Deciding on a care home for yourself or a loved one can be a difficult but important choice. Here are some signs that a care home might be the best option:

• Difficulties with Daily Living: struggling with basic tasks like bathing, dressing, or preparing meals, even with help from family or carers?
• Safety Concerns: Have there been falls or near misses? Is the home environment becoming unsafe due to mobility issues?
• Nutritional Deficiencies: Are you concerned about eating habits or weight loss? Perhaps you're struggling to shop for groceries or prepare healthy meals.
• Social Isolation: Loneliness can be detrimental to physical and mental well-being. Do you have limited social interaction or express feelings of isolation?
• Declining Physical Health: Are there noticeable changes in physical health? A care home can provide a safe environment without the worry of home maintenance and chores. Help is always available from our friendly team.

Moving to a care home can be a positive step, offering a supportive environment, social interaction, and professional care. Having open conversations with loved ones or healthcare professionals can make all the difference to living well in later life.

We understand this can be a complex decision. Abbeyfield is here to help. Find an Abbeyfield residential care home near you for a confidential consultation to discuss your specific situation and explore the options available.

The cost of a residential care home varies depending on your individual needs and circumstances. To give you the most accurate information, it’s best to have a personalised care needs assessment. This assessment helps us understand your specific requirements and create a care plan accordingly.

At The Abbeyfield Living Society, we follow a transparent pricing structure which includes:

• Care cost which are directly linked to your individual care needs which are determined through your care needs assessment. They may cover support with daily living activities, medication management, or specialised care based on your condition.
• We regularly review your care plan and associated costs to ensure they remain aligned with your changing needs to ensure transparency.
• Search for a care home to see the typical weekly fee by care home.

While residential care homes offer supportive environments for older people, eligibility often depends on individual needs and circumstances.

Older people who need support with daily living and activities such as bathing, dressing, medication management, and preparing meals, or older people with mobility issues or chronic health conditions that require specialised care and support, might benefit from living in a residential care home. A number of our care homes also provide early-onset dementia support. Alternatively we also provide a number of specialist dementia care homes across England for moderate to advanced dementia needs. 

At The Abbeyfield Living Society, we welcome individuals who require varying levels of support and our dedicated teams provide personalised care plans, which have been tailored to each resident’s needs, in our warm and supportive homes where residents can socialise and create meaningful connections.

Both types of accommodation offer 24/7 supervision and care, meals, and personal care assistance and support older people who require support with daily activities and chronic medical conditions. The key differences are:

Residential care homes:

• Focus on supporting older people with daily activities like bathing, dressing or medication management.
• Have trained care staff who provide support, but no registered nurses are available.
• Are ideal for older people who need moderate support with daily activities, socialising and maintaining independence.

Nursing homes:

• Focus on providing comprehensive medical care alongside support with daily activities.
• Registered nurses are present 24/7 and are equipped to deal with complex medical needs.
• Are ideal for older people who require significant medical support, including monitoring, wound care and administering medication.

At Abbeyfield, we work with our residents along with their families to provide individual care plans for each resident across all our care services. Each care plan is tailored to the resident to ensure the care provided meets their unique needs and preferences.

What Does an Individual Care Plan Include?

Your loved one's care plan will be created collaboratively between our care team, you (or their family representative), and the resident themselves. It typically includes the following elements:

• Personal Information and Background: We gather details about your loved one's medical history, medications, daily routines, hobbies, and interests.
• Assessment of Needs: We assess your loved one's physical, cognitive, and emotional needs, along with their mobility and independence level.
• Goals and Objectives: We work together to establish realistic and achievable goals for your loved one, focusing on promoting well-being, maximising independence, and managing any health conditions.
• Care and Support Strategies: The plan outlines the specific care and support your loved one will receive to achieve their goals. This may include assistance with daily activities, medication management, dietary needs, social activities, and emotional support.
• Regular Reviews and Updates: We understand that needs can change over time. Your loved one's care plan will be reviewed and updated regularly to ensure it continues to meet their evolving needs.

Absolutely! We do accept residents funded by the local authority. However, it's important to note that local authority funding may not always cover the full cost of care.

Here's a breakdown of the process:

• Financial Assessment: The local authority will conduct a financial assessment to determine your eligibility for funding and the amount they will contribute.
• Top-Up Fees: In some cases, the local authority's funding may not cover the entire cost of our care services. If this occurs, we would discuss the possibility of a "top-up fee" with you and your family. This fee would bridge the gap between the local authority's contribution and our actual care costs.
• We recommend contacting your local authority directly to understand their funding process and potential eligibility. We're happy to assist you with any questions you may have throughout this process.

