Commonly asked questions about care homes

Moving into a care home yourself or helping a loved one into residential care often happens suddenly, sparked by an incident at home, where you realise you or your loved one is struggling to manage on their own.

It can be overwhelming if you suddenly have to act quickly and find answers to your questions about care homes, to ensure your loved one receives the right care and support.

Here are some popular care home FAQs

To help you, this article features some of the most popular care home FAQs. If you want a more comprehensive answer on any of the topics, simply follow the ‘read more’ link under each question.

What is a care home?

The definition of a care home is an establishment that provides accommodation, care and support for people who need extra support to manage daily life and/or are unable to look after themselves in their own homes.

The two most common types of care settings are residential care homes and nursing homes – follow the links below to learn more about what they provide.

Residential care homes

Nursing homes

What are the different types of care homes?

The different types of care homes are residential homes, nursing homes, and specialist care homes, such as dementia care homes. Other types of residential care include assisted living and retirement villages. Read more

What is the difference between a residential care home and a nursing home?

Wanting to know the main difference between residential care and nursing care is a very popular care home FAQ. The main difference is that a nursing home has a qualified nurse on-site 24-hours a day to provide necessary medical care. This means nursing homes can provide a higher level of care. Read more

How much does it cost to live in a care home?

The average weekly cost of living in a residential care home is £1160, while nursing home fees are on average £1410 per week. Per year, living in a residential care home is on average £60,320 and in a nursing home, it is on average £73,320. Read more

*Average figures are based on self-funded residents.

Who pays?

Whether you have to pay for your care home place yourself or if your local authority will help you with funding depends on how much your savings and assets are worth. In England, if you have capital of more than £23,250, you will have to pay for your own care. Read more

Can I get help with paying fees?

Depending on your financial circumstances and your care needs, you may be able to receive help with paying your care costs. If you have capital below a certain amount, which varies between countries in the UK, your local authority will contribute towards your fees. The NHS may cover your nursing care fees in some circumstances and there are a few benefits you can claim while living in a care home. Read more

Does the NHS pay care home fees?

The NHS does not normally pay for people’s care home fees. However, people who have been assessed as having a ‘primary health need’ (long-term, ongoing complex health needs) and qualify for NHS continuing healthcare will have their care home place arranged and fully funded. Read more

Will the local authority pay my fees?

Your local authority will start contributing towards your care home fees when you have capital below the upper savings and capital threshold. In England, this amount is £23,250. If you have capital below the lower threshold (£14,250 in England), you will receive maximum support. Read more

The upper threshold for paying for care home fees varies between countries. If you have savings and capital valued at less than this amount, you are eligible for some support.

• England: £23,250
• Scotland: £35,000
• Wales: £50,000
• Northern Ireland: £23,250

Do I have to sell my home to pay for residential caer?

Living in a care home long-term is expensive and you may have to sell your home to afford the costs. If your partner is still living in your jointly owned property, it will not be included in the means test. There are alternatives such as renting your home out, equity release, setting up a Deferred Payment Agreement or using an Immediate needs annuity. Read more

Do relatives have to pay for care homes?

You are not legally required to pay for a family member or relative’s care home fees unless you have signed a contract agreeing to do so. When a local authority assesses whether they should pay towards a person’s care, only that person’s share of any joint assets and savings are taken into account. Read more

Family members can pay top-up fees to enable their loved one to live in a specific care home that a local authority considers too expensive. Read more

What happens if my money runs out in a care home?

If you start to run out of money while living in a care home, you should contact your local authority well in advance to arrange a care needs assessment and a financial assessment. This is because when you come under the upper savings and capital threshold, your local authority will start to pay towards your fees. Read more

Who is responsible for care home fees after death?

Care home fees will normally continue to be paid for three days after death. If the resident funded their own care, any unpaid fees are charged to their estate. If a local authority was responsible for paying the fees, they will cover any outstanding charges. Read more

Will I keep my pension in a care home?

If you are a self-funder, i.e. you are paying for all fees yourself, you will continue to receive your State Pension as normal. If you receive help from your local authority, your State Pension will be counted as income and taken into account when they work out how much you should contribute towards the costs. However, you will always be left with a weekly income, known as Personal Expenses Allowance (PEA). Read more

Is there a cap on care home fees in the UK?

Care homes are very expensive and another popular care home FAQ is whether there is a cap on care home fees. England was set to have a cap in October 2025 but the Labour government ditched the plan that had been pledged by the Conservatives.

When should someone move into a care home?

Moving into a care home may be the best option if the person is struggling to live alone and manage day to day, even if they get help from family, friends and paid care workers. They may not eat properly or have an increasing number of falls. Read more

Can you force someone to move into residential care?

There are a few scenarios where a person can be forced into a care home. One is where the person does not have the mental capacity to make decisions about their own care, such as if they have a serious mental health issue or disability. Read more

How do you find a care home?

Care homes are located all over the UK and it is likely there is at least one or two in your local area. You can ask your local authority, talk to family members and friends and search for care homes online. Here at carehome.co.uk, we list every single registered care home in the UK and you can use our search tool to find a care home near you. Read more

How do you know if a care home is good?

The best way to check if a care home is good is reading reviews from residents and their families. You can also check the care home’s inspection reports from its regulatory body. carehome.co.uk is the leading reviews website for care homes in the UK – type the name of the care home you are interested in into our search tool to read its reviews and inspection reports.

Can I change care settings if I am not happy? 

If you or a loved one have moved into a care home but feel that you struggle to settle in, it is not the right fit or the location stops family from visiting regularly, you can change care homes. Make sure that you have read the terms of your contract to avoid any issues. Read more

Who regulates care homes in the UK?

Care homes in the UK are regulated by their country’s regulatory body.

• England: The Care Quality Commission (CQC)
• Wales: Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW)
• Scotland: The Care Inspectorate (CI)
• Northern Ireland: The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA)

How many care homes are there in the UK?

There are about 16,500 care homes in the UK, with the majority being located in England. About 11,500 are residential homes compared to around 5,000 nursing homes. Read more

What is a care needs assessment?

A care needs assessment is conducted by local authorities to determine what care and support a person needs and provide recommendations on how the care should be provided. A needs assessment is free and if you or a loved one is considering moving into a care home you should contact your local authority. Read more

When should someone with dementia move to residential care?

A person with dementia may have to go into a care home when their condition has progressed far enough that they need more care and support than they are able to receive at home. Moving into a care home will then mean they receive 24-hour care and supervision to ensure their safety. Read more

Do people with dementia have to pay for care homes?

People with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia are not normally exempt from paying for care as they are usually assessed as having social care needs as opposed to nursing care needs. However, if they are found to have a ‘primary health need’ they may qualify for NHS continuing healthcare, alternatively NHS-funded nursing care (FNC). Read more 

What should I look for in a care home for someone with dementia?

Frequent visits are important so ideally the care home should be located close to family and friends. It is important to make sure staff are experienced in dementia care. The home should be designed in a way that allows residents to safely walk around inside the home with free-flow access to a secure sensory garden. The home should be brightly lit and free from clutter and other hazards. Read more