Overview
Headquarters: Tunbridge Wells, United Kingdom
Category: Care Matching
Core Products: Autumna Directory, Free Advice Line, OpenScore Ratings, S.A.F.E. Accreditation
Introduction
Autumna is the UK’s largest independent directory of later-life living and elderly care options, covering care homes, nursing homes, retirement living, home care, and live-in care services. The platform combines a detailed searchable database with personalised advisory services, helping families and individuals navigate complex care decisions. Since its launch, Autumna has built a reputation for impartial, comprehensive guidance, providing tools like OpenScore ratings, S.A.F.E. care accreditation, and bespoke care shortlists to simplify the selection process.
User Feedback: Strengths and Weaknesses
Publicly available feedback for Autumna comes from user testimonials, social media mentions, and press coverage. While formal review aggregation is limited, consistent themes emerge.
Positive Feedback
Comprehensive Coverage
Autumna provides access to over 50,000 providers across the UK, including care homes, retirement villages, home care, and live-in care services, allowing users to compare options in one place.
Impartial and Trusted Advice
Users appreciate Autumna’s independent guidance, noting that the platform does not accept referral fees and provides unbiased recommendations based on personal needs.
Personalised Shortlists
The Free Advice Line and expert advisers help families create tailored care options, saving time and reducing stress during the decision-making process.
Transparency and Ratings
Features such as OpenScore ratings and S.A.F.E. accreditation give families measurable insight into quality, safety, and service standards.
Negative Feedback & Considerations
Limited Digital Tools for Providers
While comprehensive for users, Autumna’s platform offers fewer operational tools for care providers compared with full care management software.
No Direct Care Management Functionality
Autumna is an advisory and directory platform rather than a care delivery or clinical management system, so it complements rather than replaces operational care software.
In summary, Autumna is highly regarded for its impartiality, breadth of coverage, and personalised guidance, while its limitations are inherent to its advisory and directory-focused model.
Products and Capabilities
Autumna Directory
A searchable database covering care homes, retirement living, home care, and live-in care services across the UK. Users can filter by location, care type, and service features.
Free Advice Line
Expert advisers provide guidance, eligibility checks, and bespoke shortlists tailored to users’ needs, reducing the complexity of navigating later-life care decisions.
OpenScore Ratings
Quantitative ratings system providing insight into quality, compliance, and service standards across providers.
S.A.F.E. Accreditation
Certification program promoting infection control, safety, and operational standards in participating care providers.
Interoperability and Standards
Autumna integrates data from multiple sources, including CQC inspection reports, S.A.F.E. accreditation results, and OpenScore metrics, to create a unified view of care quality. While it does not connect directly to clinical or HR systems, the platform ensures that data on providers is accurate, auditable, and consistent, supporting informed decision-making for families and commissioners.
Market Position
Autumna operates primarily in the UK elderly care advisory and directory market. It differentiates itself through:
Comprehensive coverage: Access to over 50,000 care and retirement providers.
Independent guidance: Free, impartial advice and shortlists tailored to individual needs.
Quality assurance: OpenScore ratings and S.A.F.E. accreditation to benchmark providers.
Competitors in the care matching space include CareLinx, Lottie, and TrustonTap, all of which provide provider listings and guidance in slightly different ways. Autumna positions itself as an impartial, trusted alternative, particularly attractive to families seeking clarity, personalised advice, and verified quality metrics.
Implementation and Support
Autumna provides a consultative approach via its Free Advice Line, with advisers available to guide users through care selection, funding options, and eligibility checks. The platform is designed for ease of use with clear navigation, search filters, and actionable shortlists. Providers can also claim and manage their profiles to maintain accuracy.
Security and Data Protection
Autumna hosts user and provider data securely, ensuring GDPR compliance and maintaining confidentiality of personal enquiries. The platform uses encrypted connections and secure storage practices to safeguard sensitive information submitted by families and providers.
Conclusion
Autumna is the UK’s leading independent elderly care and later-life living directory, offering families impartial advice, searchable provider listings, quality ratings, and accreditation insights. Its strength lies in simplifying complex care decisions, providing verified information, and supporting personalised guidance. While it does not manage operational care delivery, Autumna complements clinical and care management systems, making it an essential resource for families navigating later-life care options.
References
Autumna Live Ratings – Visitor feedback and ratings for care homes https://www.autumna.co.uk/live-ratings/
Autumna Trustpilot Reviews – Customer Ratings and Testimonials https://www.trustpilot.com/review/autumna.co.uk?page=2
