You will need to speak with the care home to get a clear definition of what is included in the fees, but these should include the costs of the room rental, cleaning services for the room, general repairs and maintenance of the room, room furniture, use of common areas, all food and drink, care services and a range of activities provided by the home. Some homes will include personal care services such as hairdressing and chiropody. There may be additional charges for days out, daily papers, and the like.

For other questions about care fees, please visit our care funding FAQs page.

Yes, your elderly relative should still have some money to allow them to pay for items such as daily papers, hair dressers, podiatrists. The care home should provide a way of managing how much is spent and how it can be accessed. They will agree with family or professional involved how this may be topped up on a regular basis.

Most care homes are happy for you to visit at any time, but it is important to check with each home what their visiting policy is. Some homes may discourage visitors at meal times if they feel it will impact on their residents with Dementia, as they become easily distracted. This should be explained when viewing the home.

In extreme circumstances, such as in the recent COVID-19 Pandemic, visiting may be restricted or banned completed.

Each care home will have its own policy, but most will be happy to allow you to take your elderly relative out for a trip if they feel it is safe to do so. They will ask you to inform a member of staff before you leave and what time you are expected to return.  In some cases, it is advisable to let the home know in advance, this way they can assist your relative to be ready when you arrive.

Modern care homes provide rooms that are fully furnished, and this furniture is designed for the elderly, so it is more difficult to take large items of furniture. However, they are keen for your elderly relative to feel at home so will encourage them to bring smaller pieces of furniture if they can be accommodated in the room safely as well as pictures, books and other mementos that will help make it feel like home. Items such as armchairs will need to meet their fire regulations and you will be advised by the home manager what to look for.

When viewing the home, ask to see a sample menu and ask how frequently it is revised. They should provide a good range of meals and be able to cater for any special dietary needs your relative may have. Some homes source local produce or even grow their own, with the help of residents.
They should also be able to provide ‘an alternative’ for people who don’t see anything they like.

Provided the GP surgery is within the catchment area of the home, this should not be an issue. You will need to talk to your GP and the home to confirm.

There are many animal friendly care homes available, so if your elderly relative has a pet then you should talk to the home you are considering. There are times that homes will ‘adopt’ a small pet, so long as there are no risks to other residents.
Many homes have small animals visit on a regular basis, this is known as Pet Therapy, although not the same as the person’s own pet, it is a popular activity within care homes.

Different types of care home are designed and run to help people with different levels of need, so it is important to discuss this with the home and be satisfied that the home you are considering is able to cope with the level of wandering that your elderly relative does.

Different homes have different policies on smoking and drinking, so check this out with the home as part of your initial conversation.