Getting an elderly person into a care home in the UK involves seven key steps — from requesting a free care needs assessment to planning the move. The process typically takes 4-8 weeks, though emergency placements can be arranged faster.
This guide covers England only. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have different care funding systems.
Last updated: March 2026.
| Step | What happens | Typical timeline |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Care needs assessment | Council assesses your parent's care needs | 1-2 weeks |
| 2. Financial assessment | Council determines who pays for care | 2-4 weeks |
| 3. Research care homes | Filter by type, ratings, location, and availability | 1-2 weeks |
| 4. Visit shortlisted homes | Tour homes, visit at mealtimes, bring your parent | 1-2 weeks |
| 5. Review the contract | Check fees, increases, notice period, and funding clauses | 1-2 days |
| 6. Plan the move | Label clothing, transfer medications, pack familiar items | 2 weeks |
| 7. Support the transition | Monitor settling-in over 4-6 weeks | 4-6 weeks |
If you are reading this, you have probably reached a point where home care is no longer enough. Perhaps there has been a fall, a hospital admission, or a gradual decline that has made daily life unsafe. Whatever brought you here, the fact that you are researching this process means you are doing the right thing.
This guide walks you through every step — from the first phone call to the first month in the home. It is written for adult children navigating this for the first time, and it covers the practical, financial, and emotional sides of a decision that affects the whole family.
Worked Scenario: The Discharge Delay
To understand how this timeline plays out in the real world, let's look at a common hospital discharge scenario.
The Situation: Arthur (82) has been in hospital for 3 weeks following a severe fall. The medical team says he is "medically fit for discharge" but the occupational therapist states he cannot safely return home. He needs a residential care home.
The Pressure: The hospital discharge coordinator tells the family on Tuesday: "We need Arthur's bed. We've found a care home that can take him on Thursday. Please sign this paperwork."
The Family's Rights & Action: The family visits the suggested home on Wednesday and finds it completely unsuitable (poor hygiene, no garden, very far from family).
- They politely refuse the placement, stating it does not meet Arthur's assessed social needs.
- They remind the hospital that under the Care Act 2014, a patient cannot be discharged to an unsafe or unsuitable environment.
- The family requests an interim (step-down) placement or a few more days to find a suitable home themselves.
The Result: The hospital agrees to keep Arthur for 4 more days while the family uses RightCareHome's data to find a "Good" rated home closer to them with immediate availability. Arthur moves the following Monday into a home the family actually chose, rather than the one the hospital needed to fill.
Before You Start: Can You Make This Decision for Them?
This is the question most families skip — and it matters enormously.
If Your Parent Has Mental Capacity
Under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, a person who can understand, retain, and weigh information about their care has the legal right to make their own decisions. This includes refusing a care home, even if you believe it is in their best interest.
You cannot override this. No doctor, social worker, or family member can force a person with capacity into residential care.
If your parent is resisting the idea, that does not necessarily mean they lack capacity. It may mean they are frightened, uninformed, or not yet ready. Our guide on what to do when a parent refuses a care home covers practical strategies for these conversations.
If Your Parent Lacks Mental Capacity
When someone cannot understand or weigh decisions about their own care — often due to advanced dementia, a stroke, or severe cognitive decline — decisions must be made in their best interest.
If you hold a Health and Welfare Lasting Power of Attorney, you have the legal authority to make this decision. If no LPA is in place, the local authority will make a best-interest decision, usually involving family, the GP, and a social worker.
Key point: If your parent still has periods of lucidity, they should be involved in decisions as much as possible. Capacity is decision-specific and can fluctuate.
When They Say No but Need Help
Many families find themselves in a painful middle ground: their parent has capacity, refuses care, but is clearly deteriorating at home. There is no quick fix for this situation. What helps is time, patience, and sometimes a trial stay at a respite home that removes the finality of "moving in."
How Do You Start the Process of Getting Into a Care Home?
The formal process begins with your local council. Contact their adult social care team — you can find the number on your council's website or by calling 111 — and request a care needs assessment for your parent.
What Happens During the Assessment
A social worker or care assessor will visit your parent (usually at home) to evaluate their needs. The assessment covers:
- Physical needs: Mobility, personal care, eating, drinking, medication management
- Mental health: Cognitive function, depression, anxiety
- Daily living: Cooking, cleaning, managing finances, getting out of the house
- Safety risks: Falls history, wandering, fire safety, self-neglect
- Social needs: Isolation, relationships, activities
The visit typically lasts 1-2 hours and may involve questions directed at both your parent and you.
