A Golden Transitions Guide & Checklist
What Care Options Are Available in the UK?
A simple overview of the main types of care and support you may come across
When someone you care about starts needing more help, one of the first questions is often:
"What types of care are actually available?"
Care doesn't automatically mean moving into a care home. There are many different types of support available, from a little help at home through to residential or nursing care.
This guide gives you a simple overview of the main options you may come across.
Where Do I Start?
You don't need to decide everything at once. A useful first step is to understand what support the person needs now. Consider:
- Speaking to the local authority Adult Social Care team about a care needs assessment
- Speaking to the GP or appropriate healthcare professional about health concerns
- Asking about an Occupational Therapy assessment if mobility or the home environment is a concern
- Asking about a carer's assessment if a family member or friend provides significant unpaid care
- Asking the hospital discharge team about support following a hospital stay
- Understanding what care might cost and what financial support may be available
- Comparing several appropriate care providers before making a decision
Golden Transitions — Helping You Join the Dots
Finding out that someone needs more support can open the door to a whole new language of home care, respite, reablement, residential care, nursing care, funding and assessments.
It can quickly become overwhelming.
Golden Transitions helps families understand the options, organise the information and work out what questions to ask next.
We can help you:
- understand the different types of care and support;
- prepare for conversations with care providers;
- research and compare suitable services;
- organise information from different organisations;
- identify where specialist professional advice may be needed; and
- coordinate practical next steps.
Golden Transitions provides independent guidance, practical support and signposting. We do not provide medical, legal or regulated financial advice and do not replace professional care assessments.
You don't have to navigate it all alone. We help you join the dots.