Moving into a care home is a huge step and it’s very normal to be apprehensive about it. Knowing what to expect can help to ease any concerns. Here some care home residents share what it is like to live in a care home for them.
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At a glance
- Embrace the transition: Moving into a care home is a major life step, but knowing what to expect and hearing real experiences from current residents can help ease apprehension and concern.
- Research and visit options: Finding the right fit involves visiting multiple care homes, using checklists, reading reviews, talking to residents and families, and considering a short stay first.
- Overcome initial hesitation: Many residents initially worry about losing their independence or facing isolation, but they often discover a welcoming community with daily activities, social events, and supportive 24-hour care.
- Enjoy daily life and independence: Residents maintain a high quality of life through home-cooked meals, engaging hobbies, private spaces, and active roles within the home, striking a balance between companionship and personal privacy.
How can I get an idea of what it is like to live in a care home?
When looking for the right care home for you, it’s important to get a realistic idea of what day to day life there could be like for you.
Tips to get a picture of what your life will be like in a care home include:
- Look around several options. There are over 16,000 care homes in the UK to choose from; even if you’re in a rush to choose a home for health reasons, you can change care homes if the one you’re in doesn’t suit you. You can use the search feature on this website to narrow down your search to homes that fit your criteria.
- Know what you’re looking for. When looking at care homes it’s good to have a checklist.
- Speak to residents and their families and read reviews
- Have a respite stay before committing to living there full time
It’s important to choose a care home that suits your needs, personality and lifestyle.
Here, five care home residents share their positive experiences of life in a care home.
Elsie
Elsie moved into Barony Lodge Residential Care Home in Nantwich, Cheshire, in March 2022.
She says: “It’s lovely and clean and everyone is so friendly. I get on great with all the residents and staff and would recommend it to anybody.
“There’s something to do every day – one day we were making kites and the next crocheting and knitting. I would be idle if I had gone home.
“And from my bedroom there’s a door so you can go to the gardens straight away, which is lovely because you can see the birds.”
She is a particular fan of the home-cooked meals, “We have some lovely meals and I eat everything!”
Elsie is now resident ambassador, an active role that involves supporting the team with everything from interviewing potential staff to showing new residents around the home. She loves making a difference to how the home is run and enjoys the purpose that the role gives her.
“I enjoy doing it – I think it’s very important and it makes me feel really good, like I really belong here,” she says.
“This morning I met a lady and she seemed really pleased that a resident was showing her round – and for me it’s lovely. I am using my brain and I really enjoy it because I like talking to people.”
Ralph
Ralph, 96, said: “The day after my wife’s funeral I totally collapsed. My legs and everything went and I couldn’t move. I was rushed to hospital and spent two or three weeks there. It was clear I couldn’t live in my flat, so my son made inquiries and I came to Royal Star & Garter.
“It’s a big step moving into a home but I had to accept it was because there was no way I could manage in the condition I was in, so I left it to my son to do his best for me. He looked around and thought this was the best one for me, and I’m very happy with his choice. It couldn’t be better really.
“I like the general friendliness and the care and attention you get here. Staff are wonderful and can’t do enough for you. I would recommend it to anyone. It’s the right move to make, very definitely.
“There’s a lot of concerts and musical activities in the home which I really enjoy. And as I said already, I’m really well cared for in the home.”
Hilda
Hilda, also 96, started to think about moving into a care home after her husband’s death. She explained: “I was looking to the future. I didn’t have children to care for me so I had to think of a care home.
“My sister Grace had been a resident at Royal Star & Garter before me, and I visited her every week for three years before she died in 2018. So I knew the place before I became a resident here. I thought it was a nice home, the staff were very friendly. Grace was very happy.
“Having been in the Services, I liked the military environment. I applied, and it was a relief when I moved in here because I knew that I was going to be lovingly cared for and looked after for the rest of my life. I’m very happy here.
“Before I moved here I felt very isolated but I love the sense of community here. People are always looking in and checking on you. It’s 24-hour care. I have a nice room, good communal facilities, you have all the activities, you’ve got the outings, there’s usually something on every day and there’s always people around. Everything is here if you want it. There’s nothing you can fault, and there’s nothing missing. You’ve got good food, there’s good grounds, you have nice view, and a terrace to sit on in the summer. You’ve got everything you need, and I have all the help I need for the future. It’s a place I’d certainly recommend to others.
“The worst thing about moving into a care home is losing my independence and my house – but I know it is the best thing to do.”
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Wilma
Wilma lives at Fern Brook Lodge, a newly refurbished home in Gillingham. In the video below, she explains the positive experience she’s had living at the Care South care home.
Katherine
Katherine*, 81, lives at Priors Hall in Corby. She was reluctant to move into a care home at first.
Katherine explains: “Nobody plans out their life thinking that the end goal is a care home. I clung desperately to my independence and didn’t want to accept help, I didn’t want to admit to needing it, but I was getting more isolated.
“I was lonely; I was finding it more and more difficult to get out, I was scared to go out at night and I was becoming overwhelmed by everyday things.
“It wasn’t easy to give up my home. My fondest memories were there. I spent sleepless nights going over and over possible scenarios. What is it like to live in a care home? What if I hate it there? Will I get no privacy? What if they make me play bingo? I was picturing it as a really bad all-inclusive holiday!
“It took courage to visit Priors Hall but I knew I could be happy here. It’s much more homely than I expected – I thought it would look like a doctor’s waiting room.
“I have my own front door which I can close if I want a bit a of quite time. If I want company, there is always someone who wants to chat. I go to craft club, quizzes and exercise classes. We have entertainers, day trips and our own pub.
“If I don’t fancy what’s on the menu, I can ask for something else. We have takeaways and cake too.”
Next steps
- Create a personal checklist: Outline your specific needs, preferences, and lifestyle requirements to help narrow down your choices when researching potential care homes.
- Tour and test options: Visit several local care homes, chat with current residents and staff, and consider booking a short respite stay to experience daily life firsthand before committing fully.
- Explore and compare facilities: Use online search tools and reviews to compare homes in your area that fit your criteria, keeping in mind that you can always move to a different home later if your initial choice isn’t the right fit.
FAQs
What do care workers do in a care home?
Care workers help residents with all aspects of daily living. This includes helping residents with washing, getting dressed and going to the toilet. Care workers also monitor residents’ health and assist them with things like eating, drinking and taking part in activities and events.
How do I find out what a care home is really like?
To find out what a care home is like, read care home reviews. Reviews come from people who have lived, or still live in care homes as well as their loved ones. It is important to visit the care home and talk to residents and staff.
You can also trial a care home by taking respite in a care home to enable the resident to spend time in the new environment, take part in activities and socialise with others.
What should you think about when you visit the care home?
Walk around the care home to familiarise yourself with the surroundings, facilities, staff and residents. It is also a good idea to try the food. This allows you to see the benefits and find out what life at the care home is like. Your visit is also a good opportunity to think about how you would like to decorate your room.