It's important to be aware of all the financial aspects of care home residency before making a decision. We encourage you to reach out to us for a personalised consultation to discuss your specific situation and potential funding options.

Found Your Perfect Abbeyfield Home? Here's How to Apply!

Congratulations on finding an Abbeyfield care home that feels right for you! Here's a step-by-step guide to make the application process smooth and easy.

1. Initiate Contact:

There are two ways to get started:

• Online Contact Form: Simply visit the property page of your chosen home on our website and fill out the quick contact form.
• Direct Call: Feel free to call the home directly to speak with a friendly staff member.

2. Schedule a Personalized Visit:

The best way to experience Abbeyfield is firsthand! We encourage you to schedule a visit to your chosen home. During your visit, you can:

• Tour the facilities and see the comfortable living spaces.
• Meet the caring staff and residents.
• Ask any questions you may have.

You are welcome to visit the home a number of times to to make sure the home is right for you.

3. Eligibility Assessment:

Our dedicated care team will work with you to complete a personal and financial assessment. This assessment helps us understand your individual needs and ensure we can provide the best possible care.

4. Application and Move-In Process:

If your application is accepted, we'll guide you through the application process. This includes completing necessary forms and collaborating with our team to plan your smooth move-in date.

5. Welcome Home!

Sit back, relax, and start enjoying life at your new Abbeyfield home! We offer a vibrant community, engaging activities, and exceptional care to make this a fulfilling chapter in your life.

Additional Tips:

• Feel free to bring a loved one with you on your visit.
• We encourage you to ask questions and express any concerns you may have.
• Our friendly team is here to support you throughout the entire process.

We look forward to welcoming you to the Abbeyfield family!

We do indeed. We understand that caring for a loved one around the clock can be demanding. Abbeyfield offers respite stays in all our care homes, providing a temporary break for families and caregivers.

Benefits of Respite Stays:

• Peace of mind: Knowing your loved one is receiving exceptional care in a safe and secure environment allows you to recharge and focus on your well-being.
• Social connection and great activities: Our residents enjoy a vibrant community and engaging activities, combating loneliness and promoting well-being during their stay.
• Trial Experience: A respite stay can be a valuable opportunity for your loved one to experience the Abbeyfield lifestyle and see if it's a good fit for their long-term needs.

Find a residential care home near you to discuss a trial or respite stay.

We are dedicated to providing exceptional care for our residents for almost 70 years. We achieve this through a multi-pronged approach that combines internal procedures, rigorous staff recruitment, and a commitment to external quality standards.

• Individualised care plans tailored to each resident's needs.
• Rigorous staff recruitment with ongoing training.
• Regular internal audits & quality assurance.
• CQC registration & exceeding their standards.
• Continuous improvement based on resident & family feedback.

This ensures a safe, supportive, and enriching environment for all.

All our care homes have laundry facilities. You can choose to do your own laundry or have your family take care of it for you. Please let the Care Home Manager know your preference.

Whether you can manage your own medication (self-administer) will depend on a personal assessment. Following Care Quality Commission (CQC) guidelines, we assume residents can self-administer unless a risk assessment shows otherwise. This assessment considers your ability to handle medication safely and any potential risks.

If you can self-administer, your medication must be stored in a lockable cupboard or drawer in your room. Alternatively, we can store and manage your medication for you.

Absolutely! Visitors are welcome to join you for meals. Please let the home know a few days in advance, especially if your visitor has any special dietary requirements. There will be a small charge for the meal, please check with the home for specific details.

We encourage visitor participation in activities, especially if you can help with running them! As we are a national charity have you considered volunteering with us? Find out more

While we provide hoists and slings, we can typically order any specialist equipment on your behalf from the local authority. Please check with the individual home for details, as equipment provided and the ordering process through local authorities can vary by region.

We take quality assurance seriously. Our homes undergo regular audits by internal staff which includes our staff at the home, our Regional Operations Managers and our Compliance Team. Our external regulators are the Care Quality Commission (CQC) who conduct audits and we are also audited by the local authorities. The view of our residents and families on quality of care are also very important to us with feedback gathered through quarterly resident meetings and nationally through our national Resident Panel.

You'll receive an information pack upon arrival with details on how to provide feedback. In the first instance, please speak with the Care Home Manager. We also regularly seek feedback from residents and families through quarterly meetings and nationally through our national Resident Panel. We have a clear compliments and complaints procedure, which you can request or find displayed within the home. If you're unsure about anything, just ask a member of our team - we're always happy to help!