You may not need to ask Social Services for help to go into a care home. However, if you are undecided or if you are not sure about your options or the alternatives you can ask for information and an assessment of your needs. This can help clarify the best way forward for you in the immediate and longer term.

If you are likely to need nursing home care then you may be entitled to a continuing care assessment. Click here for more information on NHS Continuing Care. Most people who require a nursing home should be entitled to some help towards the assessed nursing level of care, RNCC (Registered Nursing Care Contribution, formerly known as "free nursing care").

However, not everyone is entitled to local authority financial support to go into a care home. If you can make your own arrangements, then the local authorities will have no legal responsibility to assist you.

You can make your own arrangements if -

  • you have enough available income and/or capital to pay for the home, and
  • you can make the practical arrangements yourself, either alone or with help of your family, friends, voluntary organisations etc.

Your finances

If you have enough income from pensions, interest, dividends etc. to meet the cost of a care home, leaving you with the nationally agreed personal allowance, then you will be financially able to organise your our care home. If you have enough capital, i.e. savings, shares, other investments etc. above the nationally agreed limit, (in 2011-2012 £23,250) then you will be expected to arrange and pay the the full cost of your care. If you only have a little above this limit, it would be advisable to get information and advice about how to proceed.

For further information on paying for your care please click here.

How do I arrange residential or nursing home care

If you are able to make the practical arrangements yourself, either on your own or with the help of family, friends, voluntary organisations etc., then you may not need help from Social Services.

The tasks involved will include, finding a suitable home, visiting it yourself or getting your family to visit, agreeing a weekly cost and agreeing what services are covered, looking at the inspection reports and agreeing a written contract with the home.

Here are some organisations that can help with these tasks:

  • Care Quality Commission - Information on how to find a care home and homes inspection reports
  • Counsel and Care - Information on care in a home, particularly paying for and choosing care homes. Tel 0845 300 7585 or email advice@counselandcare.org.uk
  • Age UK  Waltham Forest - General advice and information for the elderly. Tel 020 8558 0455
  • Housing Care - This site aims to help older people make decisions about where to live, and any support or care they need. It will help you maintain, adapt or improve your home; find care or home help services; or move to retirement, or extra care housing, or to a care home

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