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Ready to find your care home? Start your search here.
Moving into residential care is a big decision and whether you are making that decision for yourself, or as a family carer for a loved one, it is important to find the right home. But where do you start?
There are many things to consider when choosing a care home. Is it in the right location? Is it accessible? What are the facilities like? Does it provide the right type of care? Is it within budget? And, whilst it needs to meet these practical requirements, it should also be a happy, comfortable place to live – it should feel like home.
This page will cover the different things you need to consider to help you find the right option for yourself or a loved one.
What are Care Homes?
There are thousands of care homes across the UK, and no two are the same. They can be run by: local councils, private companies or voluntary organisations. There are a number of options available depending on the level of support you need.
Care, or residential homes provide accommodation and personal care. Some also specialise in caring for specific needs, e.g. dementia care or learning disabilities. There are also respite care homes that are specifically for short stays.
What is the difference between a care home and a nursing home?
Care homes provide personal care and accommodation. They offer support with things like washing, dressing and moving around. Staff will be trained to help you get in and out of bed, provide assistance with eating and get ready for your day. They are also referred to as residential homes.
Nursing homes offer the above, but also have qualified nurses on duty 24-hours a day who are capable of administering medicines and providing medical care in the care home at any time of day or night. Our article ‘Getting to know Care Homes with Nursing’ can help you identify when a nursing home might be the right choice, and also provides tips on how to find one.
What type of care do you need?
The first thing you should do if you think you need to move into a care home is to speak to your local council about having an adult social care assessment. This is to identify the type of care and support you may require.
If you are assessed as needing care and support, this will be set out in your care and support plan. This document details the type of support you need, how it will be given, and how much money your council will spend on your care.
If you, or a loved one need support with tasks at home like getting dressed and personal hygiene, a care home will likely suit. If you need extra help due to a medical condition, or require complex care, you may need to consider a nursing home. Or, if you or your loved one is living with dementia and struggling at home, a specialist dementia care home may be the best choice.
The home you choose needs to be able to provide the level of care and support that you or your loved one requires now, as well as in the future should their needs change over time.
Care Home Costs
When arranging care, some of the most frequently asked questions are around care fees. Depending on your situation, you may be eligible for government assistance in meeting some, or all, of your care costs.
How much does a care home cost?
The cost of living in a care home generally includes rent, meals, bills and laundry services. There may also be additional care home costs, such as visits from medical professionals, hairdressers or chiropodists.
The average cost of residential care in the UK is:
- £1,000 a week (around £52,000 a year) for residential care homes
- £1,300 a week (around £67,600 a year) for nursing homes.
Bear in mind however, that care costs vary greatly depending on where you live, the level of support you need and the types of facilities the home provides.
Paying for your care
If your care needs assessment finds that you need care in a care home, your council will carry out a means test to work out whether you qualify for help with the cost. This will look at your income and capital.
If the council is paying for your care home, you can choose which care home you prefer, as long as the council agrees it:
- Meets your needs.
- Is not more expensive than another suitable care home.
If you pay for your care and support, you can choose any care home that meets your needs and can accommodate you.
Does the NHS pay for care homes?
If you are assessed as needing the level of care a nursing home provides, you might get a contribution towards your fees paid by the NHS. This contribution is to help cover the cost of nursing care and is called Funded Nursing Care (FNC) or Registered Nursing Care Contribution (RNCC). The amount is paid weekly to your nursing home.
The amount of FNC is set at a standard rate, which changes every April. From 1 April 2026, the rates for NHS funded nursing care in England are:
- Standard rate: £267.68.
- Higher rate: £368.24.
If your needs are primarily health-based, the NHS arrange and pay for your care under NHS continuing healthcare (NHS CHC). If you are eligible for NHS CHC, your care home placement will be free. When assessing your needs, the council must refer you to the NHS if it appears you may be eligible for NHS CHC.
Find out whether you need to pay for social care – read Paying for Care
What should I look for in a care home?
When it comes to choosing a care home, start by thinking about:
- What’s important to the person moving in – are there activities available? Are pets accepted?
- The care needs of the person moving in – can the home meet their specific care needs?
- Location – is it easy to reach? Is it near family?
- Does the home have close links with Adult Social Care services?
- Does the home offer personalized, person-centred care and support to enable you to become as independent as possible?
- Do you have choice and control over your care and support?
Care home location
Location can be a key factor when finding the most suitable care home. The home needs to be in the right place for the person moving in, and be in the right location for family and friends to visit. Crucially with a care home move, you also need to find a home with the right culture, values and services that are going to make it a true home-from-home.
Can I choose a care home outside of my home county?
Yes. You don’t have to move into a care home where you currently live. If you would prefer to move into a home closer to relatives in a different area, you can. You will need an assessment from your current local council’s social services department, but once that’s completed and you have been assessed as needing residential care, you are free to move to any care home, including one in a different county or in one of the UK’s devolved regions. This is subject to certain conditions if you are receiving social services funding for your care home placement. Your local council can inform you of these. Read our article Moving to an out of area care home for detailed information and advice.
Life in a care home
Care homes tend to have dining spaces and communal areas as standard, but many homes now offer facilities like hairdressers, coffee shops, and even cinemas!
Routines and mealtimes tend to be flexible, with provision for activities to engage and stimulate residents. Life in a care home can be as full or as quiet as you want to make it. Residential care homes put on a variety of activities often centred around the things their residents enjoy.
Care home activities often include things like:
- Animal therapy.
- Artistic pursuits and crafts.
- Exercise classes.
- Themed evenings.
- Gardening.
- Trips out.
Care home ratings
The care and nursing homes in the UK are regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). They inspect care homes and care services to ensure they are safe, caring, effective, responsive and well-led. These official CQC ratings provide an overall evaluation of the service and care offered.
There are four ratings awarded: outstanding, good, requires improvement, and inadequate. You can view the latest CQC ratings and reports for the care services on our site. You also have the option to filter search results by CQC rating – so you can choose to only view ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ care homes for example.
Starting your search
Choosing a care home isn’t something we have to do every day, which means the process can sometimes be quite stressful. With this in mind, we have created our search for care tool so that you can identify potential homes quickly and easily.
When you have a list of requirements, create a care home shortlist using our search tool. After this, read the inspection reports (CQC ratings are linked-to in our search results). The next step is to contact the homes on your shortlist to check if they have vacancies or a waiting list, and to arrange a visit to get a feel for them first hand.
Ready to find your care home? Start your search here.
Visiting potential homes
It’s important to visit potential homes so you can be confident that you have found the right one. There are many things to consider when looking around, so just stick to what is most important or relevant to you. Possible things to check for/ask about:
- Do the staff seem welcoming?
- Are the grounds and home well maintained?
- Can residents choose their routine, such as when they get up and go to bed?
- Can residents bring their own furniture and belongings?
- Are there any restrictions on visiting times or numbers of visitors?
- Do residents seem happy and occupied?
- Do residents have a named member of staff who is particularly responsible for their care?
Download our Care Home Checklist when visiting potential homes.
Alternatives to care homes
Care homes are not the only option when you need extra care or support. Home Care or Live-in care can enable you to stay living safely and independently in your own home, as can some home adaptations. There are also options such as retirement villages and housing with care to consider.