A guide to care homes and support for older people

If your placement is funded by Devon County Council, the care home you choose must meet all four of the following requirements. The home must:

• safely meet your care needs
• be affordable within our older persons’ care home fee model
• have a vacancy when you need to move in
• have a contract with Devon County Council

We can only fund homes that are using the older persons’ care home fee model. If you choose a more expensive home, you may still go there – but there will need to be a top-up payment to cover the difference. This usually needs to be paid by a third party and is in addition to your own assessed contribution.

This is different to any additional top up that might be paid to the home that is not simply to cover the cost of care, for example, for additional facilities such as a sea view.

More information can also be found in the Choice in Care Policy.

Top‑up payments

A top‑up payment is an extra payment made when you choose a home that costs more than the amount we normally pay.

A top‑up might give you access to:

• a preferred location
• extra facilities or home features

It’s important to know that:

• a suitable care home within DCC’s identified fee level must also be available to you
• you should never feel pushed into choosing a more expensive home
• top‑ups are usually paid by a third party (family, friend, or other supporter), not the person receiving care
• the top-up must be paid for the duration of the stay within that care home

You should always have a suitable option and we must offer you at least one care home that:

• meets your needs
• has a space
• fits within our older persons’ care home fee model
• is contracted with the Council

You can then choose to: accept that placement or choose a different home and arrange a top‑up if needed.

The aim is to give you choice; while ensuring you have access to a safe, suitable, affordable placement.

Remember – the decision is yours. You have rights and options and you should never feel rushed or pressured.

More information about top-up payments.

You should consider the following points before choosing a home if you are funding and arranging your own care:

• When choosing a care provider or care home, prepare by thinking about what you want to ask and what personal lifestyle needs matter for your wellbeing.
• Review your finances so you understand what you can comfortably afford and how long your funds will last.
• Speak with other families for recommendations, keeping in mind that preferences vary.
• Consider the home’s distance from family and how easy it is to visit.
• Visit the care home yourself to get a sense of the staff, residents, and environment.
• Compare several homes to see which services meet your needs best.
• Make your decision based on what feels safe, comfortable, and financially sustainable for the long term.
• Read websites and reviews to gather more insight.

Compare facilities, cost, reviews and ratings

Independent care‑home directory websites can help you browse care homes by area and view basic details, photos, reviews and provider‑set prices. These sites are not created or maintained by Devon County Council. You may find the CareFind website useful as a starting point.

Remember to:

• treat directories as a starting point, not a definitive list
• confirm details directly with the care home
• check the latest Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection report on the official CQC website

We do not verify or guarantee the accuracy of the information shown on these websites. Details such as vacancies, fees, facilities and ratings may be out of date.

Prices shown online may not reflect Devon County Council’s contracted rates.