The admission contract is usually presented on the day a family is most stretched — moving day, or shortly after a hospital discharge — which is exactly when it is hardest to read carefully. A second, calmer look at the key clauses is worth the delay.
What is included in the weekly fee
The contract should spell out exactly what the quoted weekly fee covers and what is billed separately — chiropody, hairdressing, outings, incontinence products, and transport are common add-ons. A vague or incomplete list is worth pushing back on before signing.
Notice periods, both ways
Check how much notice you have to give to end the contract (commonly around 28 days, but confirm the actual figure), and — separately — how much notice the home has to give you before ending it or asking a resident to leave, other than in an emergency.
Fee review clauses
Look specifically for how and when fees can be increased, and what notice is required (see our separate guide on fee increases for how to challenge one). A contract that is silent or vague on this point should be queried before signing, not after the first increase arrives.
What happens during a hospital stay
Ask specifically whether the room is held during a hospital admission, for how long, and at what rate (full fee, reduced fee, or free). This detail rarely gets discussed until it is needed, by which point it is too late to negotiate.
Deposits and refunds
Confirm the deposit amount, what it is protected by (some homes use a bond scheme; ask), and exactly when and how it is refunded after a resident leaves or passes away — including whether any deduction can be made and for what.
How to use this guide in practice
Don’t read this as general information — use it as a worksheet. Write down the details of the person who needs care, the current limits of the situation at home, the monthly budget, the documents you already have, whether a local-authority financial assessment may apply, and who you’ve already spoken with. Then turn every unclear point into a specific question. A family that arrives with a clear picture usually gets more useful answers than one calling under stress with scattered information.
Keep one simple rule: anything about admission, cost, funding, timelines and whether a care home fits must be confirmed directly with the care home or the competent authority serving your area. This guide prepares the search — it does not replace official decisions.
Want a clear shortlist before you start calling?
If you don’t know which care homes to contact first, Curalune Care Help can prepare an ordered shortlist of 3–5 suitable options — with CQC ratings, contacts, useful links and a ready-to-send inquiry.
The service helps you organise the search.£69, one-off. If you don't receive at least 3 homes matching the area and criteria you gave us, we refund you in full. It does not replace the care home’s own assessment and does not guarantee admission, price or bed availability.
Important limit
Curalune offers practical help with the search and orientation. Admission, pricing, bed availability and the final assessment always rest with the care homes and the competent authorities (the local authority, the NHS, the Care Quality Commission).