The Most Important Tip You Will Read
Describe your parent's worst day, not their best. When the assessor arrives, your parent will likely be on their best behaviour — dressed smartly, alert, downplaying difficulties. This is natural. It also means the assessment underestimates their needs.
Before the visit, write down specific examples: the three falls last month, the time they left the hob on overnight, the days when they cannot get out of bed without help. Hand this to the assessor. It is not disloyal — it is accurate.
What Happens Next
The council will determine whether your parent has "eligible needs" under the Care Act 2014. If they do, the council has a legal duty to arrange or fund appropriate care. If the assessment concludes that needs can be met at home, you can request a reassessment if circumstances change.
The needs assessment is free. You are legally entitled to one regardless of your parent's finances. The council cannot refuse because your parent is wealthy.
How Much Does It Cost and Who Pays?
Once the needs assessment confirms that residential care is appropriate, the council will carry out a financial assessment (sometimes called a means test) to determine who pays.
The Three Funding Outcomes
Self-funded — If your parent has capital (savings plus property) above £23,250, they will be expected to pay the full cost of their care. Approximately 40% of care home residents in England are self-funders.
Partially funded — If capital is between £14,250 and £23,250, the council will contribute but your parent pays a "tariff income" of £1 per week for every £250 of capital above £14,250.
Council-funded — If capital is below £14,250, the council pays the full cost (minus any income your parent receives, such as pension, which they contribute towards fees minus a Personal Expenses Allowance of £31.82/week).
For a detailed breakdown of how the means test works, see our care home means test guide.
The Property Question
If your parent owns their home, its value is usually included in the financial assessment — but not always, and not immediately.
The 12-week disregard: For the first 12 weeks of a permanent care home placement, the property value is ignored. This gives you time to make decisions about the house.
Permanent exclusions: The property is excluded entirely if a spouse, partner, dependent relative, or someone aged 60+ still lives there.
Deferred Payment Agreement: If the property must be counted but you do not want to sell immediately, you can ask the council for a DPA. This works like a loan — the council pays and places a legal charge on the property, which is repaid when the house is eventually sold.
Not sure which funding routes apply to your situation? Our Funding Guide provides a personalised breakdown of every option available to you, based on your specific circumstances.
Attendance Allowance
If your parent is not yet claiming Attendance Allowance (currently £76.70 or £114.60 per week depending on care needs), apply now. It is not means-tested. However, it stops 28 days after moving into a council-funded care home, so it is primarily relevant during the planning period and for self-funders.
Step 3 — Find the Right Care Home
This is where the process shifts from bureaucracy to something deeply personal. You are not just finding a bed — you are choosing the place where your parent will live.
Determine the Type of Care Needed
- Residential care: For people who need help with daily living (washing, dressing, eating) but not regular nursing
- Nursing care: For people with medical conditions requiring 24-hour registered nurse supervision
- Dementia care (EMI): Specialist units for people with moderate to advanced dementia — secure environments with trained staff
The needs assessment should specify which type is appropriate. Getting this wrong leads to moves later, which are disruptive and distressing.
Research Systematically
Start by filtering homes in your preferred area by type, rating, and availability. Key factors to check:
- Inspection ratings: Look at the five individual categories (Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive, Well-Led), not just the headline rating. Our guide explains what these ratings actually mean and why headline ratings can be misleading.
- Financial stability: A home that closes due to financial difficulties forces a traumatic move. Check for signs of financial health — ownership changes, staffing consistency, and fee transparency.
- Location: Close enough for regular visiting. Research shows that residents who receive frequent visits have measurably better outcomes.
- Specialist provision: If your parent has dementia, Parkinson's, or another specific condition, check that the home has genuine expertise — not just a "dementia-friendly" label.
A Critical Edge for Finances (The MSIF Benchmark): As you shortlist homes, do not rely on their private brochures for pricing. RightCareHome publishes the Market Sustainability and Improvement Fund (MSIF) data—showing exactly what local councils pay for these homes. If a home quotes you £1,300/week, but the MSIF data shows the council pays them £900/week, you have strong leverage. You may not get the council rate, but knowing the true local benchmark is your strongest tool when negotiating your self-funded fee or a third-party top-up.
For a structured approach to comparing homes, see our guide on how to compare care homes using a data-driven framework.
Feeling overwhelmed by the research? Our Funding Calculator assesses your funding position and uses verified MSIF and CQC data to generate a personalised list of homes matched to your parent's specific needs — saving you hours of manual research.
