Location is a prime consideration when choosing a care home, whether you want to move to a care home in your local area or move further away, either to be closer to family or just for a change of scenery.

The South-West is a beautiful part of England, with beaches, historic cities, wild moorland and areas of idyllic countryside. Many people choose to move to the South-West of England when they retire.

Exeter, in Devon, is the county’s administrative centre and has excellent amenities. The city centre is packed with shops, including those in the new Princesshay shopping development. Exeter’s origins date back to Roman times and its historic attractions include St. Peter’s Cathedral, the remains of the Roman City Wall and the Historic Quayside.

Popular Exeter residential districts include St. Leonard’s, St. Thomas, Alphington and Heavitree, all of which have local shops, banks, post offices and other essential amenities. There is also a good public transport system within Exeter, and bus and train links from Exeter to other destinations.

There is a wide range of private, voluntary and local authority care homes to choose from in Exeter, including both residential care homes (also known as care homes without nursing care) and nursing homes (also known as care homes with nursing care).

For example, The Lodge (Spicer Road, Exeter) is a residential and nursing care home, operated by Elizabeth Finn Care Homes. Located in the popular St. Leonard’s district of Exeter, this care home is within easy reach of the city centre. The Lodge is a beautiful Victorian building, to which a purpose-built wing has recently been added, and is set within beautiful landscaped gardens. The care home has 42 bedrooms each with their own front door, en-suite bathroom and nurse-call system, and a number of communal areas. Residents are encouraged to live as independently as possible and the care home offers a range of social activities and trips.

Another Exeter care home is Brendoncare Woodhayes (St. Leonards Road, Exeter), which offers residential and nursing care. The building was originally two Victorian houses, and still retains many of the original features. It also has attractive gardens. Residents are encouraged to continue to make choices about their daily lives and activities in order to be as independent as they can, and the home offers an excellent programme of activities.

There are also a number of specialist care homes in Exeter, such as:
• Parkland House (Barley Lane, Exeter) - a residential care home which caters for people aged over 65 with physical disabilities, mental disorders and dementia;
• Alphin House (Mill Lane, Alphington, Exeter) – a local authority residential care home, catering for elderly people and people with physical disabilities.
• Dennyshill (Glenthorne Road, Duryard, Exeter) - a private care home catering for residents with learning disabilities, mental disorders and physical disabilities.

If you are looking for a care home in Exeter (or anywhere else in the South-West of England), the best place to start is by using an online care homes guide. You can use this to find out about different Exeter care homes and the facilities that they offer, and access recent Commission for Social Care Inspectorate reports for any care home that you’re interested in.