Which type of care home is right for your loved one?
Choosing a care home can feel overwhelming. One of the biggest questions families face is whether someone needs a residential care home or a nursing home.
Our free Care Home Finder has been created by an experienced registered nurse and care home manager to help you understand the type of care setting that may best meet your loved one’s needs.
⏱ Takes around 5 minutesWhat does the assessment look at?
The Care Home Finder looks at the overall pattern of care needs rather than relying on a single answer. It considers the practical, personal, cognitive, nursing and clinical support someone may require.
What you’ll receive
Once you’ve completed the assessment, you’ll receive a practical summary designed to help you understand what to consider when looking at care homes.
- A recommended type of care setting
- A personalised explanation of why that recommendation has been made
- A Care Needs Profile summarising the areas requiring the greatest support
- Suggested questions to ask prospective care homes
- Relevant Carentis guides and resources based on your results
- Signposting towards NHS Continuing Healthcare information where appropriate
Start your free Care Home Finder
Answer the questions below to build a clearer picture of the type of care setting that may be appropriate.
It takes around five minutes and is completely free.
What type of care home might your loved one need?
Answer a series of questions about their day-to-day care and health needs. We'll give you an indication of the type of care setting you may want to investigate.
You do not need to enter a name or any other identifying information.
Important information
This assessment is designed to provide guidance only. It does not replace a professional assessment by a hospital discharge team, social worker, community healthcare professional or care provider, and it cannot determine eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare.
Every care home should complete its own assessment before confirming that it can safely meet someone’s needs.
Want to understand the process in more detail?
Our Care Home Guide goes beyond simply choosing residential or nursing care. It helps families understand what to look for, what questions to ask, how to compare homes and what to consider before making a decision.
Explore the Care Home Guide →Need personalised advice?
Sometimes a questionnaire can give you a useful starting point, but your family’s situation may still leave you with questions.
If you’d like an experienced nurse and care home manager to help you understand your options, compare homes or discuss your assessment results, our Care Home Concerns Guidance Call provides independent, practical advice tailored to your situation.
Choose with greater confidence
Start with the free assessment, understand the likely level of care, and then use the information to have better conversations with prospective care homes.