Planning your Care in Spain
Making Informed Choices with Confidence
Navigating care decisions can feel overwhelming at any stage of life. Doing so in a foreign country brings unique considerations. Whether you are exploring options for yourself or helping a family member from overseas, finding the right care in Spain isn’t just about medical needs; it’s about language comfort, independence, lifestyle, and peace of mind.
Spain offers a variety of high-quality care solutions, but understanding how services operate, what is included in fees, and how language barriers are handled requires clear, upfront information.
This guide breaks down the three primary care pathways available in Spain:
Support at Home: Maintaining your independence while bringing assistance into your own living space.
Sheltered / Assisted Living: Enjoying private accommodation with on-site community, safety, and shared services.
Residential or Nursing Care Homes: Receiving round-the-clock personal and medical support in a dedicated care setting.
How to Use This Checklist
Each section provides key questions to ask potential providers, care managers, or facility directors. We recommend printing or saving this checklist to take notes during visits or consultations.
1. Support at home
Who’s providing it
- Is the carer/agency registered and insured?
- What checks (background, references) are done on staff?
- Is there a named contact if something goes wrong?
- What happens if the regular carer is sick or on holiday — is cover guaranteed?
What’s covered
- Personal care (washing, dressing, medication) vs. domestic help (cleaning, shopping) — is it clear which is included?
- Is there a written care plan, and does the client/family have input into it?
- How often is the plan reviewed?
Language and communication
- Does the carer speak enough English (or the person’s language) for medical and personal matters?
- How are instructions and updates communicated with family, especially if they’re not in Spain?
Practical and cost
- Hourly/weekly cost, and what’s charged extra (bank holidays, mileage, night visits)?
- Minimum visit length and notice period for cancelling or changing hours?
- Is Teleasistencia (telecare alarm) included or does it need to be arranged separately?
- What’s the process if care needs increase — can hours scale up quickly?
Safety
- Does the carer have a key or access arrangement, and is this documented?
- Is there a system for checking in if a visit doesn’t happen as planned?
2. Sheltered / assisted living
The accommodation
- Is it self-contained (own kitchen/bathroom) or room-only with shared facilities?
- What’s the size, and can residents bring their own furniture?
- Is it accessible — lift access, step-free, adapted bathroom?
- Are pets allowed?
Support level
- Exactly what’s included: emergency call system, cleaning, meals, laundry, personal care?
- Is personal care available on-site, or does a separate home-care service need to be arranged?
- How quickly does help arrive if the alarm is used?
- Can the level of support increase as needs grow, or would a move be required?
Social and daily life
- Are there communal meals, activities, or social spaces?
- Is transport arranged for shopping, appointments, or social outings?
Cost and contract
- What’s the all-in weekly/monthly cost, and what’s charged separately?
- Is a deposit required, and a notice period to leave?
- What happens if care needs exceed what the setting can offer — is there a partner care home, or would the resident need to find one independently?
Language
- What proportion of staff and residents speak English — relevant for both daily comfort and understanding medical/contractual matters.
3. Residential or nursing care home
First impressions
- Are the buildings and grounds well maintained, and is there an accessible garden?
- Do the home and rooms feel clean, fresh, and at a comfortable temperature?
- Do staff seem welcoming and interested in residents’ lives?
- Is English spoken by care staff, to what level?
Accessibility
- Is the home easy for family/friends to reach, with adequate parking?
- Is there good wheelchair access, wide doorways, lifts if needed?
- Is the room being shown the actual room the resident would occupy?
Staffing
- What is the staff-to-resident ratio during the day and at night?
- Is a manager or senior staff member on duty at all times?
- How many current staff vacancies are there?
- Minimum qualifications required of care staff, and what are they not permitted to do?
- Staff training — how often, in what (including dementia care if relevant)?
- Is turnover high (a possible sign of low morale)?
- What is the fequency of supervision/welfare checks on residents?
Meeting care needs
- Does the home assess new residents before accepting them, and is there a named staff member responsible for each resident’s care?
- Are residents and families involved in care decisions?
- Are all rooms en-suite (toilet and/or shower)? If shared, how many facilities per how many residents?
- Are staff trained in catheter care, if needed?
- Is there a policy on incontinence pad/catheter use?
- Which primary care/doctor’s practice is the home linked to, and how often do they visit? Is joining the home’s recommended doctor compulsory?
- Who arranges and administers prescription drugs?
- Can the home support end-of-life care?
- Are dementia residents cared for separately?
Room and equipment
- Is an electric bed automatically supplied?
- Is there a TV and remote, or does the family need to provide one?
- What are the emergency call facilities in the room?
- Where are valuables (phones, laptops, hearing aids) stored securely?
- Is a walking frame or lifting equipment provided if needed?
- Stairs or lifts — and is the home genuinely wheelchair-friendly throughout?
- How often is bed linen changed?
Daily life
- Can residents choose their own routine (waking, bedtime, dressing)?
- Is clothing labelled and kept separate between residents? Is laundry included in the cost?
- Is there secure in-room storage?
- How is residents’ personal money handled?
- Are towels and toiletries provided, and is help available with dressing/undressing?
Food
- Is there a choice of menu, and can sample menus be seen?
- Are there flexible mealtimes, and can meals be taken in the resident’s room?
- Is food prepared on-site?
- Are refreshments included in the price, or charged separately?
Social life
- Is there an activities co-ordinator, and do residents seem occupied and content?
- Are there lounges/social spaces suited to small groups?
- Are there facilities such as TV room, library, internet, hairdressing?
- Are there regular organised activities (music, exercise, outings)?
- Any restrictions on visiting hours or numbers of visitors, and can visitors join meals?
Insurance and safety
- Does the home have insurance, and what does it cover (including residents’ belongings)?
- What are the emergency and security arrangements generally?
Costs and contract — read carefully before signing
- What is the weekly cost, and is it different for residential vs. nursing care?
- What’s excluded from the basic fee (hairdressing, chiropody, outings, etc.), and how do residents pay for these extras?
- How and when are fees reviewed/increased, and how much notice is given?
- Is a deposit or advance payment required?
- What is the notice period to leave — both from the resident’s side and the home’s side?
- How are temporary absences (e.g. hospital stays) charged?
- Are any fees payable after a resident’s death?
- Is there a waiting list, and how long is it currently?
Feedback and complaints
- Is there a clear, accessible complaints procedure?
- Is the manager approachable, and are families encouraged to be involved in the life of the home?
- Can staff explain what happens if there’s a serious incident or safeguarding concern?
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