Hi Netsy,
Care homes is a big old subject. The first thing you need in place is AA (Attendance Allowance). You can do it online or you can get help from CAB or Age UK. (See below). The importance of this is that it is the threshold to alert SS (Social Services) that the person receiving it is vulnerable.
Should your PWD be self-funding for a period you need to alert SS when the pot of money is nearing £23000ish. That is when Council funding is neeeded.
Age UK
http://www.ageuk.org.uk/
I have done a lot of research into care homes. I just put 'Care Homes' and mother's town into Google. It has been a big research job. I found care home costs ranged from £600 pw to £2000pw - so a big range. (This is in Essex) The lower priced one was a quirky one I found having been influenced by Ann Mac (So bizarre thread). They seemed very switched on and realistic with the advantage that, should mother's money run out, she would go onto the Local Council rate. It is an independent.
The expensive one, initially, seemed an all singing all dancing dementia-friendly home with nursing care should it be needed. However, one year on it was looking frayed round the edges in terms of the furnishing and also in terms of care. It failed its CQC. New management and the fees leapt.
I had a look for independents that I would be happy with and chains with nursing care. I have found 3. Not only checking on the website, by telephone, CQC report and yet to do a physical visit. I would strongly recommend a physical visit. One home that had a good CQC (sorry, that is Care Quality Commission report - similar to an OFSTED report) was a horror! It stank of stale urine, all the residents were like zombies and wearing joggers, the vinyl flooring was curling up and we were distinctly unwelcome!
The main criteria I checked for was that when mother's money ran out what the situation would be. All three would then move mother on to the Local Council rate. It is lower than the individual rate as the councils will have a bulk buy thus getting a discount. Should it be needed (mother has pension income) she would then also get the Care Home contribution from the council of £475 pw to cover the remaining costs. None of us are in a position to provide top ups and mother does not own her flat.
Your local Alzheimers is another good source of local knowledge,:
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/
Good luck in your search and hope the above helps.