Making the decision to move into a care home – and choosing the right one – is never easy.

Usually, you’ll be saying goodbye to the house where you’ve spent many years of your life. And leaving familiar surroundings where you feel safe and secure.

That’s why it often makes sense to choose a family-run care home.

While they’re subject to the same quality standards as any organisation, family-owned care homes also have a personal stake in the businesses and its reputation.

As well as helping to drive up standards, this also makes them more accountable. After all, if there’s an issue over quality, they can be held to account straightaway. As opposed to a big company where the complaint would probably have to be passed through numerous members of staff.

Also, family care businesses are almost always smaller than those owned by corporate companies. And they’re not beholden to shareholders in the way large businesses are.

This means the owners have more freedom to create the kind of homely, close-knit environment they’d want their own relatives to live in.

It’s easier for them to focus on the small details, which often makes all the difference. Like the meals they cook, the outings they organise or entertainment they put on. Rather than stick rigidly to decisions made by corporate bosses hundreds of miles away.

They can run homes according to their own family values, and make the dignity and comfort of residents their highest priority.

And because they’re often smaller, staff and residents get to know each other better. As a result, residents often receive more personalised care and maintain more of their individuality and independence.

Family-run homes will often have been part of the community for many years. The owners will be locals themselves, know the area, and sometimes the residents’ families. This helps residents relate to the owners, and makes the move into a home as comfortable and stress-free as possible – for them and their families.