Get Your Custom Funding Action Plan
Shortlist 3-5 Homes
Narrow your research to three to five homes that meet the essential criteria. More than five and you will struggle to visit them all properly. Fewer than three and you will not have enough to compare.
Step 4 — Visit and Evaluate
Online research tells you about a home's history. A visit tells you about its present. Both matter — but the visit is where you will get the gut feeling that either reassures or unsettles you.
Plan Your Visits
- Book an official tour but also try to visit unannounced at a different time (most homes allow this). The difference between a prepared tour and an unannounced Tuesday afternoon can be revealing.
- Visit at mealtimes if possible. The dining room tells you more about a care home than any brochure. Are residents engaged? Is the food appetising? Are staff helping those who need it?
- Bring your parent if they are willing and able. Their reaction matters more than yours. Watch whether they respond to the environment, the staff, the other residents.
What to Look For
Positive signs: Staff know residents by name. Residents are dressed in their own clothes. There is conversation and activity. The building smells clean. Doors to bedrooms are personalised. Staff are unhurried.
Warning signs: Residents sitting in silence in front of a television. A strong smell of urine. Staff talking to each other rather than residents. Locked bedroom doors during the day. Evasive answers about staffing ratios.
For a comprehensive visit checklist, see our guide on questions to ask when visiting a care home.
Ask About Trial Stays
Many homes offer trial stays of one to four weeks. This is one of the most underused tools in care home selection. A trial stay allows your parent to experience life in the home without the pressure of a permanent commitment.
Some councils will fund a trial stay as part of the assessment process. Self-funders can arrange one directly with the home. Either way, it reduces risk for everyone. For more on how trial stays work, see our guide to respite care and trial stays.
Step 5 — Review the Contract
Care home contracts are legally binding and financially significant. Do not sign under pressure, and do not assume everything discussed verbally is in the contract.
Key Clauses to Check
Fee structure: What is included in the weekly fee? What costs extra? Common extras include hairdressing, chiropody, newspapers, outings, and laundry of personal items. Ask for a complete list.
Fee increases: How and when can fees be increased? Look for specific terms — "annually in line with inflation" is acceptable; "fees may be adjusted at any time" is a warning sign. Ask what the last three years of increases looked like.
Notice period: Typically 28 days from either side. Some homes require longer. Check whether the notice period applies if you need to move your parent urgently due to safeguarding concerns.
What happens when funding changes: If your parent is currently self-funding but their capital falls below £23,250, the home should accept council funding rates. Not all homes do. If the contract is silent on this, ask the question directly and get the answer in writing.
Top-up fees: If the council is funding the placement but you have chosen a home that costs more than the council's rate, you may be asked to pay a "top-up." Understand exactly how much this is, who is responsible for paying it, and what happens if you can no longer afford it.
Get a Second Opinion
If anything in the contract feels unclear, take it home. Show it to another family member. If the sums are significant, consider asking a solicitor with care-fee expertise to review it. The cost of a one-hour review is negligible compared to the cost of a contract dispute.
Step 6 — Plan and Execute the Move
You have chosen a home, signed the contract, and agreed a move date. Now comes the part that families dread most: the actual move.
Practical Checklist
Two weeks before:
- Confirm the move date with the home and agree an arrival time (mid-morning is usually best — staff are at full capacity and there is time to settle before lunch)
- Ask the home what to bring and what not to bring (most supply bedding and towels; some have restrictions on furniture)
- Label all clothing with your parent's name (this is essential — unlabelled clothing gets lost in communal laundry)
- Arrange for medications to be transferred (GP to care home pharmacy)
- Notify the GP, dentist, optician, and any other healthcare providers
- Set up mail redirection from Royal Mail
- Inform the local council if your parent was receiving any home care services
On the day:
- Pack familiar items: photographs, a favourite blanket, a clock, a small piece of furniture if allowed. Familiar objects reduce disorientation, particularly for people with dementia.
- Arrive with your parent. Stay for the initial settling-in but do not stay all day. The staff need time to begin building their own relationship with your parent.
- Meet the key worker assigned to your parent. Exchange phone numbers. Discuss your parent's routines, preferences, and the small things that matter — how they take their tea, what they watch on television, whether they sleep with the light on.
Emotional Preparation
The first few days are often harder for you than for your parent. You may feel overwhelming guilt, grief, or relief — sometimes all three at once. This is normal. It does not mean you made the wrong decision.
