Choosing care
Compare the options and work out what matters for the person.
What CQC ratings mean, and how to use the report
Understand CQC ratings in England, check the right care service and turn inspection findings into useful questions before choosing care.
Read guide: What CQC ratings mean, and how to use the reportCare home or care at home? Compare needs, costs and cover
Choosing between home care and a care home in England? Compare daily support, live in care, nights, full costs and the person's wishes with a practical decision sheet.
Read guide: Care home or care at home? Compare needs, costs and coverCare at home
Visits, live in care, changing needs and practical support at home.
Choosing a home care agency: questions and checklist
Compare home care agencies on visit times, familiar carers, cover, missed visits and written fees. A practical England guide with a comparison table and checklist.
Read guide: Choosing a home care agency: questions and checklistHow many home care visits are needed each day?
Work out home care visit frequency and duration from actual tasks, essential timings and the gaps between calls. Includes a practical daily planning sheet.
Read guide: How many home care visits are needed each day?Overnight care at home: sleeping nights, waking nights and cover
Compare overnight home care arrangements, including sleeping nights, awake shifts, live in cover, breaks and the questions to settle before booking.
Read guide: Overnight care at home: sleeping nights, waking nights and coverStarting home care: prepare for the first visit and first week
Prepare the home, care plan, access, medicines responsibilities and first week review before home care begins. A practical guide for families in England.
Read guide: Starting home care: prepare for the first visit and first weekRespite care: arrange a break with the right support in place
Plan respite care in England, including help at home, day support and short care home stays. Check suitability, costs, night cover and the return home.
Read guide: Respite care: arrange a break with the right support in placeDementia care at home: arrange support around the person
Plan dementia support at home with familiar routines, a useful care team briefing, clear responsibilities, night cover and reviews of changing needs.
Read guide: Dementia care at home: arrange support around the personCare homes
Visits, suitable support, fees and the move into a care home.
Choosing a care home: the questions that make a visit useful
Compare care homes in England on day and night support, resident choice, staffing, full fees and contracts, with a practical visit checklist.
Read guide: Choosing a care home: the questions that make a visit usefulResidential or nursing care: which type of home is needed?
Compare residential and nursing care in England, ask how a home will meet assessed needs and separate the care type decision from NHS funding.
Read guide: Residential or nursing care: which type of home is needed?Costs and funding
Care fees, council support, benefits and NHS funding in England.
Paying for care in England: where to start and what to ask
Understand council funding, NHS Continuing Healthcare, nursing contributions and paying for care yourself, with a practical route through the decisions.
Read guide: Paying for care in England: where to start and what to askHome care costs: compare the full price of your care
Understand home care quotes in England, from visit charges and two carers to overnight cover, cancellations and checking the first invoice.
Read guide: Home care costs: compare the full price of your careNHS continuing healthcare and funded nursing care explained
Compare NHS continuing healthcare and NHS funded nursing care in England, including assessment, decision letters, payments and care home fee questions.
Read guide: NHS continuing healthcare and funded nursing care explainedCare home top up fees: what are you agreeing to pay?
Understand care home top up fees in England, who can pay, when a council must offer an affordable option and what to check before signing.
Read guide: Care home top up fees: what are you agreeing to pay?Do you have to sell your home to pay for care?
Understand when a home is considered in a care financial assessment in England, occupied property rules, deferred payments and the questions to ask.
Read guide: Do you have to sell your home to pay for care?Running out of money to pay for care: what to do next
Plan ahead when savings for care are reducing in England. Know who to contact, what records to gather and what to ask about the current care arrangement.
Read guide: Running out of money to pay for care: what to do nextCare home costs: how to compare the full fee
Compare care home costs using a written quote for the actual room and assessed needs. Check extras, nursing contributions, increases and contract terms.
Read guide: Care home costs: how to compare the full feeAssessments and changes
Assessments, hospital discharge, concerns and decisions about care.
Missed care visit: what to do when a carer does not arrive
Respond to a missed or late home care visit, arrange replacement support, record what happened and escalate repeated failures. Practical England guidance.
Read guide: Missed care visit: what to do when a carer does not arriveChanging home care agency: plan a safe handover
Change home care providers with a clear plan for funding, notice periods, care records, medicines, access and the first replacement visits.
Read guide: Changing home care agency: plan a safe handoverParent refusing care: what you can do without taking over
Respond to a parent refusing care with practical conversations, clear boundaries and the right professional support. Understand consent and capacity in England.
Read guide: Parent refusing care: what you can do without taking overCare needs assessments: how to prepare and what happens next
Prepare for a council care needs assessment in England, explain daily and overnight needs, understand the written outcome and ask for a review.
Read guide: Care needs assessments: how to prepare and what happens nextCare after hospital discharge: who arranges what?
Understand who arranges care after hospital discharge in England, what to confirm before leaving and how to manage the first day and recovery review.
Read guide: Care after hospital discharge: who arranges what?Reablement and intermediate care: what support can you get?
Understand reablement and intermediate care in England, how assessed recovery support differs from ongoing care, and what to ask before it ends.
Read guide: Reablement and intermediate care: what support can you get?What to do when a care home will not take someone back after hospital
Questions to ask when a care home refuses a return after hospital in England. Clarify assessments, the next care arrangement, fees and who is responsible.
Read guide: What to do when a care home will not take someone back after hospital