Putting your loved one first, always
You want to know your loved one will be supported in the right environment by people who truly understand their needs.
This guide helps you understand your options, from finding the right type of care to paying fees and securing funding.
Our team is here to support you every step of the way, whether that’s answering questions or arranging a visit to one of our homes.
Understanding types of care homes
Care homes offer different levels of support depending on a person’s health, mobility, and day-to-day needs.
Common types include:
Residential care homes: provide personal care and daily living support, without on-site nursing staff
Nursing care homes: offer care with 24-hour support from registered nurses
Dementia care homes: provide specialist support for people living with dementia, in residential or nursing settings.
Understanding the level of care your loved one needs is an important first step.
If you’re considering an Exemplar Health Care home, it’s likely your loved one has complex needs and requires nursing care. If you’re unsure which type of care is right, our team can help.
Who pays for care homes?
Before your loved one moves into a care home, it’s important to understand how their care will be funded.
Most people living in our homes receive funding through NHS Continuing Healthcare or a joint funding arrangement with their local authority.
NHS Continuing Healthcare
People with significant, ongoing health needs may be eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare funding, which covers the full cost of their care.
Eligibility is decided through an assessment by the local Integrated Care Board (ICB), which looks at whether the person’s primary need is health-related.
Local authority funding
If your loved one isn’t eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare, funding may still be available through their local authority.
A local authority assessment considers care needs and finances, and may result in financial support towards care home fees.
How to apply for care home funding
1. Speak to your GP or local social services team
...they can guide you through the assessment process.
2. Complete an initial assessment
... a nurse or social worker assesses your loved one’s needs to decide whether a full NHS Continuing Healthcare assessment is required.
3. Take part in a comprehensive assessment
... an assessor gathers information about medical, physical, mental health, and social care needs.
4. Receive a funding decision
... the local ICB reviews the assessment and confirms their decision in writing.
Your right to choose
If the professional team believes a care home is the best option, they’ll share a list of suitable homes with the skills and facilities to meet your loved one’s needs.
Your Integrated Care Board (ICB) or local authority should involve both you and your loved one in the assessment process, and take your preferences into account when considering care options.
Even if financial support is agreed, you don’t have to accept the first home suggested. You have the right to choose a care home that feels right for your loved one, and to ask about options closer to home where possible.
Visiting care homes
Before making a decision, visiting care homes can help you get a real feel for the environment and support on offer. You're welcome to visit any Exemplar Health Care home.
Making sure it's the right fit
Once your loved one is referred to us, we take time to get to know them before any decisions are made.
A member of our team will meet them to understand their needs, what matters to them, and the support that will help them feel safe and comfortable.
We also make sure the home is the right match, both in terms of care and the community they’ll be joining.
We’ll guide you through what happens next and work closely with you to support a smooth move when the time's right.
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