Everybody has different needs and objectives when they are looking for the best care.  But the one thing that every person must have is the information that will help them to make their decision.

At best-care-home we encourage care homes and domiciliary care agencies to provide you with as much information as possible on their individual listing.  In addition to this we ask members of the public who are using the service to leave personal recommendations that will give you a personal insight into the character of the home.

We also run the only care home award that is voted for by the public, highlighting the best care in England, according to the people that use it.  The prizes of professional videos of the service, gives you even more information about the care and introduces you to the staff.  The award is also open to domiciliary care for the first time this year.  If you would like to nominate a 3 star care home or domiciliary care agency for the award please get in touch.

For information about how to ensure that your care home or domiciliary agency is included in the competition for the best care in England click here.

The first public award for domiciliary care will be presented by Best-care-home.co.uk in January.  The nominees must be 3 star rated 'Excellent' domiciliary agencies and the first prize is a professional video of the service, valued at £2,000.

Votes will come from the people that use the service, their relatives, friends and staff of the domiciliary agency.  If your agency is eligible contact best-care-home to be included in this unique competition.

The competition also encourages people who have voted for a service to leave a personal recommendation that will help others to choose which is the best domiciliary agency to meet their needs.

Best-care-home already runs awards for the best care homes in England and due to the success of last years competition these awards will be split this year into care homes with under 20 registered beds and care homes with 20 beds and over.  The prize for all of the regional winners is also a professional video valued at £2,000.

For full details of the award.

Over half a million Britons over the age of 75 have poor eyesight and best-care-home.co.uk is delighted that Healthcall the opticians will be offering it's services to the visitors of best-care-home.

Visiting over 100,000 people in their own home every year, Healthcall offers the support that many people need in order to enjoy a better quality of life, dignity and independence.

So often simple services are overlooked when somebody becomes older and yet it can have such an impact on their lives.  Not being able to read a newspaper or watch the TV could be so easily corrected.  At best-care-home we are determined to help to raise the standards within care homes and to meet the growing needs and demands of self funders, people who pay for their own care.

Best-care-home.co.uk only lists the best care homes in England, those that have been rated 3 stars Excellent, by the Care Quality Commission.

At best-care-home we are also looking for dentists who will visit clients within their own home or within a care home - if you are able to recommend a dentist please contact best-care-home.co.uk.

If you want to stay at home and not move into a care home then you will be looking for domiciliary care or home care as it is also called.

Agencies, called domiciliary care agencies or home care agencies will help you to manage in your own home by providing a variety of support services.  Domiciliary agencies charge you according to the amount of time they spend with you.  The minimum amount of chargeable time is usually 15 or 30 minutes.

A domiciliary agency or home care agency will provide help for older people, a person with a physical disability or a person with a learning disability.  Domiciliary care can include anything from Live in Care where a carer lives with the individual in their own home and provides a service that is tailor made to their needs.

Domiciliary care also provides help for individuals who need occasional help or regular day to day assistance.  As a self funder (somebody who pays for their own care) you are in a position to ask for as much or as little help as you need in order to stay in your own home and receive the type of care that you want.

There are a range of other support services outside domiciliary care that may be able to help you stay in your own home.

The Care Quality Commission has a full list of all domiciliary care agencies. 

The Care Quality Commission is the independent regulator of health and social care in England.  They assess all care homes and domiciliary care agencies using a star rating.  This assessment process will change next year but at the present time the best domiciliary or home care agencies are rated 3 stars or 'Excellent'.

Useful information

How to take the stress out of paying for your care.

Legal facts for self funders - people who pay for their own care.

Most people Google Nursing homes when they are looking for a care home - unaware that there are a range of different types of residential care.  As a self funder, somebody who pays for their own care, you should be fully informed about the full range of care that may be able to help you find.

As a self funder you also have a choice about the care home that you decide to live in, but it is worth remembering that you may be able to get the support that you need at home with a domiciliary care agency, if you would rather not live in a nursing home or residential home.  At best-care-home we only list the 3 star 'Excellent' rated domiciliary agencies and care homes that are assessed by the Care Quality Commission, so you can be sure of finding the best care in England.

What is a nursing home and what is the difference between a nursing home and residential care home?

Nursing Homes 

A nursing home is a place for people who don't need to be in hospital and don't want to, or can't be cared for at home. Nursing homes vary in size from small family run establishments to larger purpose built environments run by large organisations.  Nursing homes will also provide accommodation, all meals and help with personal care such as dressing. 

Some nursing homes are set up like a hospital, the staff provide twenty four hour nursing care care for people who are bedridden, frail or have a medical condition or illness that requires the attention of a doctor or nurse.  Other nursing homes offer a more informal and relaxed approach to nursing care.

Nursing homes are not only for the elderly, but for anyone who requires 24-hour care. 

A list of 3 star nursing homes in England.

Residential Care Homes

A residential care home can provide support during short periods of illness but will not provide full time nursing care.  A residential care home will support the resident and provide accommodation, all of their meals, help with personal care such as dressing and the supervision of medication.  In addition there will be someone on call at night. 

A list of 3 star residential care homes.

Alzheimer's and Dementia Care

Many nursing homes and residential care homes have registered with the Care Quality Commission to help individuals who are suffering from dementia.  Not all care homes are registered to provide the specialist support that is needed.  Somebody who is suffering from dementia will be restricted to either a nursing home or residential care home by any illnesses they may have and that home will need to specialise in dementia.

Useful information when looking for a nursing home or residential care home

What to do now - a guide for self funders

Do you need a care home or home care?

Paying for care if you are a self funder

Legal facts for self funders

Personal recommendations for nursing homes and residential care homes