Frequently asked questions

Our skilled and experienced home teams have supported thousands of families through this process and we will help you in whatever way suits you and your mother best. We often find that simply showing a loved one around one of our homes is enough to change their mind about care home life when they see the fun that residents are having, and the great care they receive. We will introduce your mother to the home’s friendly team, to other residents, we’ll give her a tour and answer all her questions.

Your mother is also welcome to join us as a ‘resident for a day’ when she can spend longer at the home, doing activities, enjoying a meal, making new friends and generally becoming more used to the idea of living in a care home. All our care homes offer short term respite stays too, so your mother could even give the home a try for a short time. What’s important is that you have all the time – and all the information – you need to make the right decision.

Carehome.co.uk is a great website to know about if you’re looking for completely independent reviews of a care home. Relatives and visitors to a home submit reviews to the site which help to give the home a score out of 10. You’ll find reviews from carehome.co.uk on the testimonials tab of the Care UK home/s you’re interested in along with feedback that we’ve received directly from relatives, residents and visitors.

Call the Care Support Team on the number displayed above. If you prefer, there’s a pink button that you can click on to send a message. A member of the team will then get back to you.

We understand that a relative may need to move into a care home out of the area where they’ve been living, in order to be closer to family members. Any of our homes can take private/self-paying residents from anywhere else in the country if they have availability, and family members sometimes move elderly relatives from overseas to a home near them in the UK. We’re entirely flexible, and dedicated to helping new residents to settle in quickly.

Our website has helpful information on choosing a care home. We do recommend that you visit at least three homes so you can compare them. Ultimately, you’ll instinctively know if you like the home and whether your loved one will feel at home. 

Each one of our homes is unique, so the best way to find out is to call the home you think is right for your loved one and have a chat with our friendly staff.

When you decide you’ve found a home that’s right for your loved one, the senior team will need to do an assessment of your loved one’s needs to ensure that the home is right for them. Once funding and care options have all been agreed, the team will work with you to plan the moving in process. Everything will be tailored to suit you and your loved one’s needs and situation.

You may find our moving in checklist helpful. 

Yes, all our rooms are en-suite. If you have any questions please call us - we’ll be happy to help.

While we don’t offer specific flats or suites for couples in our homes, we do believe in tailoring our care to suit the needs of residents. If both people require residential or nursing care, we can organise next door, or even adjoining, rooms.

Care UK’s ethos is all about helping people to live fulfilling lives. This includes enabling people to do the things they love and live as independent a life as possible. Our homes have lovely secure gardens that are wheelchair friendly, and that residents can access whenever they wish. They’re welcome to help with gardening, to restock bird tables and feeders, to take a stroll, or simply sit and enjoy the sunshine. To support residents who are living with dementia, we use many plants chosen for their sensory properties of scent, texture and colour.

Yes we do. It’s best to contact us to find out more and to get an idea of availability.

Care costs vary depending on your loved one’s needs. The more care they need, the higher the cost is likely to be. Some of our home’s websites include an indication of costs, but the best option is to contact us to get a better idea. Click here to find out more.

We understand people’s anxieties about moving a loved one into a care home. That’s why we make a promise to every new customer about what they can expect from any Care UK home across the UK. Many of our homes have a ‘good’ rating from the relevant care regulator, the Care Quality Commission in the UK, or the Care Inspectorate in Scotland. We work with residents and relatives to get their regular feedback, in meetings in each home, through surveys, or just in day to day conversations. Our people are recruited for their positive and caring personalities as much as for their skills and feel their day has been a success simply when they see residents smiling and enjoying life. Ultimately, all our care is person-centred – everything we do is tailored to the individual’s needs, preferences and interests.

We understand people may feel more comfortable with a carer who is the same gender when receiving personal care and will always to do our utmost to ensure resident wishes are met.

There’s no ‘one size fits all’ approach to care ratios. Our care ratios are calculated to take into account the complexity level and general care needs of each resident, so these will vary from suite to suite in each home.

Whenever you have a question about any aspect of your relative’s care, please bring it up as quickly as possible with any of the home team. Usually any issues can be resolved quickly and efficiently, and the earlier we know about it, the better. At Care UK we take quality extremely seriously and we strive to deliver exceptional care to all our residents, but sometimes things do go wrong. In the unlikely event that you have serious concerns about your loved one’s care, please talk to the home manager immediately who will put a plan in place to resolve the issue to your satisfaction.

