Residential care

There are a number of care homes in Edinburgh. The City of Edinburgh Council runs some of these homes. Others are run by voluntary bodies, for example, churches and charities or privately by individual owners or commercial companies. The majority of homes, which provide on-site nursing, are run privately.

All care homes are registered with the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care. This body regularly inspects the homes and has powers to make sure that care and other conditions reach specified standards.

Care homes are registered according to the type of care they will provide:

• residential homes can cater for people who need a lot of practical help, for example with bathing and dressing and other aspects of personal care.
• high dependency
• care homes with nursing care always have a qualified nurse or nurses on duty. They cater for people who need both nursing care and a lot of practical help.

Finding out about individual homes

Individual care homes vary in size, layout and location, and in the type of care they offer. It is important to find out as much as possible about individual homes. You can find out more by:

• contacting any home direct - most homes have an information leaflet, and you can also ask to visit (It is also strongly advised that you ask to see a copy of the current Registration and Inspection report, which is held by each home)
• contacting your Social Care Direct for information and advice
• talking to hospital social work staff
• talking about your future plans with other professionals who know you well, for example, your district nurse or GP.