Residential and nursing homes
You may find that you are no longer able to cope at home and may need to consider taking the step of moving into a residential or nursing care home.
Take me to Residential care homes ↘ Nursing care homes ↘ How to pick a home ↘ Paying for a care home ↘ Arranging a care home ↘
Before you consider moving into a care home, there may be some options available to you that can help you continue to live independently.
Other options include, moving to sheltered housing or into extra care housing or receiving help in your own home, such as homecare, meals and housework.
Residential care homes
A residential care home provides accommodation, meals and personal care. Personal care includes help with bathing, feeding, dressing, toilet needs and help with moving.
However, residential care does not include nursing care.
Nursing care homes
Nursing care homes are similar to residential care homes, but with qualified nurses on duty.
You might want to consider a nursing home if you or your family member has a condition that needs regular medical attention.
Nurses are on duty 24 hours a day. In nursing care homes, the needs of residents are too complex to be met within residential care homes.
How to pick a home
If you feel that your care and support will be most appropriately provided for in a residential or nursing care home, there may be a number of questions that you will want answered before making a final decision about which care home you will choose.
Care homes are mostly run by private individuals and voluntary organisations. Some councils do run their own homes, but Redbridge Council does not.
When you are considering which home to move into, Age UK has a useful checklist for you to go through.
Independent Age, the older people’s charity, has a free guide on how to find the right care home. It looks at what to consider when choosing a care home, from essential practical questions like cost and location, to tips on how to research care homes and what to look for when visiting them.
All care homes must be registered and regularly inspected by the Care Quality Commission. You can check care homes in England and the quality of their care on the Care Quality Commission website.
If you are going to get help from Redbridge Adult Social Services, then your social worker will help you choose the right home. They will suggest the sort of care that you need, help you work out what you want from a home and give you information about homes that might suit your needs.
Paying for a care home
The costs of care homes vary, often depending on where you live, the type of facilities provided and the amount and type of care you need.
Nursing care homes usually cost more than residential homes because they provide nursing care.
You may be eligible for financial help from the council. If you have been assessed as eligible for services and this identifies that you need care in a care home, then we will carry out a financial assessment. This will look at your income and what assets you have.
You can also get an idea of the cost of a care home by contacting the home directly.
Arranging a care home
If you decide that you want to live in a care home and require help with making the arrangement or paying for your care home, then you can contact Redbridge Adult Social Services.
If you do not need help from us, you can choose the home that appeals to you and make the arrangements yourself with the support of family and friends.
