Plain answers to the questions families face when someone needs care: choosing a home, dementia, paying for care, moving in and visiting.
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30 guides
· 2 min readRespite and home careLeaving hospital: arranging care afterwardsWhat happens when an older person is ready to leave hospital but needs care, and how short-term support works.
· 2 min readMoving in and visitingGP, dentist, optician and chiropodist: health care in a care homeHow residents of a care home see a GP, dentist, optician and chiropodist, and get to hospital appointments.
· 2 min readPaying for careLasting power of attorney: why to set one up earlyA lasting power of attorney lets someone you trust make decisions for you if you cannot. The two types and how to make one.
· 2 min readLiving with dementiaLooking after yourself when you care for someone with dementiaCaring for someone with dementia is demanding. Where to get a break, support and advice as a family carer.
· 2 min readChoosing a care homeTalking to a parent about moving into a care homeHow to start the conversation about a care home with a parent, listen to their worries and involve them in the decision.
· 2 min readRespite and home careHome care or a care home: how to decideQuestions to help you decide between care at home and a move to a care home.
· 2 min readMoving in and visitingVisiting someone with dementia in a care homeHow to make visits easier and more enjoyable for a person with dementia, and how to cope when they do not recognise you.
· 2 min readPaying for careAttendance Allowance and care home feesAttendance Allowance helps people over State Pension age with care needs. How it works when someone moves into a care home.
· 2 min readLiving with dementiaHelping someone with dementia eat and drink wellWhy people with dementia can struggle at mealtimes, and practical ways to help them eat and drink enough.
· 2 min readChoosing a care homeSigns it may be time to think about a care homeChanges that can show someone is no longer coping at home, and what to do before deciding on a care home.
· 2 min readRespite and home careWhat is home care and who is it for?Home care, sometimes called domiciliary care, brings carers to your home. What it covers and how to arrange it.
· 2 min readMoving in and visitingVisiting someone in a care home: making visits countIdeas for visits that both of you enjoy, from bringing photos and music to sitting in the garden.
· 2 min readPaying for careNHS continuing healthcare: who qualifiesNHS continuing healthcare is free care for people whose needs are mainly health needs. How eligibility is decided.
· 2 min readLiving with dementiaSudden confusion in older people: when it may not be dementiaSudden confusion, or delirium, can be caused by an infection, dehydration or medicines. Why it needs checking quickly.
· 2 min readChoosing a care homeQuestions to ask when you visit a care homeA list of questions to take with you when you look round a care home, about care, rooms, daily life, visiting and fees.
· 2 min readRespite and home careCarer’s assessment: getting support as a family carerFamily carers can ask the council for a free carer’s assessment. What it covers and what support can follow.
· 2 min readMoving in and visitingThe first few weeks in a care homeWhat to expect in the first weeks after moving into a care home, and how families can help someone settle.
· 2 min readPaying for careThe council’s financial assessment: what countsHow the council’s financial assessment for care works, what income and savings are counted and what is left out.
· 2 min readLiving with dementiaTalking with someone who has dementiaSimple ways to make conversation easier for a person with dementia, and what to avoid.
· 2 min readChoosing a care homeHow to read a CQC inspection reportWhat the Care Quality Commission’s ratings mean, what the five key questions cover and how to find a care home’s latest report.
· 2 min readRespite and home carePaying for respite careWho pays for a respite stay: help from the council, self-funding and other options.
· 2 min readMoving in and visitingMaking a care home room feel like homeIdeas for personalising a care home room with familiar furniture, photos and keepsakes, especially for someone with dementia.
· 2 min readPaying for careWhat is a care needs assessment?The free assessment from the council that looks at what help someone needs, and how to ask for one.
· 2 min readLiving with dementiaAlzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia: the two most common typesHow Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia differ, how they usually progress and why the type matters for care.
· 2 min readChoosing a care homeCare home or nursing home: what is the difference?Residential care homes and nursing homes both provide care around the clock. The difference is whether a registered nurse is on duty.
· 2 min readRespite and home careWhat is respite care?Respite care gives family carers a break. The different kinds of respite, and what a short stay in a care home involves.
· 2 min readMoving in and visitingWhat to bring when moving into a care homeA packing list for moving into a care home: clothes, toiletries, medicines, documents and the things that make a room feel like home.
· 2 min readPaying for careHow paying for a care home works in Thurrock and EssexAn overview of who pays for a care home in England: the council’s assessments, the savings limits, self-funding and NHS help.
· 2 min readLiving with dementiaEarly signs of dementia and when to see a GPCommon early signs of dementia, why it is worth seeing a GP and what happens at a memory assessment.
· 2 min readChoosing a care homeHow to choose a care home: a checklist for familiesWhat to look at when you compare care homes, from the CQC rating and the rooms to visiting, activities and fees.