We understand that having help with bathing and toileting when you’ve been used to looking after yourself can be embarrassing and frustrating. Each resident has a key worker (a main carer) who will support them in this area to minimise embarrassment. Having en-suite facilities also helps to maximise comfort and privacy. Our staff are discreet and highly trained and dedicated to supporting your loved one with dignity. Our homes have assisted bathing facilities if a resident’s physical needs are such that they need intensive support. However, where a resident is able to do even the basics for themselves, we’ll always support them, in order to maximise their independence.

At Care UK we’re passionate about helping residents to stay active and independent. That’s why we’ll get to know your loved one’s personality and hobbies to support them to enjoy a meaningful lifestyle, with experiences and activities that reflect their interests. Each of our homes runs a range of daily group and one-to-one activities, all tailored to residents’ interests. These range from gentle exercise, to music sessions, arts and crafts, gardening, visits from local entertainers, baking, plus trips out to local shops, garden centres and places of interest. All our homes offer different options because their residents are different. We even have homes where residents lead the classes, prepare the vegetables for meals, or run the in-home shop. We promise to support your loved one to be as involved and as busy as he or she wants to be. We’ve even created an ABC activity guide

The majority of our homes provide en-suite facilities, and residents have their own flatscreen TV, phone and internet connections in their rooms. Many of our homes, particularly our new-build homes, have ground floor bedrooms with doors that open out onto secure, landscaped gardens, so residents in these rooms even have their own small patio areas with seating and pot plants. We believe in helping residents to continue enjoying a superb lifestyle, with a range of daily activities tailored around their interests and preferences. Many of our homes arrange regular outings, performances from local entertainers, and much more besides.

As we get older our appetites do change, and older people who are living with other conditions, such as dementia or dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) can need enhanced support to ensure they’re eating and drinking enough. One of Care UK’s key areas of focus is food, and helping residents to dine with dignity, whatever their needs. Many of our homes have chef-led catering teams who produce delicious and nutritious meals made from the freshest ingredients. When a resident has problems with managing their weight this will be part of their care plan, and we’ll work with them and their family to work towards an effective solution.

There’s lots more information on our eating as we age site.

No Care UK home has set visiting hours. Each care home is our residents’ home and we wouldn’t dream of dictating who can visit them and when. Friends and family can visit whenever they wish and stay for as long as they like. We love it when visitors get involved in activities, stay for a meal or come along on our outings. Visitors can take residents out for trips, bring in their friendly pets… Each of our new homes has its own coffee shop, cinema and hair and beauty salon, so there’s no end of options for fun and varied things to do.

Yes, the majority of Care UK homes do provide quality short term respite care. Many family carers find it a helpful option if they need time to themselves. It’s also a good ‘taster’ for your loved one of what permanent care would be like. Fees vary from home to home and will depend on your loved one’s needs, so the best option is to contact the home you’re interested in to get a clear idea of cost.

You can also download our respite care brochure

Absolutely. We care for older people who have a variety of needs, from ongoing healthcare needs to dementia and mental health challenges. We provide residential and nursing care, so you can rest assured that your father will receive the best of care. We also help residents to continue to enjoy a great lifestyle, including doing lifelong hobbies, while discovering new interests and enjoying superb food.

Because we provide such a broad range of services, we can support residents with very high intensity needs. This means that, as a person’s condition changes, they can stay in the same familiar home environment supported by people they know and trust.

One of our day clubs could be perfect for you. They help family carers to have some invaluable time to themselves while the older loved one is stimulated with a change of scene, the chance to make new friends, and to do fun activities. Our day club members do gardening, quizzes, trips out, and enjoy a tasty, two-course meal. What’s more, they’re flexible to fit around you. They’re run by qualified and experienced carers and are perfect for older people who are living at home but who may be living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

Find out more about our day clubs on our website including a list of our clubs. Click on the name of the club nearest you to find out more, including information on fees.

Yes we can. The majority of our homes provide specialist dementia care in dedicated dementia suites. These suites have their own dining area and lounge, as well as a number of en-suite bedrooms and are designed to minimise hustle and bustle, which people living with dementia can find unsettling. The staff who work in these areas have specialist dementia training and experience and can cater for residents with these very specific, high level needs.

Yes, Care UK provides specialist dementia care. We care for people living with all types of dementia. While we tend to care for older residents, we are able to care for those who find themselves having to live with the condition at a young age. Please do talk to the friendly team at your local Care UK home to find out how they can support you and your wife. They’re here to help.

You can also find more information in our dementia care brochure