Moving the person you care for into a residential or care home can be a highly emotional and difficult experience for family carers. It is important that everyone involved gets the information and support they need to guide their decisions and make important choices about future care.
Yet, research has shown many people feel unprepared when the time comes to consider residential or nursing care. People often don’t know what choices they have, how funding works, or what support the local authority can offer. Research has also shown individuals and families are often not prepared, or have not planned for their future need for residential or nursing care.
It is for these reasons that decisions about moving into a care home are frequently made during moments of crisis, when someone’s needs have become too high to manage at home.
Our friends at Knowing Works CIC, working with Suffolk County Council want to understand people’s experiences of choosing a care home – whether for themselves or for someone else. They want to hear from anyone who has faced making this decision, so together they can help improve the information and support available to families across Suffolk.
The closing date for the survey is Friday 31st July 2026. Please do not miss the chance to take part as the results will inform a new Information, Advice and Guidance campaign by Suffolk County Council. The aim is simple: to make information about care homes clearer, easier to find and easier to understand — so families can make confident, informed decisions, and choose care that truly meets their needs.
Support to take part is available from the Knowing Works team. You can call them free on 0800 448 8234, or email info@knowingworks.co.uk. British Sign Language support is also available (search for ‘Healthwatch Suffolk’) on the Convo Now service. Alternative formats of the survey can be found at www.knowingworks.co.uk/our-work/choosingacarehome.
Who can take part?
Knowing Works would like to hear from:
- Anyone who has chosen a care home for themselves or a relative in the last two years, either through contact with Suffolk County Council or privately.
- Anyone who is considering their future care needs or those of a relative
What they want to know
They want to understand:
- How you feel about care homes in general.
- How families talk about future care needs and planning for care.
- The information and support people need when choosing a care home.
- What people understand about paying for a care home, and the support available from the Council.
- Whether people experience difficulties accessing information about care homes.
