Making care a little clearer, so you can make decisions with confidence.
Choosing care can feel overwhelming, particularly when you’re arranging support for a parent or other loved one. We’ve put together some straightforward guidance to help you understand your options. From paying for care and finding the right care provider to deciding between care at home and a care home, you’ll find some of the key things to consider below.
If you’re still unsure what kind of support would be right for you or your loved one, the Caring With Dignity team is always happy to have a conversation.
Understanding how care will be funded is often one of the first questions families have. There isn’t one route that works for everyone, so it’s worth finding out what support you may be entitled to before making decisions about your loved one’s care.
Depending on your circumstances, care may be funded in different ways.
Some people pay for care themselves. This is often referred to as being a self-funder.
Depending on your financial circumstances and assessed care needs, you may be eligible for support from your local authority. A financial assessment will help determine whether you qualify.
Some people with significant or complex health needs may be eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare funding. This is separate from local authority social care funding and has its own eligibility assessment.
It’s worth asking for an assessment rather than assuming your loved one won’t qualify for support.
There may be other sources of financial help depending on your circumstances. For example:
Organisations such as the Royal British Legion, Army Benevolent Fund, and SSAFA may offer grants or financial support.
Charities such as Headway and Brain Injury Is Big may offer grants or other support.
Financial support may be available through organisations such as Cavell or the Royal College of Nursing.
The Disability Grants website can also signpost families supporting children with disabilities, including autism.
Choosing a care provider is about much more than comparing prices. You’re trusting that organisation to send people into your home, potentially to support someone you love with very personal aspects of their daily life. So what should you look for?
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates and inspects health and social care services in England. Check the provider’s current CQC rating and read the inspection information to understand how the organisation is performing.
Look beyond the star rating and read what people actually say about their experiences. Google reviews and Homecare.co.uk can give you an insight into what clients and their families think about the care they’ve received.
Find out whether you’ll have the same support workers visiting regularly or whether the provider uses a larger pool of different people. Having a small, familiar care team can help build trust and means support workers have more opportunity to understand the individual they’re supporting.
Will you know when the support worker is coming? Can the provider give you a set time slot? Will the timing be consistent from one visit to the next? These details can make a significant difference to someone’s routine and peace of mind.
Ask whether the provider uses an electronic care recording system and whether family members can access it. Being able to see when a support worker arrived, what support they provided, and how your relative was can offer valuable reassurance, particularly when you can’t be there yourself.
Your care provider should understand the needs of the person they’re supporting. Ask what training their support workers receive and whether they have experience supporting people with your relative’s particular needs.
How soon can care start?
What happens if my loved one doesn’t get along with a support worker?
How much notice do I need to give when cancelling care?
How will you assess the home?
How are medication records maintained?
What happens if my loved one’s care needs change?
For many people, the question isn’t simply “What care do I need?” but “Where should I receive it?”
Both home care and care homes can provide valuable support, but they work in very different ways. The right choice depends on the person’s needs, circumstances, preferences, and home environment.
One of the biggest benefits is that your relative can continue living in familiar surroundings while receiving support around their existing routine.
For some people, this may be the most appropriate option when their needs can no longer be safely or comfortably managed at home.
There’s no universal correct answer. Instead, you should think about:
How much support do they need, and could those needs be safely met at home?
Would they prefer to remain in familiar surroundings or feel more comfortable in a dedicated care setting?
Is the home suitable for the support your loved one needs, including any equipment or adaptations?
Would receiving support at home help them maintain their existing routines and independence?
How much support can family, friends, and other people around them provide?
Could their care needs change over time, and how might that affect the type of support they require?
For many people, home care can provide the support they need while allowing them to remain where they feel most comfortable.
You don’t have to work everything out on your own. We believe care should be designed around the individual. That means listening to what someone actually wants and helping with the things that matter to them, rather than asking them to fit around a rigid care structure.
If you’re considering home care for yourself or someone you love, speak to Caring With Dignity today about your circumstances, and we’ll help you understand what support we may be able to offer.
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Prefer to talk now? Call us on 0121 493 9159 – we’re here from 8:30am-4:30pm
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