For families
Families aren't an audience. They're partners in care.
Choosing a care home for a parent or relative is hard. This page answers the questions families most often want to ask on a first visit — and a few they'd rather not have to ask but need answers to.
- How will we know how Mum is doing day-to-day?
- Every resident has a named key worker who knows them best. Families are welcome to call the home directly at any reasonable hour, and we share written updates whenever there's a meaningful change in care or routine.
- Can we visit whenever we like?
- Yes. Visits are welcome and aren't restricted to set hours. We ask only that you let us know if you'd like to join your relative for a meal, so the kitchen can plan — and that you call ahead during quieter afternoons when most residents are resting.
- What happens if care needs change?
- Care plans at The Clarendon are reviewed as things change — not on a rigid annual cycle. If we think a resident's needs are moving beyond what we can offer safely, we'll say so plainly and help find the right next step.
- What about end-of-life care?
- We work closely with Portsmouth community nursing and local hospice teams so residents can remain in the home — their home — for end-of-life care where it's appropriate, with families involved as closely as they wish.
- Are there cultural or dietary accommodations?
- Yes. Menus and daily routines can flex around religious observance, cultural preferences, and dietary needs. We'd rather know what matters from the start than guess later.
- Can the resident keep their GP, dentist and other services?
- Almost always. Most Portsmouth GP practices will continue to cover residents who move in with us, and we work with district nurses, pharmacists, podiatrists, and visiting dentists to keep routines as unchanged as possible.
A visit tells you more than a brochure.
If you're weighing up Clarendon Care Home, the best thing you can do is come and see it. Walk round. Meet whoever's on shift. Sit in the courtyard for ten minutes. Ask the awkward questions. We'd rather you take your time than make a quick decision.