Many people who get to a stage in life where they need care will often still want to live as independently as possible and staying at home is still an option for many. There are now numerous alternatives to those who want to retain their independent living while also recognising that they need some help to maintain that situation. Those options include live-in care from a carer. Those considering care at home should ask plenty of questions about any agency that is providing care, notably whether they are registered with the Care Quality Commission and whether the carers are directly employed by the agency, what training they have undertaken and how often there will be a change of carer.

For those who feel unable to stay at home, but don't want to move full-time into residential care, sheltered accommodation is another option as it still enables independent living but in smaller, purpose-built and easier to manage homes which usually have a house manager or warden and 24-hour assistance via an alarm. There is also close care, also known as extra care or assisted living, which, while similar in that the homes are self-contained and still afford privacy, they are set in the grounds of a care home so if an emergency does occur, help is close at hand.

However, for many, the opportunity of semi-independent living is not available to them and they need the reassurance of full-time care in a care home. If this is the only realistic option there are still things that can be done, not least trying to ensure that the one chosen is the best available. So, those faced with this situation should take their time to ensure that their choice of home is the correct one. Time should be taken and a few homes should be visited to compare. They could even be visited unannounced to compare the facilities at the care homes and cost.