Residential care
Most people prefer to live in their own homes for as long as they can. If you need a little extra support to stay in your own home there is a range of equipment or support that can help. For more information, see our pages on living independently and homecare. If this isn't an option for you, residential care may be suitable.
Care homes
Care homes are live-in facilities. They provide food, accommodation, personal care and access to 24 hour medical care from trained medical professionals. All care homes for older people provide support with personal care (for example support with washing and bathing and support with medication). Not all care homes provide nursing care.
You can usually have your own bedroom with a bathroom and toilet facilities and use a communal sitting room, dining room and a garden.
Finding a good care home
Care homes must be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The CQC regularly visit registered homes to check the facilities and the standard of care. Inspection reports are available on the Care Quality Commission website. You can find out what a home is like and what services it offers before you make a decision about whether or not it's right for you.
For information on care homes, visit the Care Quality Commission website.
Paying for care homes
Care homes can be expensive so it's important that you get independent advice before agreeing to any care home arrangements.
The following organisations may be able to assist you with independent advice:
|
Organisation |
Contact details |
|---|---|
|
The Money Advice Service |
Telephone: 0300 500 5000 |
|
Housing Care (for older people only) |
Website: www.housingcare.org
|
|
Citizens Advice Southwark |
Telephone: 0344 499 4134 |
There are different ways you can fund your care home. Options may include renting your property and using the rental income to pay for your placement, or selling your home to release equity. You may be able to defer payments. This option is only available if you own a property. For more information, see our deferred payments page.
It's important that you seek independent financial advice to consider available options.
Support from us
If you are funding your own care home we can provide you with information, advice and support to help you to find a suitable place. For more information please speak to your social worker.
We will make care home arrangements for you if we assess that we can support you (for more information, see our page can we help with your care and support needs) and that your needs will be met by the care home placement. We may pay some or all of the care home costs. For more information, visit paying for your care.
Southwark Council have contracts with several nursing care homes and residential care homes located in Southwark, which helps residents stay within their home borough.
We will try to support you to access your chosen care home. If you choose a care home that costs more than your assessed needs, a third party (for example a family member or friend) will need to pay a regular top-up payment. In some circumstances, you (not a third party) may be able to make the top-up payments.
Page last updated: 13 July 2023
