Dr Jackie Gray, founder of Carents, appeared on BBC Radio Stoke this week to talk about one of the most emotionally charged decisions many families face: choosing a care home for an elderly parent.
Jackie offered practical, compassionate advice to help families navigate this often unfamiliar territory.
“Families find this very difficult. It’s a huge decision and it’s not something that we do every day.”
Whether you’re dealing with a sudden hospital discharge or slowly recognising that your parent needs more support, the interview offers helpful pointers for where to begin.
What Jackie Covered in the interview
Jackie’s conversation touched on several important areas, including:
- Why the decision is often prompted by crisis
- Where to start if you’ve never explored care before
- How to use CQC reports to shortlist homes
- The importance of visiting more than one home – and what to look for
- Why a care home checklist is essential (just like buying a house)
- What staff turnover might tell you about the quality of care
- And why your gut instinct really does count
“Even if you’re interested in just one, it’s worth visiting another one… You need the same level of checklist as if you were buying a house.”
Listen to the full interview below:
Related Resources from Carents
If you or someone you know is facing the decision of choosing a care home, Carents is here to help:
Things to consider when choosing a care home for elderly parents
Is it time to move your elderly parent into a care home?
What You Need to Know About Choosing a Care Home for Elderly Parents
“We Want to Make This Less Overwhelming”
As Jackie explained on air, many adult children supporting their parents are doing so for the first time, under stress and time pressure:
“It’s very daunting, very emotional, and practically very challenging too.”
Carents was created to provide guidance that’s easy to access, evidence-based, and grounded in real-life experience.
If you’re navigating these decisions right now, you’re not alone – and the right support can make all the difference.