Your parent may be angry, withdrawn, or tearful. They may also be surprisingly calm. Both reactions are normal. What matters is how they settle over weeks, not hours.
Step 7 — The First Month
Care professionals consistently say that the settling-in period takes four to six weeks. During this time, expect fluctuations in mood, appetite, and engagement. Do not panic at every bad day — but do not ignore persistent signs of distress.
What a Good Settling-In Looks Like
- Your parent begins recognising staff and other residents
- They start participating in at least some activities
- Sleeping and eating patterns stabilise (not necessarily back to normal, but no longer in freefall)
- They express some positive feelings about aspects of the home, even if mixed with complaints
- Staff can tell you specific things about your parent's day when you visit
Warning Signs That Need Attention
- Persistent weight loss after the first two weeks
- Repeated requests to leave that do not diminish over time
- Unexplained bruises or injuries
- Staff who cannot tell you what your parent did today
- Your parent appearing unwashed, in soiled clothing, or visibly distressed during unannounced visits
If you see these signs, raise them immediately with the home manager. Document everything in writing. If the response is inadequate, contact the local authority safeguarding team.
Can You Move to a Different Home?
Yes. If the home is not working out, you can move your parent. This is stressful and should not be done impulsively — but it should not be delayed indefinitely either. A bad placement does not improve with time.
Check your contract for the notice period (typically 28 days). If the council funds the placement, they have a duty to help arrange an alternative. If you are self-funding, begin researching alternatives before giving notice so there is no gap.
For guidance on evaluating whether concerns are serious enough to warrant a move, see our guide on how to verify a care home before committing.
How Long Does It Take to Get Into a Care Home in an Emergency?
Not everyone has weeks to plan. If your parent is being discharged from hospital, has had a crisis at home, or is in immediate danger, the process accelerates — but your rights remain the same.
Hospital Discharge Pressure
Hospitals are under enormous pressure to free beds, and discharge coordinators may push you to accept a specific care home quickly. Here is what you need to know:
The hospital cannot discharge your parent to an unsafe situation. This is a legal requirement, not a courtesy. If no suitable care arrangement is in place, the hospital must continue to provide care.
You do not have to accept the first home offered. You have the right to a needs assessment and a reasonable choice of homes. "Reasonable" does not mean unlimited time, but it does mean more than 24 hours.
Request a temporary placement. If you need more time to choose a permanent home, ask for a temporary or interim placement. Many care homes accept short-term residents, and the council can arrange this while you continue searching.
What to Do Right Now
- Call the council's adult social care team and request an urgent needs assessment. Explain the situation — hospital discharge, safety crisis, or carer breakdown. Use the word "urgent."
- Ask the hospital's discharge team about interim options. They have relationships with local homes and can identify availability quickly.
- Do not sign a permanent contract under pressure. A temporary placement gives you breathing room. You can move to a permanent home once you have had time to research properly.
Emergency placements can be arranged within days. They are not ideal — but they are far better than accepting a permanent placement you have not had time to evaluate. If the situation involves end of life care, our guide on end of life care at home covers the options available when time is short.
Further Reading
- How Much Does a Care Home Cost in 2026?
- Home Care vs Care Home: Which Is Right?
- End of Life Care at Home: What to Expect
- Care Home Means Test Explained
Typical 4-8 Week Timeline
| Week | Action | Key tasks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Needs assessment | Contact council, assessor visits, eligibility determined |
| 2-3 | Financial assessment + shortlisting | Means test, research homes, request brochures |
| 3-5 | Visits + comparison | Tour 3-5 homes, visit at mealtimes, bring your parent |
| 5-7 | Trial stay or decision | Arrange trial if available, review contract, sign |
| 6-8 | Contract + move | Label clothing, transfer medications, move in and settle |
Sources
- Mental Capacity Act 2005 — legislation.gov.uk
- Lasting Power of Attorney — GOV.UK
- Care Act 2014 — legislation.gov.uk
- Care and support statutory guidance — GOV.UK
A Final Note
Getting a parent into a care home is one of the most difficult things you will do. It involves bureaucracy when you are exhausted, financial decisions when you are anxious, and emotional conversations when you are grieving a version of your parent that may already be gone.
But the process itself is manageable. Thousands of UK families navigate it every month. The steps are clear, the support is available, and the outcome — when you find the right home — is often better than anyone expected.
Take it one step at a time. Start with the needs assessment or by using our Funding Calculator to get a clear picture of your position. The rest will follow.