Residential care
Care homes may be an option when you can no longer live independently in your own home or supported, extra care, or retirement housing.
Most care homes provide long-term or permanent care. Some also offer respite, daycare or support when you leave hospital.
- Care homes without nursing (residential homes) provide accommodation, meals and 24-hour personal care but do not provide nursing care
- Care homes with nursing are for people who need regular nursing care, which is provided by a qualified nurse or under the direct supervision of a qualified nurse
Some homes can be registered for both residential and nursing care and usually also provide a wider range of services.
Paying for residential care
Unlike NHS services, social care and support services are not automatically free of charge for everyone. You will be expected to contribute to your care and support unless your circumstances show that you cannot afford to do so.
The cost of residential and nursing care homes varies and the amount you pay is dependent on your financial circumstances. You will need to request an assessment to find out how much of a contribution you will need to pay.
How to request help
If you or the person you care for has care and support needs that you feel would be best met by residential or nursing care and you would like to request help from the council, please contact adult social services for an assessment or a review if you already have a care package.
What happens next
If a care home providing nursing care is the best solution for you, the adult care worker will give you information to help you find a home which meets your care requirements. The cost of the nursing care part of your fees is paid by the NHS to the home directly.
You can contact the Nurse Care Management Teams for your area at the Northamptonshire Foundation NHS Trust.
Finding residential or nursing care homes
If you have an adult care worker, they can provide you with information on residential or nursing homes in the county.
You can also search the Care Services Directory.
Care Quality Commission (CQC)
The CQC is an independent health and adult social services regulator. Its job is to make sure that the health and social care services offer safe, effective and high-quality care.
All care providers should be registered with the Care Quality Commission – check out their reports and ratings, and ask for customer testimonials.
Last updated 13 February 2024