Support at a stressful time

We’re here to help you

Find a care home

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We know that finding the right care can be a challenge

Our team is here to support you

If you’re finding it difficult to find the information you need, or are unsure about the right questions to ask, we can help.

Our Care Support team is based in our Colchester head office and provides free advice and support, seven days a week.

0333 321 0939

Care enquiry line opening times:

Mon-Tue 8:30am-8pm
Wed-Fri 8:30am-5:30pm
Sat 8:30am-5pm
Sun 10am - 4pm

All calls are charged at a local rate and may be recorded for quality and training purposes.

You can also use the find a care home search tool to find a home near you.

Helping hand guide

Our experts at Care UK have created a guide full of practical and emotional advice to support you find the care that's right for you.

Read guide

Read about all our guides here.

Get the right advice

Whatever your care needs, there are many organisations – ranging from the NHS to charity groups – that can provide expert guidance and useful and reliable information. Below are some suggested sources of advice and support to help get you started on finding this information.

We also have a help and advice area filled with information including caring and selecting the right care.

VISIT OUR HELP AND ADVICE AREA

Department of Health	The official website of the Department of Health providing information on latest policies and development regarding all aspects of health and social care. www.doh.gov.uk
Care Quality Commission	The CQC is the health and social care regulator for England. You can use this to find the most recent inspection reports for providers of healthcare. www.cqc.org.uk
Scottish Care Inspectorate	The Care Inspectorate regulates and inspects care services in Scotland to make sure they meet the right standards. careinspectorate.com
National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE)	NICE provides guidance on current best clinical practice. www.nice.org.uk
UK Online	UK Online provides government information and services gov.uk
Government Carer Information	Government information specifically for carers. nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide
Age UK	Age UK has been helping older people across the UK for more than 60 years. ageuk.org.uk
Alzheimer's Society	For support, information, advice and local services for those looking after someone with dementia. alzheimers.org.uk
Careaware	A public information and advisory service specialising in the issues relating to long-term care. careawareias.co.uk
Care Directions	The internet's unique guide to care and the rights of older people. Register for a free, regular e-newsletter. bequests.co.uk/caredirections
Centre for Policy on Ageing	An independent organisation promoting social policies that allow older people to achieve the full potential of their later years. cpa.org.uk
Action on Elder Abuse	Action on Elder Abuse aims to prevent the abuse of older people wearehourglass.org
Guide to Care	Guide to Care is a resource for carers of elderly people. guide2care.com
Carers UK	Offers advice on benefits and services available to carers. carersuk.org
The Care Workers Charity	Supports the basic welfare of current, former, and retired care workers by awarding hardship grants. thecareworkerscharity.org.uk
SOLLA	SOLLA helps people and their families in finding trusted accredited financial advisers who understand financial needs in later life. A well-qualified financial adviser who is also somebody who understands the plans you need to make for your retirement years. societyoflaterlifeadvisers.co.uk
Admiral Nurses	Admiral Nurses are specialist dementia nurses who support families and individuals affected by all forms of dementia.dementiauk.org/get-support/dementia-helpline-alzheimers-helpline/

Caring for carers

Caring for an older loved one can be very stressful, so it’s important to look after your own needs. If you’re caring for someone full time, you are entitled to a carer’s assessment from your local social service department, which will help identify what support you might need. Our care homes also offer respite care if you’d like some time to yourself. If you care for someone for more than 35 hours a week, you may be eligible for the Carer’s Allowance or similar benefit.

You can find out more about this on the Directgov website. Or, visit our help and advice area for more useful information and tips for carers.

Help and advice for carers

We have a number of helpful articles and guides specifically written to help provide you with information and links to support you at this stressful time