Choosing a residential or nursing home
 
The Commission for Social Care Inspection, with which all care homes and care homes providing nursing care must be registered, can provide a list of all homes registered in any given area. The Social Services Directorate can provide a list of care homes with which it has a contract to provide care to individuals to whom it provides financial support. 
 
The National Minimum Standards, supported by the Care Standards Act 2000, require care homes and care homes providing nursing care to make it very clear what level of care they will provide and how they will meet each individual ‘s care needs. 
 
Each care home is required to produce and make available an up-to-date statement of purpose setting out the aims, objectives, philosophy of care, services and facilities of the home.  They must also provide a service user guide to the home for their existing and prospective service users. 
 
These documents will assist individuals to choose suitable care homes, given other considerations such as geographical location.  Social workers from the local authority will be able to assist with any queries individuals may have. 
 
It is advisable for individuals considering entering care homes to visit potential homes if possible, to meet staff and residents and form an opinion about the suitability of the home for them.  Moving into a care home is a major decision and it is advisable to prepare questions before visiting any home and deciding what to look for, particularly to meet any special needs an individual may have.  Four very useful publications are listed below to help facilitate the process:
 
“Finding Care Home Accommodation” Age Concern Factsheet No. 29 available free from:
Age Concern England,
Astral House,
1268 London Road,
SW16 4ER
 
“The Complete Care Home Guide” – Counsel and Care publication available free from: 
Counsel and Care,
Twyman House,
16 Bonny Steel,
London 
NW1 9PG
 
“Care Homes for Older People – National Minimum Standards” – Commission for Social Care Publication available free from:
CSCI,
33 Greycoat Street,
London
SW1P 2QF
 
“Care Homes" – a Help the Aged publication available free from:
Information Resources Team,
Help the Aged,
207-221 Pentonville Road,
London,
N1 9UZ.

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