How to find care homes with vacancies

Knowing how to find a care home with vacancies can be challenging and confusing, especially if you are looking for facilities in high-demand areas.  

As the need for care services grows, it is crucial to plan ahead and approach your search with a strategic mindset. Whether you’re looking for a place for yourself or a loved one, knowing where to start and how to efficiently locate care homes with openings can make all the difference.  

So, if you are unsure how to find care homes with vacancies, this blog will provide practical tips and resources to help you navigate the search for the best facility.

Analyse your care needs

The first step is analysing what type of care home you need. For example, you may need a nursing home which can offer assistance with daily living activities, medical care, or specialised support.

However, if you would prefer a care home that offers a greater degree of independence, then residential care may work better for you. A residential care facility is one that offers day-to-day personal care and mobility support, but without qualified nursing care.

Some care homes offer respite care, which provides short-term care for elderly residents.

There are also care homes which offer specialised dementia care, and provide support at differing stages of the dementia journey.

Identifying what type of care is needed makes it easier to find a care home that is suitable for your unique needs and circumstances.

Contact local authorities and care home managers

Local authorities play a crucial role in assisting individuals and families in finding suitable care homes with available vacancies. They can provide valuable information about local care homes, including those with current openings and often have resources or databases that can help in your search. By contacting your local authority, you can gain insights into which care homes are available and receive guidance on how to proceed. They can also give advice on what type of financial support may be available to help with care costs.

However, for more personalised advice to help you make an informed decision, you can contact our advice line on 01892 33 53 30.

Additionally, reaching out directly to care home managers can make it easier to get the most current and accurate information about vacancies. Care home managers can provide immediate updates on availability and answer any specific questions you may have about their services and facilities. This direct communication ensures that you have the most relevant details to make an informed decision.

It’s also important to visit care homes in person to assess their suitability. Touring the facilities allows you to experience the environment firsthand, meet the staff, and evaluate the overall quality of care. Observing the daily operations and interacting with residents can provide a clearer picture of whether a care home will meet your needs or those of a loved one. By combining information from local authorities with direct interactions and personal visits, you can make a well-informed choice in your search for a care home.

How to find care homes with vacancies in your area

Using online search tools can significantly help narrow down your options and make it easier to find care homes in your area. They can also help you to filter results by location, care type and availability, to find a facility that is right for you.

Autumna’s Directory

If you are unsure of how to find care homes with vacancies, Autumna’s directory can make this process significantly easier.

Our directory allows you to find a range of care facilities, including care homes, home care, live-in care, and retirement living.

All you need to do is enter your preferred location into the search bar. You can then select the type of care you need under ‘Care type’ and click ‘Search Again.’

To find available care homes, simply click on ‘Availability’ next to ‘Care Type’ and select ‘Yes’, under ‘Available care’ and click ‘Search Again.’

You can also select care homes based on price.

Furthermore, Autumna’s directory allows you to select care homes based on additional criteria, such as care home specialisms, room features, nearby services, activities offered and more. This makes it easy to find a care home that is specifically targeted towards your needs and preferences.

In the example below, we have selected ‘London’ as the preferred location.

We then selected ‘Residential’ under ‘Care Type’, and selected ‘Yes’ under 'Availability' > Available Care.

Next, we selected care homes that charge up to £750 per week, under ‘Price’ and selected ‘Companionship’ and ‘Complex Care’ under ‘Additional Filters.’ This generated a list of 48 care homes in London.

This process can be used to find available care homes in any area of the UK.

For more information on how to find care homes with vacancies, check out our blog, ‘Choosing the best care homes: A comprehensive guide.’

Need more help in finding available care homes?

If you need more help in finding the right care homes, all you need to do is navigate over to our FREE shortlisting tool and answer a few quick questions about what you are looking for.

You can also get additional information by getting in touch with our knowledgeable team of advisors and contacting our advice line on 01892 335 330.