FAQ

The questions families actually ask

Drawn from real conversations with families — answered the way we'd answer across a table.

Deciding

Is a care home better than keeping my parent at home with a caregiver?
Most of the time, no — and we'll say so when that's our honest read. Home caregivers work well when needs are light and supervision exists. They strain when needs grow: training varies, background checks aren't always thorough, no single person can cover every part of a care plan, turnover is high, and there's no nurse at 2am. What we offer isn't a person — it's a system: nurses, doctors, meals, activities, and backup for every role. Compare the care options →
Is it too early for assisted living?
The pre-admission assessment answers this honestly — including "not yet". Families who ask early get a plan instead of a crisis later. How the assessment works →
What will relatives say?
It's a real question in Sri Lanka, and we won't pretend otherwise. What changes minds is seeing the place: bring the doubtful relative to tea. Professional care alongside family love isn't abandonment — it's how responsibility looks when it's organised. Read the full honest answer →
How does admission actually work, step by step?
Assessment, care plan, paperwork, move-in day — each step is explained plainly before you agree to anything, so there are no surprises along the way. See how admission works →

Cost

What does it cost — and what does the fee include?
From LKR 200,000/month onwards, depending on room and care needs — fixed transparently before admission, never adjusted by surprise. The monthly fee covers the room, 24/7 supervision, doctor oversight, all meals, laundry, housekeeping and the daily activity programme. Full inclusion list →
Who buys personal items and consumables?
The split is agreed clearly before admission, so there are never surprise charges: everyday living (meals, laundry, care) is in the monthly fee; personal items such as toiletries, medicines and anything special your parent enjoys are arranged with the family — and if you're not nearby, we can purchase what's needed and account for it transparently.
Is the price justified?
Cost it against the alternative, hired separately: caregiver, nurse standby, doctor visits, cook, housekeeping — managed by you, with no cover when someone doesn't turn up. Then visit and judge the rest. What's included →
How often are the prices raised?
Only when it's genuinely needed, and no more than once a year — we work hard to keep this value for money. If a care plan changes and the fee needs to change with it, we tell the family why, clearly and well in advance.
Are there any hidden costs?
No. There's a one-time deposit of LKR 100,000: LKR 50,000 of it is refundable, held for anything your parent needs day to day — medication, diapers, a phone charger, a favourite magazine — which we buy and account for transparently. The other LKR 50,000 is a non-refundable documentation and processing charge. Anything spent on your parent's behalf during the month is invoiced back to the family at month end.

Medical & safety

What happens if my parent needs to be hospitalized in an emergency?
The caregiver on duty responds immediately; the on-call doctor is reached at once; if hospital care is needed we manage the transfer and call you on the way. A staff member stays with your parent until family arrives or arrangements are made. You'll never learn about an emergency after the fact.
Is Golden Hands suitable for dementia or mobility issues?
Usually yes — structured memory care, including cognitive stimulation programmes, a secure garden, and physiotherapy, are core services. We assess before admission and answer plainly if a condition is beyond what we can serve well. Memory care →
How clean and safe is the home?
Book a visit and see for yourself — any day. You'll see mealtimes, the rooms, the garden, and you're welcome to talk to the staff and residents you meet.

Visiting & daily freedom

What are the visiting hours?
Visits are welcome every day between 9 AM and 6 PM, by appointment — we keep appointments so visits never clash with residents' rest, meals, activities, the doctors' weekly assessment, or a special event. A WhatsApp message in the morning is usually enough for a visit the same day.
Can my parent go out — to church, a wedding, a family lunch?
Yes. This is a home, not a hospital — residents go out with family for services, celebrations and day visits. Tell us in advance and we'll have your parent ready, medication packed and timed.
Do you offer concierge services?
Yes — a dedicated caregiver can be assigned one-on-one to accompany your parent to a hospital appointment, a family event or an outing. Arranged in advance through the care team, with any additional cost agreed up front.
How will the family be updated?
You'll hear from us — you won't have to chase us. WhatsApp updates with photos from the care team, honest answers whenever you ask, and a direct line to the doctors when something matters. We agree the exact rhythm with each family at admission, and then we keep it.

From overseas

Can we manage this entirely from overseas?
Yes — families in Australia, the UK and the Gulf already have, start to finish: video call with the founders, virtual tour, remote documentation, planned arrival day. The full remote journey →
When can I call my parent across time zones?
You can call any time during the day in Sri Lanka. Many families also like to agree a family call window so other activities can be planned around it — ours runs 4–6pm Colombo time, late morning in London, evening in Sydney. Time-zone table →

Settling in

Will my parent adjust emotionally?
Most do, in days to a few weeks — and we manage the adjustment actively rather than hoping: early psychologist sessions, appetite and sleep watched, honest updates to you. Through the settling-in period the caregiving team notes how your parent is adjusting day by day, and keeps adjusting our approach to help them settle in. "The first two weeks", honestly →
Will my parent have company?
Every day. Meals are eaten together, the activity programme runs daily — cards, carrom, music, garden time — and residents live among people of their own generation. For many, there's more company here in a week than there was at home in a month.
Can we celebrate birthdays and anniversaries there?
Yes, always. Birthdays, anniversaries, any occasion your family wants marked — we help celebrate it here. This is truly a home away from home.
Will my parent feel abandoned?
The fear behind every other question. What families find: a parent who was lonely at home becomes busier here — and your relationship improves, because visits become time together instead of duty. Come spend an afternoon with us; it answers this better than we can.
A question we missed?

Ask it the way you'd ask a friend