If you are thinking about moving into a care home, the first step is to contact your local council social services department and ask for an assessment of your needs. If your local council agrees that you need to move into a care home, you may get help towards the cost of your care home fees.

Once you have asked for an assessment, someone from the social services department should visit you to carry out this assessment. They will ask you about your personal situation and they should discuss with you things such as your health, how you are currently managing at home and what sort of help you need. It is usually a good idea to have someone with you, such as a relative or friend, when you have the assessment.

Make a note of what you want to say in advance. For example, you might want to move to a different area to be near relatives, or live somewhere where you can keep your pet. The assessment must take into account your own wishes, so don’t be afraid of saying what you want. If you have a carer, they are entitled to an assessment of their needs too.

Many people find it helpful to get advice before their assessment. We give some guidance in our advice leaflet Help in Your Home or call SeniorLine on 0808 800 6565 (0808 808 7575 in Northern Ireland).

Once you have been assessed, your local council may suggest that the best way to meet your care needs is for you to move into a care home. If this is the case, your local council has a responsibility to arrange and pay for your care – unless you are able to do so yourself.

Local authority complaints procedure

IIf you are unhappy with the result of your assessment, or how it was carried out, then you can make a complaint. All local councils must have a straightforward complaints procedure; contact your social services department for details. If you need help or advice with making a complaint, your local Citizens Advice Bureau or Age Concern may be able to help you. You may also find our information sheet How to Make a Complaint useful.