Residential Care - How do I choose a residential home?

Whether you make your own arrangements or apply to go into a home through Cumbria County Council Adult Social Care, there are many points to consider when choosing a residential home - see our guide to choosing a home (use link below).  You can contact homes to find out more about them. Most homes will send you a brochure and will be happy to arrange for you to have a look around and even a trial stay. 

If you are assessed as needing residential care by a social worker, you have the right to choose the home you would like to move into. Your social worker can help you with this by giving you information and arranging for you to visit or have trial stays in the homes you like. You can choose any registered home providing:   

• we agree that the category of home is suitable for your needs;
• there is a place available; 
• the home is willing to offer you a place; and 
• it does not cost more than what we usually pay for a place in that type of home. 

If you choose a home which costs more than our usual price for that type of home, someone else, a third party other than yourself, must be willing to make up the difference. 

You can choose a home anywhere in the country - it does not have to be in Cumbria.

'Guide to choosing a home' leaflet (438KB PDF)