Making that move to a care home painless

Thinking about moving to a care home, or a loved one making the move out of their family home, can be a stressful time but can often prove to be an opportunity for an older person to form new friendships and provide a safe, comfortable place to live.

Care homes are staffed 24 hours a day, with all meals provided.

Nursing care is sometimes on offer too and the levels of care provided should be a consideration before you move. Finding a care home Care homes all have to meet certain minimum standards but they can still vary widely in the accommodation and facilities they offer.

Before you start looking, you should make sure you have been assessed by the social work department of your local authority, so you know what care you may need and what help you will be likely to receive towards the cost.

You should then be able to obtain a list of suitable homes from your social work department or the Care Inspectorate, which is responsible for registering and inspecting care homes in Scotland.

You are then advised to visit as many homes as you can to find out which one you are likely to feel happy and comfortable living in. Paying for your care home Most people will be expected to pay towards the cost of their accommodation by using some of their income and capital. However, there are a number of public bodies who may have a duty to pay towards this.

In order to receive any financial assistance which may be available to you from your local authority or NHS health board, a “care assessment” of your needs must be carried out first, usually by a social worker from the local social work department of the local authority.

There are also free personal and nursing care payments available towards the cost of care, depending on the type you need and your age. You may also be entitled to claim for some benefits towards your bill.

There is a lot to consider when moving to a care home and you may find it useful to discuss some of the information on these pages with a relative or friend.

You can also phone the Age Scotland helpline on 0800 4 70 80 90 for helpful information.