Why does Care to be Different exist?
Your trusted guide
Care to be Different is a specialist information resource, providing practical advice about NHS Continuing Healthcare funding specifically for laypeople.
The website is based on the stories of hundreds of families who have tackled the system themselves. Over the years, it has become an established and highly respected domain for practical guidance and support. In an ideal world, Care to be Different wouldn’t be needed. Sadly, the care system is often a minefield for families, leading to many people missing out on their entitlement to funding and feeling they have nowhere to turn for help. Care to be Different is dedicated to providing accurate, unbiased advice and providing a forum for discussion and information sharing.
Our history
A bit more about who we are and how we started.
2010 A personal battle for justice
Care to be Different was founded as a result of one family’s struggle to understand the complex care system, and access vital healthcare funding. When her parents needed long-term care and were told they would have to pay, Care to be Different’s founder embarked on a three-year battle to secure Continuing Healthcare funding for them. Her tenacity eventually paid off: she successfully appealed the initial decisions by the NHS that her parents did not qualify for CHC. During this process, Care to be Different’s founder started blogging about her experience, before setting up Care to be Different to share the insights and knowledge she had gained to help others navigate the system.
2012 A valued resource for families
The website became a trusted source of practical advice and shared experiences; a place where people could come for guidance and support, from those with first-hand knowledge of the process. The Care to be Different Facebook page – which now has over 6,500 followers – offered families an additional lifeline and a forum for open discussion.
2018 A new chapter
In 2018, Care to be Different was acquired by Andrew Farley and Jonathan Dwek, the Directors of Continuing Care Solutions Limited and also Farley Dwek Solicitors. As specialist lawyers in the field of CHC, helping families to navigate the assessment and appeal processes, Andrew and Jonathan were already very familiar with Care to be Different. They loved its ethos and wanted to ensure this wealth of invaluable information and resources, written in simple plain language, remained available to families, absolutely free.
2020 Expert advice on call
Nurse Advice Line introduced, giving families invaluable guidance directly from a qualified CHC Nurse Assessor.
2023 The journey continues
The sixth edition of the Care to be Different Book, How to Get the NHS to Pay for Care, is published, offering up to date information about the CHC assessment and appeal process. The book is updated in line with recent changes to the National Framework and is available both in electronic form and paperback as a quick and easy reference guide, packed with tips and know-how.
2026 A new look
Launch of the rebranded Care to be Different website, complete with the latest seventh edition of our best-selling book, How to Get the NHS to Pay for Care, and updated versions of our popular guides, How to Choose a Care Home, and 7 Things you need to know about Care Funding.
Trusted by many
For over a decade Care to be Different has provided families with a wealth of free resources to assist them in navigating the CHC process and accessing vital funding
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