personalised activities that occur every day in our care homes, all designed to provide meaningful occupation, enhancing health, wellbeing and independence. From guest performers to movie nights, or excursions to the beach or local shops – all activities are planned by our dedicated engagement teams around your individual preferences.

How do visits work?

We welcome visitors in all of our care homes. We have an open-door policy, enabling visits at any time and we encourage family and friends to visit often. Many of our homes feature private garden cottages, built with visits in mind. Some homes may operate ‘protected meal times’ for the comfort of the residents.

Can I bring my own furniture?

We are happy for you to bring your own furniture, provided it meets fire regulations. Residents are encouraged to personalise the room with familiar items. The furniture that is included in your room, if you choose not to bring your own, is a divan style profile bed, bedside table with lockable drawer, wardrobe, chest of drawers, desk and chair, armchair, and an over bed table.

Can I book a trial period?

All new permanent admissions are taken on a one-month trial period, following which a review will be held with you and/or your next of kin to decide on a long-term placement.

What happens if I run out of funds?

When a person’s funds are reaching the threshold of £23,250, it is the next of kin’s responsibility to notify the Home Manager. If you have any concerns about funding, you could take specialist financial advice as there may be options that you are unaware of including the option of a Care Fees Annuity. You can find more guidance on funding your care here.

What kind of additional charges can I incur?

You may incur an additional charge for hairdressers, chiropodists, and other services that are provided by external practitioners who routinely visit our homes.

What is included in my weekly fee?

Our homes are all-inclusive. This means that all dining, entertainment, laundry services, and use of facilities such as our cinemas, are included in your weekly fee at no additional cost.

Will my fees stay the same?

To account for inflation and other predictable cost increases, we review our fees annually in April. The only other fee increases that may occur will be if you choose to move to a more expensive room, or if your care needs have changed, in which case we will discuss any changes to fees with you.