How to settle into a care home

It’s a good idea to think about how you will settle in to the care home before you actually move there. When you’re choosing a care home, try to visit and speak to residents and staff, to get an idea of what it’s like to live there. You could plan this or drop in unannounced. You might even be able to stay for a trial period.

Ask plenty of questions about what it would be like to be a resident there – see suggestions on our webpage Choosing the right care home. You could even ask staff how they’d help you settle in.

Take a few familiar comforts

A favourite photo or your comfy armchair can make it feel more like home. Check what the care home will allow you to bring and make a list of a few things you’d like to take with you to help you feel at home.

Talk to staff about what you'd like

When you move in, staff will draw up a care plan for you, so make sure they know what you want. Maybe you’d like to take some meals in your room, or to listen to particular types of music. They should do their best to accommodate your requests.

Decide how you'll keep in touch

Whether you get a personal phone installed or decide to communicate by email or mobile phone, it is a good idea to work out how you would like to keep in touch with friends and family. This will make it easier to transition to life in a care home, and also help increase your sense of independence.

Make sure you know your way around

Whether or not you’re mobile, it could make you feel more settled if you know the layout of your new home. It might take you a while to remember where things are, but staff shouldn’t mind you asking.

Go to relatives and residents meetings

Lots of care homes hold meetings where you can discuss problems and ideas. They’re open to residents, and to their friends, relatives and advocates. They’re a good way to get your opinion heard, and you may find you’re not alone in having a particular problem.

Hopefully, your move to life in the care home will go smoothly, but if you have a problem or complaint, don’t be afraid to speak up. See our webpage Complaints about care and health services for more information.

If you've experienced poor care, or know that poor care is being provided somewhere, you can report it. 

If you live in England, you can report your concerns about health services to the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which regulates health and social care. You can do this anonymously if you wish. You can also tell them when you feel you've received good care. 

In Scotland, you can contact the Local Health Board (LHB) if you are unable to resolve the issue with the service directly, but this is only in exceptional circumstances.

In Wales, you can contact the independent healthcare regulator, Healthcare Inspectorate Wales. They look into NHS services to ensure that they are meeting standards.

By providing a regulator with this information, you’ll help them improve the overall quality of care in the UK. You’ll also help them  in preventing poor care happening to others in the future.