• Residential care homes: They provide personal care (dressing, washing, meals, medication, etc.) and activities for residents to enjoy.
• Nursing care homes: They provide personal care, assistance and nursing intervention for those assessed to require a Registered Nurse 24 hours a day.
• Dementia care homes: They provide either residential dementia care or specialist nursing dementia care for residents who live with dementia, depending on the type of care they require.

There are care homes that can offer additional types of services, such as short respite stays, palliative care and other types of specialist care.

If you want to explore the different types of care RMBI Care Co. provides, click here. To learn about our nursing services, check out our Nursing Zone.

Some care homes can provide more than one type of care at once, such as residential and nursing. They are ideal for people who initially need residential care only and later in life will require other types of care: nursing, residential dementia support, palliative care, etc. This means they will not need to change care homes.

Care homes can be run by local councils, private companies or voluntary organisations. Their fees will vary depending on the area they are based, the kind of services they provide and other variables, such as any specific requirements residents may have.

If you want to learn about RMBI Care Co. as a company and registered charity, check out our About us section.

If you have difficulties in managing day to day and living independently, even when you get help from care workers and your loved ones, moving into a care home may be a good option for you. The right care home will provide you with the level of care you need now or may need in the future.

In some cases, where a person lacks capacity to make a decision, a decision could be made in their best interest to move into a care home. For example, if he or she needs 24-hour supervision, or has a serious mental health issue or disability. You can find out more about that here and here.

You may find a care home in your local area, but it is important to make sure it offers the kind of services you require, and you will also need to check that they have availability. If you can’t find a suitable care home nearby, ask your local authority if they have a list of preferred providers, or try searching for care homes online. There are several care home directories that you can use, such as carehome.co.uk, Care Sourcer, Care Choices or Lottie.

If you are searching for a care home focused on safety, wellbeing and quality outcomes in England or Wales, check out our RMBI Care Co. Homes here.

There are several ways to find out whether a registered care home is good. You can access inspection reports from regulatory bodies to find out more about any registered care home. These are the regulatory organisations in the UK:

• England: The Care Quality Commission (CQC)
• Wales: Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW)
• Scotland: The Care Inspectorate (CI)
• Northern Ireland: The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA)

You can also have a look at Your Care Rating, an independent annual survey where residents and their families give feedback about the quality of the services care homes provide.

Make sure to check out online reviews on Google and care home directories as well, such as carehome.co.uk, where you can see the care home’s rating and what people think about the business.

When you arrange a tour around the care home, speak to the management team, the staff and, if possible, with the residents too. Ask open questions whenever possible; for instance, rather than asking “Are the staff trained to take care of people with dementia?”, try asking “What kind of experience and relevant training in looking after people living with dementia?”

Bring a checklist with you and keep an eye on the following:

• First impressions: Are the building and grounds clean and kept in good condition? Do you get a positive vibe?
• Management and staff: Are the staff welcoming? Are they certified and well-trained? Do they take care of the residents’ needs? Do residents look happy?
• Facilities: Is it easy for family members and friends to visit the residents? What security measures are in place to guarantee the residents’ safety, health and wellbeing? Are bedrooms and bathrooms shared or private?

First, it is important to make sure the care home’s staff have experience in looking after people with dementia. For example, ask them what kind of training they receive to take care of residents with dementia, and how much the residents get involved in the daily operations of the Home. Staff members should have the necessary skills to care and support for residents living with dementia, and involve them in activities to make them have a sense of purpose.

The care home should be located close to the resident’s family and friends as frequent visits are important to ensure his or her wellbeing. Also, the building must be designed in a way that allows residents to move around safely, with clear patterns and designs and free from clutter.

If you want to learn more about residential dementia support in RMBI Care Co. Homes, check out our Dementia Zone.

Yes, you can. First, if you are a self-funder, you should review the terms and conditions of the contract between you and the care home you are in. Also, take your time to familiarise yourself with the cancellation process, which may include a notice period.

If your local council pays for the costs of your care, call the local council’s social services and ask them to help you with the move.

A care needs assessment will be undertaken to determine the type of care a person needs. This may be undertaken by your local authority or the care home, depending on who will be funding the placement. If you wish to have a free assessment for yourself or a loved one, you can contact your local authority. The local authority will use the details you provided to create a support plan and information on how to get one.

First, keep in mind that care home fees will vary depending on the area that you live in, the individual care home itself and your own financial circumstances. The way you will pay depends on your financial situation and capital assets, and could involve a financial and care assessment by your local social care department from your local authority.

If they determine you should move into a care home, they will carry out a means test to find out whether you qualify for help with the cost, looking at your capital and income. If you are eligible for funding support, they could pay some of the fees. In that case, your local council should calculate the overall cost of your care and how much you have to contribute to the overall cost.

If you’re in a care home for a short period, you won’t need to sell your home to pay for your care; if you’re still living in your house, its value is not included when calculating how much you have to pay for your care needs.

If you move into a care home permanently and you’re not paying for your own care, the council must not include your home’s value in your financial assessment for the first 3 months after you move in. This should give you time to sell your house or arrange other options, such as renting out your house (and use the income to pay for your care fees) or a deferred payment agreement.

If you are interested in a care home, contact them and request their application form and eligibility guide.

If you are interested in one of the RMBI Care Co. Homes, please see Your Care Checklist section on our website.

The community of Freemasons plays an important part in our care homes, from our Association of Friends, to supporting events, fundraising and donations.

If you, or your loved one is cared for in one of our Homes and you would like to remember us in your Will, please speak to a member of the Home Management Team at your local care home. Please ensure your donation includes the charity name: The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution Care Company (RMBI Care Co.) and your chosen care home e.g. Connaught Court, York.’