Supported Living Checklist

Starting the search for a suitable home for your relative can feel daunting and emotional. Often, people begin this journey unsure of what to expect or where to start. 

Our first piece of advice is simple: try not to panic. Finding the right place for your relative to live usually takes time - often more time than you initially expect. Although the process can feel confusing or disorganised, things do come together in the end. Secondly, we recommend visiting every property your relative is offered, even if it is not in their preferred location. These visits help you understand what options are available, give you the chance to meet different support providers, and provide valuable insight into how supported living works in practice. 

When meeting support providers for the first time, it can be difficult to know what questions to ask. Families who have been through this process have told us that, in hindsight, they wished they had a guide to help prompt those conversations. 

In response, we have created this guide, drawing on a combination of the Reach Standards - UK-wide voluntary standards designed to ensure people are supported to live the life they choose - and our own personal experience of supporting a relative to move into supported living. 

This guide is intended as a helpful prompt only. Its purpose is to support you in thinking through the different aspects of supported living and to help you feel more confident as you navigate the process.