“Meals and care included” leaves too much unanswered. It does not tell you whether staff will accompany a hospital appointment, whether the quoted room price applies after a change in mobility, or what happens to the monthly fee during a hospital stay. Ask for the full fee schedule before paying a deposit.
Take this list to the admission meeting
| Charge | Question that produces a usable answer |
|---|---|
| Continence and nursing supplies | Are supplies included, charged per item or sold as a monthly pack? Can we supply the agreed products ourselves? |
| Appointments and transport | Who accompanies the resident, how is waiting time billed, and who pays for the vehicle? What if family goes instead? |
| Food and feeding assistance | Quote the diet and assistance specified by the resident’s care team, including weekends. |
| Rehabilitation | How many sessions, how long, group or individual, and delivered by whom? What does an extra session cost? |
| Room and facilities | Are air conditioning, laundry and use of required equipment included for this room? |
| Higher care needs | What triggers reassessment, who approves the new fee and how much notice is given? |
Voucher users: start with what is already included
The RCSV standard package includes shared accommodation, meals, personal and nursing care, laundry and two rehabilitation sessions a week, among other services. Ask the home to label every quoted item as standard-package service, optional top-up or another charge, with the reason. Do not agree to a second charge simply because an item appears on the private resident price list.
Three clauses can matter more than the starting fee
- Hospital leave: ask exactly which fees continue, whether the bed is retained and when the arrangement ends.
- Leaving: record the notice period, any payment in lieu, deposit deductions and refund date. Include death or urgent transfer in the discussion.
- Price changes: attach the current schedule and ask whether the quoted price is fixed for any period. A verbal promise should appear in the agreement.
The SWD Code of Practice covers admission arrangements and fees as well as care. Use it when asking for clear terms. If the home cannot explain a charge, ask for a written reply before committing; a precise answer now is easier to compare than a disputed invoice later.