How to find suitable care homes in Wales

The landscape of care homes in Wales is undergoing a significant and concerning shift. A recent BBC report highlighted a growing crisis in the sector, with increasing numbers of care homes in the country shutting their doors due to financial pressures and acute staffing shortages. For many families, this has translated into a painful reality—fewer options and greater uncertainty when it comes to securing a safe and comfortable environment for their loved ones.

The closures are not just numbers on a page; they represent upheaval and distress for those who rely on these essential services. Care seekers are being forced to navigate a complex and shrinking landscape, where finding a suitable care home can feel like an overwhelming challenge.

This blog aims to provide practical guidance to help you and your family find the right care home in Wales, even in the face of these difficult circumstances. We’ll explore the factors contributing to the current crisis, what you should prioritise when choosing a care home, and the steps you can take to ensure your loved one receives the care they deserve.

Understanding the current care home landscape in Wales

The care home sector in Wales is facing unprecedented challenges. Over the past few years, a combination of financial strain, staffing shortages, and increased regulatory demands has led to the closure of numerous care homes across the country.

According to Care Forum Wales (CFW), a tightening of immigration rules has led to an 80% reduction in people applying for a UK visa to work in the care sector in the first quarter of 2024.

As many care homes in Wales are reliant upon overseas staff, this has led to a shortage in staff members and fears that care homes will close as a result. This reduction in availability is particularly concerning in rural areas, where the loss of even a single care home can leave entire regions underserved.

This shrinking pool of care homes means more competition for available spaces, longer waiting lists, and often the need to compromise on location or specific care requirements. The emotional toll can be significant, as families struggle to find a place that meets their loved one’s needs in a landscape that offers fewer and fewer choices.

Key factors to consider when choosing a care home

With finding a suitable care home in Wales becoming increasingly challenging, making the right choice for your loved one requires careful consideration.

Amid closures and shortages, it’s more important than ever to focus on the key factors that ensure quality care and a supportive environment. Understanding what to prioritise in your search can make all the difference in finding a home that meets your needs and offers greater peace of mind.

Cost

The cost of care is often one of the most significant considerations when choosing a care home. With the financial pressures that many care homes are facing, costs can vary widely depending on the level of care required, the facilities, and the location of the home.

It’s essential to have a clear understanding of the financial implications upfront to avoid unexpected expenses later. Begin by determining your budget and what financial assistance might be available, such as government funding or benefits. Be sure to ask for a detailed breakdown of fees from potential care homes, including any additional charges for services that may not be included in the base cost.

When comparing costs, remember that higher fees don’t always equate to better care. Focus on the overall value—consider what is included in the price, the quality of care, staff-to-resident ratios, and the condition of the facilities.

Location and proximity

When choosing a care home, location is a critical factor that can significantly impact the well-being of your loved one and the ease with which your family can stay connected. In the current landscape of limited options, finding a care home close to family or established support networks can be challenging, but it remains essential for several reasons.

Proximity allows for regular visits, which are vital for maintaining emotional bonds and monitoring the quality of care. Being nearby also means that family members can quickly respond to any issues or emergencies that might arise. Additionally, a care home close to familiar surroundings can provide a sense of comfort and stability for your loved one, reducing the stress of transitioning to a new environment.

Autumna makes it easier to find care homes in the location you choose. All you need to do is type in your preferred city, town or village into the search bar. This will then bring up a list of care homes in the area you have selected.

In the example below, we have selected care homes in Swansea, which brought up a list of 100 care homes.

Ratings and reviews

Want to know how good a care home is? An easy way to determine the quality of a care home is OpenScore, which was developed by Autumna and is displayed on the profile page of many care homes. It gives each home a real-time score based on things like regulator ratings, infection control, plus environmental, social, and governance factors. A care home with a strong score is a good indicator of quality of care.

Evaluate staff qualifications

The quality of care is directly linked to the skills and experience of the staff. During your visit, enquire about the qualifications and training of caregivers. Are they trained in specific areas relevant to your loved one’s needs? Ask about staff turnover rates—high turnover can be a red flag, indicating potential issues with management or working conditions. A stable, well-trained team is more likely to provide consistent and compassionate care.

Observe resident wellbeing

A visit to the care home is crucial for gauging the overall atmosphere and resident wellbeing. Pay attention to the demeanour and appearance of the residents. Do they seem happy, engaged, and well cared for? Notice how staff interact with residents—are they attentive, respectful, and responsive? Also, check for signs of a stimulating environment, such as organised activities, social opportunities, and a sense of community among the residents.

One great way to determine what day-to-day life looks like at a care home is to visit the Facebook page of the care homes in question. You can do this easily when searching for homes on Autumna because we include a link to a care home’s Facebook page on the end of the profile pages of care homes we feature.

You can see an example of this on the image below:

Seek feedback from families

Talk to the families of current or past residents, if possible. Their firsthand experiences can provide invaluable insights into the quality of care and the day-to-day reality of life in the home. Ask about their satisfaction with the care provided, the responsiveness of staff, and any concerns they may have had.

How to manage the costs of finding a care home in Wales

By carefully budgeting, understanding the costs involved, and exploring financial assistance options, you can navigate the complexities of paying for care homes in Wales.

You should be aware that beyond the basic fees, there may be extra charges for services such as laundry, hairdressing, or recreational activities. Make sure to ask the care home for a complete breakdown of all potential costs to avoid surprises later on.

Finding a care home within your given budget is the first step in managing the costs of finding a care home in Wales.

Fortunately, Autumna makes it easy to find care homes. You can do this by navigating to our online directory and select the type of care you need and choose your preferred location.

The next step is to select the ‘Price’. This will allow you to select a price range within your budget. You can then click Search Again. Underneath the orange buttons, you will see a ‘Sort results by’ dropdown menu. This will allow you to filter the list of care homes in Wales based on the weekly fees they charge.

Selecting this option will make it easier to find a selection of care homes with weekly costs and prices that you can easily manage.

In the example below, we have selected Care Homes as the main service, and Cardiff as the location. We also filtered care homes based on the weekly fees they charge. This brought up a list of 16 care homes in or near Cardiff.

Following the above steps will give you a much better idea of local care homes that are within your budget.

The emotional challenges of finding a care home

Searching for a care home is often accompanied by significant emotional stress. The pressure of finding the right place, coupled with the uncertainties and time constraints, can take a toll on your mental wellbeing. However, one of the main things that can take the stress out of finding a care home is using online resources, like Autumna to help you quickly find the right care home.

It is worth noting that Autumna can help you find a care home based not only on price, but many additional factors such as specialisms (e.g dementia care), nearby services, activities offered, room features and more.

Many of the care homes listed in our directory also have an OpenScore rating, which will give you a much better idea of the quality of care offered by a facility.

These features mean that Autumna essentially does the heavy lifting for you and helps you find the right match, which reduces the stress and hassle of searching for a care home.

How to find a care home in Wales

If you are still having trouble narrowing down a list of suitable care homes in Wales, our FREE shortlisting tool can do that for you. All you need to do is answer a few quick questions about what you are looking for and we can send you a bespoke list of care facilities.

Once you have a suitable list of care homes in Wales, we highly recommend you visit them to see how you feel about the facilities in question.

If you need additional help and information, you can contact our advice line on 01892 335 330.