How to choose a care home: a step-by-step guide for families

Choosing a care home for someone you love is one of the hardest decisions a family ever makes — and it usually arrives at a stressful time. The good news is that it becomes far more manageable when you break it into steps. Here is a calm, practical guide to finding the right home.

Step 1: Work out the type of care needed

Start with the level of support your loved one actually needs — now, and likely in the near future. Broadly, that means:

• Residential care — help with everyday living and personal care, for people who find managing at home difficult but don’t need nursing.
• Nursing care — everything residential care offers, plus qualified nurses on site for more complex or changing health needs.
• Dementia care — specialist support in calm, familiar surroundings for people living with dementia.
• Respite care — short stays, for recovery or to give a family carer a break.

If you’re unsure, a home or your GP can help you assess this. You can read more about each type on our types of care page.

Step 2: Decide where you want it to be

Location matters more than people expect. A home that’s easy to reach means more visits, and more visits mean a happier resident and greater peace of mind for you. Think about who will visit most often and how far they can travel. Our homes are spread across South Wales and Herefordshire, so there’s usually one within easy reach.

Step 3: Check the inspection rating and reviews

Every care home in the UK is regulated and inspected. In Wales that’s Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW); in England it’s the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Look up the latest inspection report — it tells you what inspectors actually found.

Alongside the official rating, read independent reviews from families on carehome.co.uk. These give you the real, day-to-day picture. Every BIRA home displays its current inspection rating and family reviews directly on its page.

Step 4: Visit — and trust what you see

Nothing replaces walking through the door. When you visit, notice the things a brochure can’t show you:

• Are residents up, dressed and engaged — or sitting in front of a television all day?
• Do staff know residents by name and speak to them warmly?
• Does it smell and feel clean, calm and homely?
• Is there a sense of life — activities, conversation, laughter?
• Can residents choose when they get up, what they do and when they have visitors?

Take someone with you. Two sets of eyes notice different things, and it helps to talk it over afterwards.

Step 5: Understand the costs

Care is funded in different ways — privately, with help from your local authority, or through NHS Continuing Healthcare for those with significant health needs. The thresholds differ between Wales and England, so it’s worth understanding where you stand early. Our guide to care home fees and funding explains it plainly.

A good home will be transparent about fees and what’s included, and can arrange a free assessment of need with no obligation.

Step 6: Trust your instincts

Once you’ve done the practical checks, listen to how a home makes you feel. Could you picture your mum, dad or partner being happy there? The right home feels less like an institution and more like somewhere people are genuinely known and cared for.

When you’re ready, arrange a visit — or call the home directly. There’s no pressure, only people who will listen and help you find the right place at the right time.