Guides
Straight answers on care in Scotland
A free, searchable library written for Scotland rather than England, and kept free of jargon. Search a question, or browse by topic.
26 guides/Free to read/Reviewed July 2026
11 guides in Daily life
Moving inMoving into a care home: what actually happensHow to raise the subject, what the pre-admission assessment involves, what to bring, what the first day and first month feel like, and how families settle in too.Moving dayDaily life9 minRead the guide
Living well in careMusic therapy for dementia: what families and carers need to knowThe difference between clinical music therapy and a singalong, what the research really shows, how to build a personalised playlist safely, and the routes to accredited provision in Scotland.DementiaDaily life11 minRead the guide
Living well in carePerson-centred care in a Scottish care home: what it really meansThe Health and Social Care Standards in plain English, what person-centred care looks like on an ordinary Tuesday, what your personal plan must contain, and how to test a home on it before you choose.Daily lifeDementia10 minRead the guide
Choosing a homeSheltered housing, retirement housing or a care home?Sheltered housing, extra care housing, retirement flats and care homes compared side by side: who they suit, what staff are on site, what they cost, and the signs a family has outgrown housing with support.Visiting and comparingDaily life9 minRead the guide
Living well in careWhat is dementia?Dementia explained without jargon - what causes it, how it differs from normal ageing, how a diagnosis works in Scotland, and where to get support after one.DementiaDaily life8 minRead the guide
Living well in careDementia symptomsA plain guide to dementia symptoms: memory, language, planning, mood, perception and physical changes, what tends to appear when, and when to speak to a GP in Scotland.DementiaDaily life9 minRead the guide
Living well in careEarly signs of dementiaTen early signs of dementia, what separates them from ordinary ageing, how to start the conversation, and how a memory assessment works in Scotland.DementiaDaily life8 minRead the guide
Living well in careThe types of dementia, and why the difference mattersThe main types of dementia set side by side: what causes each, the symptoms families notice first, how they progress, and what each one means for care.DementiaDaily life9 minRead the guide
Living well in careThe stages of dementia, and what to expect at eachWhat early, middle and later stage dementia actually look like day to day, what support helps at each point, and what to arrange ahead of time.DementiaDaily life8 minRead the guide
Living well in careSundowning: why late afternoon is harder, and what helpsWhat sundowning is, why it happens as the day ends, what tends to help before and during it, and when the change is a medical matter rather than a dementia one.DementiaDaily life8 minRead the guide
Living well in carePalliative and end of life care in a Scottish care homeA calm, plain-English guide for families: what palliative care is, who provides it in Scotland, how care homes and NHS teams work together, the conversations and paperwork worth having early, and where to find support for yourself.End of life careNursing care11 minRead the guide
Beyond the guides
When reading turns into looking, these are the pages families use next.
- Our care homesThirty homes across Scotland, with fees, grades and photographs.
- Types of care we provideResidential, nursing, dementia, respite and palliative care explained.
- Funding adviceWhat the council pays, what you pay, and the current Scottish rates.
- Talk to someoneA conversation with a home manager, with no obligation attached.
Still deciding
Talk it through with someone who knows
Our home managers speak with families every day, most of them long before anyone is ready to move. There is no obligation and no sales pitch.