Choosing the right care home for your loved one
A good care home should provide a comfortable, welcoming environment, with staff who are trained to meet your loved one’s specific needs. There’s a lot to consider and it’s a hugely important decision.
This guide will help you navigate the process of how to find a care home, understand more about paying care home fees and securing funding, and learn about the types of care homes available to best suit your loved one’s complex needs.
It’s a great starting point, but of course we’re always here to help. If you have any questions or would like visit one of our Exemplar Health Care homes, we’d love to hear from you.
Understanding types of care homes
There are different types of care homes, including those providing nursing care, those providing residential care, and those specialising in dementia care.
Understanding the level of care your loved one requires is the first step to making the right choice.
If you're considering an Exemplar Health Care home, it’s likely that your loved one has complex health needs, perhaps faces social and wellbeing challenges, and requires nursing care.
Who pays for care homes?
Before your loved one can move into a care home, you need to know who is paying the care home fees.
Most people who live in our homes receive funding through NHS Continuing Healthcare or a joint arrangement with the local authority.
NHS Continuing Healthcare
People with significant, ongoing health needs may be eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) funding, which covers the full cost of their care.
An assessment by the local Integrated Care Board (ICB) evaluates whether the individual’s primary need is health related. They then confirm if the person can receive the care home funding.
Local authority funding
If your loved one isn’t eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare, paying for care might seem challenging.
However, they can undergo a local authority assessment, and financial support may be available through local authority funding for care.
How to apply for care home funding
Speak to your GP or local social services team
...they can guide you through the assessment process.
Initial assessment
... a nurse or social worker will assess your loved one’s needs and determine if they need a full NHS Continuing Healthcare assessment.
Comprehensive assessment
... if referred, an assessor will gather information about their medical, physical, mental health, and social care needs.
Funding decision
... the local ICB will review the assessment and confirm their decision in writing.
Your right to choose
If the professional teams suggest a care home is the best option, they’ll provide a list of suitable homes with the expertise and facilities to meet your loved one’s needs.
Your ICB or local authority should always involve you and your loved one in the assessment process and consider your preferences when choosing a care home.
Even if you’re granted financial help paying for care home fees, you don’t have to choose the home they’ve suggested - you have the right to select the best fit, and advocate for a care home near you if possible.
Visiting care homes
Before making a decision, we encourage you to visit potential care homes to get a true sense of the environment.
You and your loved one are welcome to visit any Exemplar Health Care home, meet the residents and colleagues, and experience daily life in our community.
We’re always here to tell you as much information as you need, or would like, to know.
Making sure we meet your needs
Once we’ve received your referral, one of our Clinical Assessors will meet your loved one - usually within five working days - for a pre-admission assessment. They’ll get to know them better and understand more about the care they need.
This process includes a ‘community-fit’ assessment, where we make sure the home is the right match for your loved on and that they’ll fit well within the existing community there.
The team then submit a detailed report, outlining how we can meet their care and health needs, to the ICB or local authority for funding approval.
Moving into an Exemplar Health Care home
Once funding's agreed, we’ll work closely with you, your loved one, and their care team to make sure the move to the new home is smooth
We build on the time we’ve taken to get to know your loved one and create a personalised care plan tailored to their needs and goals.
Our buddy system makes sure there’s a long-standing resident who can help your loved one settle in and answer any questions.
Families and friends play a valuable role in our care homes. We have an open-door policy and encourage family involvement in daily life as much as possible, so please come to visit and help your loved one to settle in.
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