Question 1

How is a care needs assessment arranged in Wiltshire?

Accepted Answer

Contact the adult social care team at Wiltshire Council and explain what has changed and why residential care is under consideration. The request may come from the person concerned, from a relative acting on their behalf, or from a professional such as a GP or hospital discharge coordinator. There is no charge and no financial test to pass before it takes place. Gathering recent, specific examples of difficulties at home will give the assessor a much more accurate basis for their judgement.

Question 2

Will Wiltshire Council fund a care home placement?

Accepted Answer

Funding is possible where the needs assessment confirms residential care is appropriate and the financial assessment places capital below the national threshold. The council then meets part of the weekly fee while the resident contributes from income such as pensions. How a property is treated depends on the circumstances, including whether a spouse or dependent relative still lives there. Families should ask about deferred payment agreements before selling a home, since these can bridge the gap in the meantime.

Question 3

Which care homes in Wiltshire appear on this page?

Accepted Answer

One hundred and sixteen homes registered with the Care Quality Commission for residential care are listed. They range from small homes with a handful of places to large purpose built settings, including independent providers and homes belonging to national groups. Registration category is worth checking, because a home registered only for residential care cannot deliver nursing on site. Each profile sets out the registration details and the most recent inspection outcome.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

A residential care home provides somewhere to live together with personal care, covering help with washing, dressing, meals and daily routine. A nursing home holds an additional registration that allows registered nurses to deliver clinical care on the premises, which is necessary for wound management, complex medication or close monitoring of a medical condition. Some homes hold both registrations and can continue supporting a resident whose needs increase. A care needs assessment identifies which registration is required.

Question 5

How far ahead should we start looking at care homes?

Accepted Answer

Start well before the decision becomes pressing, since well regarded homes often operate waiting lists and suitable rooms are not always available when needed. An early start makes room for several visits at different times of day and for a proper reading of the inspection reports. Where a hospital discharge is setting the pace, ask for the social work team to be involved as soon as possible. Decisions taken in a single afternoon under pressure are the ones families most often revisit.

Question 6

What should I ask when visiting a care home in Wiltshire?

Accepted Answer

Ask how many staff are on duty by day and overnight, and how long the current team has been in post. Find out how care plans are written, how often they are reviewed and how the home contacts families when something changes. Questions about meals, activities and how an ordinary Sunday passes reveal a good deal about daily life. Ask directly what the home would do if a resident's needs grew beyond what its registration allows.

Care Homes in Wiltshire

124 care homes in Wiltshire (showing 101–124)