Choosing to move to a care home, either following an assessment by a social care worker or as a person funding your own care, is a big decision. Before making a commitment, you should make sure you have looked at the alternatives. With the right help and support, many people can live safely and independently in their own home.

Search Care Choices for a detailed list of all homes in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, or contact us for a free brochure.

You can also look at:

• inspection reports for local homes, written by the Care Quality Commission
• Age UK's care home checklist
• Care Choices' care checklists
• Alzheimer's Society's guide to selecting a care home

It's important to find a care home that is right for you, and we suggest you always visit the care homes you are considering before making a final choice.

Types of home

There are different types of care home available, depending on your needs:

• residential homes provide a place to live, meals and personal care if required
• nursing homes provide the same services as residential homes, but also provide medical care
• some homes provide specialist care for dementia, physical disabilities, learning disabilities or specific mental health conditions

To try and stay as independent as possible, you could also consider extra care housing.