How to choose a care home: a step-by-step guide for families

Choosing a care home · 4 min read · Last updated 30 October 2026

Choosing a care home is one of the hardest decisions a family makes, and it is harder still when you live in a different country from your relative or are considering a home abroad. This guide breaks the decision into steps so you can work through it calmly and with the right information.

Start with the person, not the building

Before you look at any home, write down what your relative needs and wants. Involve them as much as they are able to be involved: people tend to settle better when the choice feels like theirs.

  • Daily help: washing, dressing, meals, medication, getting around, or only occasional support.
  • Health needs: regular nursing care, ongoing medical conditions, or memory problems such as dementia.
  • What matters to them: language, food, faith, pets, a garden, being near particular family or friends.
  • Practical limits: budget, the area, and how often family can visit.

Match the level of care to the need

Homes differ a great deal in what they can safely provide. NHS guidance draws the basic line: residential homes provide personal care, while nursing homes also provide 24-hour care from qualified nurses, and some homes offer both. Dementia care is a further specialism, with its own staffing, design and activities.

Whatever level you choose, ask every home what happens if your relative's needs increase. Could they stay, or would they have to move again?

Build a shortlist

  • Use the CareBrowser directory to search by country and city and compare ratings and reviews.
  • Check the location details on each listing: where available, listings show the nearest airports, hospitals and stations, which matters for family visits and emergencies.
  • Look at care groups if you want an operator with several homes and a consistent standard.
  • Aim for three to five homes. Fewer leaves you nothing to compare against; more becomes overwhelming.

Check the basics before you visit

  • Licence or registration: is the home properly authorised in that country? Each country works differently, so see our guides for France, Italy, Spain and Portugal.
  • Care level: can the home meet your relative's needs now, and as they change?
  • Language: which languages do care staff and the manager speak?
  • Availability: is there a place now, or a waiting list?
  • Paperwork: ask for an itemised price list and a sample contract in advance.

Visit, in person or by video

If you can, visit more than once and at different times of day. If you live abroad, ask for a live video tour, speak to the manager and the care staff, and consider asking a trusted local friend, relative or care adviser to visit for you. Use our care home visit checklist so you ask every home the same questions.

NHS guidance suggests bringing a friend or relative so you can compare impressions afterwards, and asking to see a couple of bedrooms if current residents agree.

Compare costs and read the contract

Compare like with like: the same room type, the same level of care and the same list of what is and is not included. Read the contract carefully, ideally with a translation, and note notice periods, how prices can rise and what happens if care needs change. Our guide to care home costs explains what to ask.

Plan the move and the first weeks

  • Ask whether the home offers a trial or short stay. Not all do, but where available it shows whether the home suits your relative before a long-term commitment.
  • Prepare a one-page "about me" for staff: routines, likes and dislikes, important people and life history.
  • Agree how and how often the home will update family, especially if you live abroad.
  • Plan a review after the first month to check that the home is the right fit.

If the move involves another country, our guide to moving a parent abroad covers legal authority, healthcare cover and paperwork.

Frequently asked questions

How many care homes should I visit?

There is no fixed number, but seeing at least two or three lets you compare staff, atmosphere and prices. If distance makes that impossible, a live video visit is far better than relying on photographs and brochures.

Can I choose a care home from abroad?

Yes, many families do. Use video tours, ask the manager detailed questions, request the home's licence details, and if you can, have someone you trust visit in person. Try to see the home yourself before or soon after the move.

When should we start looking?

As early as you can. Good homes can have waiting lists, and decisions made in a hurry after a hospital stay or a crisis are harder. Even a rough shortlist made while your relative is well helps.

Sources and further reading

This guide is general information only, compiled from the public sources listed above as of the date shown. It is not legal, medical, tax, financial or care advice, and we cannot guarantee that it is complete, accurate or up to date. Rules, thresholds and prices change and differ by country and region, and some sources describe other countries' rules as examples. Check details with the authorities and care homes named, and take professional advice for your own situation before you act. If you spot an error, please email [email protected] and we will correct it.