How to find the best care homes in Plymouth

Finding the best care homes in Plymouth for your loved one is a journey that involves understanding both the local care landscape and the unique aspects that make Plymouth a great city to call home.

Known for its rich maritime history, scenic coastal views, and vibrant community spirit, Plymouth offers a welcoming environment, which can greatly enhance the experience of care home living.

From the bustling waterside neighbourhood of the Barbican to peaceful green spaces like Central Park, the city has much to offer residents and families alike. Known as Britain’s “Ocean City,” Plymouth boasts breathtaking ocean views, a beautiful harbour, and an abundance of natural beauty.

This blog will guide you through the key considerations in selecting a high-quality care home in Plymouth, covering factors like care quality, facilities, social activities, and more to help you make an informed choice.

What to look for when selecting care homes

Selecting a care home for yourself or a loved one is a significant decision that requires careful consideration.

It’s not just about finding a place to live; it’s about choosing an environment where residents will feel comfortable, supported, and cared for. With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to know what factors to prioritise.

Whether it's the level of care provided, the quality of the staff, or the facilities on offer, understanding what to look for can give you peace of mind in this important decision-making process.

So what should you consider when looking for the best care homes in Plymouth?

Strong care home ratings

While many care seekers look at the CQC ratings of a care home before making a decision, these ratings are not always the most accurate way to gauge the quality of a care home, as they can sometimes be out of date.

Possibly a more accurate way to gauge the quality of a care home is to look at its OpenScore rating.

OpenScore is an independent, real-time score that aggregates data from multiple sources making it easier to compare the quality of different care homes.

Compassionate care team

A care home is only as good as its staff members. When looking for the best care homes in Plymouth, it is a good idea to visit the care home in question and speak to the staff members. Ask about their qualifications and specialisms. Observe the way staff members engage with the residents. Do they actively engage with people in the care home? Do they seem happy, motivated and welcoming? All of these factors are important to consider when choosing a care home.

Amenities

The best care homes in Plymouth will ideally offer a wide range of amenities and facilities designed to make life as comfortable as possible for their residents. Typically these amenities could include cafes or restaurants, therapy rooms, medical facilities, gardens, cinema rooms, hair and beauty salons. While some of the facilities may seem like more of a luxury, if you are looking for the top care homes, then you should definitely ensure that the one you choose provides everything you need to live a happy and fulfilling life.

Healthcare provision

Does a care home offer medical care? Is it in close proximity to GPs, pharmacies and other medical centres? Perhaps you do not need medical supervision now, but it is also a good idea to consider whether the care home is able to cater to your evolving healthcare needs, should your requirements change.

Tips on finding the best care homes in Plymouth

So now that you know what to look for, exactly how do you find the best care homes in Plymouth?

Below we have included our top tips to help you make an informed decision and find a care home that meets your requirements.

Visit the care home: This is probably the most important step. Regardless of how good a care home may sound on paper, it is important to see it in person to assess whether it matches up to expectations. Only by meeting the staff members who work there, talking to some of the current residents and getting a feel for the place, will you know whether it is right for you.

Understand your needs: Do you need a nursing home or care home? How independent and mobile are you? What is your budget? Are social activities important to you? These are all questions to consider before making your final selection. It is also a good idea to consider the way your needs will evolve over time and whether your selected care home will be able to cater to those needs.

Location, Location, Location: Of course, the focus in this blog is on the best care homes in Plymouth - but where exactly in the city do you want to live? Consider whether you want to live by the coast, or in the more rural areas surrounding Plymouth. For others, living in or near one of the many picturesque villages may be the ideal location. When you have identified where you want to live, it is then just a case of selecting a care home that is relatively close to your chosen area.

Ask lots of questions: Before visiting a care home, prepare a list of all of the questions you have. To get a strong idea of what life is like in the care home you choose, be sure to ask about what is included in the costs you pay, fees, food, amenities, staff, healthcare and more. It is also a good idea to enquire about their policies, health and safety, and social calendar.

Get friends and family involved: It is always best to get a second opinion. Be sure to ask your loved ones for their input and opinions. If possible, take them with you when visiting a care home. Moving into a care home is a major decision that will also impact your friends and family, so it is always wise to get them involved at the very beginning.

Examples of some of the best care homes in Plymouth

Below is a selection of some of the top care homes in Plymouth. Of course, there are many equally good care homes that are not necessarily included in the list, but the selection below is just to give you an idea of what is out there.

Plymbridge House

As a beautiful, and exceptional care home that specialises in assisting those with dementia, Plymbridge House is an impressive building with beautiful, award-winning gardens. It is also a member of the Penninsula Care Homes Ltd brand, which is known for its high-quality facilities.

It is recognised for its homely, and welcoming atmosphere, stunning interiors, and lively, social atmosphere. It provides lots of activities such as quizzes, discussion groups, pet therapy, in addition to arts and crafts. It has a high OpenScore rating of 9, which is one of the strongest on the list.

Seymour Court Nursing and Care Home

Located in the leafy suburb of Mannamead, Seymour Court Nursing and Care Home offers exceptionally good access to other areas of Plymouth and includes panoramic views of the city.

This award-winning provider is a member of Mannamead Care and prides itself on its progressive, open-minded approach to residents and their specific needs. It places person-centred care at the forefront of its organisation and provides a wide range of amenities. These include a library, beauty salon, hairdressers, dentists, GPs, communal gardens and more.

Elburton Heights Care Home

As a contemporary, purpose-built facility, Elburton Heights Care Home is located in Plymouth's Elburton district and offers easy access to local shops, amenities and public transport. As a member of Harbour Healthcare, Elburton Heights Care Home offers round-the-clock nursing and care for older people who are physically frail or have Alzheimer’s.

Its team go above and beyond to ensure every resident is treated as an individual so that they receive a high standard of care through quality, excellence and fun. The care home provides a wide variety of activities, ensuite rooms and tasty, nutritious dishes that are catered to the individual tastes of residents within the home.

Willow House

This picturesque, 30-bed care home is surrounded by beautiful, landscaped gardens and open spaces.

As a member of the Centrum Care Homes brand, Willow House has a team of compassionate, trained and welcoming staff that offers exceptional care and a variety of facilities. Each resident benefits from freshly cooked meals, their own room, regular activities, outings and more.

Looking for a care home in Plymouth?

If you are on the hunt for the best care homes in Plymouth, look no further than Autumna. Our online directory makes it easy to search for care homes in your area. Simply enter your preferred location into the search bar, and you will then be matched with a list of suitable care homes.

You can also fill out our online form to receive a more personalised list of suggestions. For additional information, contact our knowledgeable and friendly team on 01892 335 330.