What is a residential care home?

A residential care home provides accommodation and 24-hour personal care and support to people aged 65 and over and those who find it difficult to manage daily life at home.

Residential homes provide residents with a safe place where they are looked after according to their needs. They can get help with washing, dressing, toileting, administering medication and mobility. 

The word ‘residential’ means people can treat the setting as their home and live there with access to a number of services onsite. The purpose of a residential care home is to ensure people who cannot live independently, but do not need nursing care, are well looked after and continue to lead meaningful lives. 

How does residential care work?

Residents at residential care homes can receive long-term, short-term, respite, emergency and even palliative care. Residential care homes mainly cater for older people but they do also provide support for people between the ages of 18 and 65.

A residential home is used by people who struggle with daily life due to old age, a physical disability, a learning disability, mental health problems, addiction or other care needs.

A residential care home cares for people with a variety of care needs and often specialise in conditions such as physical disability or dementia.

Depending on what stage they are in, people with dementia can live in a residential setting as they may need to be looked after and need help with daily activities, but do not yet need nursing care.

Benefits of residential care homes

Residential care homes care for people with ‘low’ care needs. This means people who require assistance throughout the day and night with various tasks, such as getting dressed or washing.

• Living in a residential care home takes away the need to do household chores as the home will be kept clean by staff and residents will have their clothes washed for them.

• Some residential homes have their own hair salon, café, bar and other facilities to enhance residents’ lives. A landscaped garden is a common feature of a residential care setting, allowing people in their care to get fresh air and enjoy the sun when the weather allows. It also gives green-fingered residents an opportunity to continue their hobby.

• Residential homes can be large or small so you can choose a type of care home that suits you and your needs. Each resident has their own bedroom, which, depending on the care home, they can personalise to feel more at home.

• Some residential settings also allow residents to bring their own furniture and even pets.

• People living in a residential care home are offered breakfast, lunch and dinner with snacks in between. They also benefit from regular social events and entertainment, combating the loneliness some may have felt if they lived alone at home.

What types of care are provided in a residential care home?

Residential care homes do not provide nursing care as they are not for people who require specialist and/or complex medical care from qualified nurses. They offer personal care services and support to individuals and can administer medication, but do not provide healthcare to treat a medical condition.

Residential homes do have good links with local health professionals such as GPs, physiotherapists and dentists who can visit residents if necessary.

Care staff can arrange and accompany residents to appointments outside the home.

Each care home is inspected on a regular basis by the care watchdog operating in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. After each inspection a care home is given a rating. These ratings are publicly available for every care home.

Residential care homes provide:

• Personal care, including bathing, washing, skin and nail care and hygiene
• Help with dressing and undressing
• Meals and snacks throughout the day and eating assistance if required
• Help with toileting and incontinence support
• Help with getting in and out of bed
• Medication administration
• Activities to encourage physical and mental exercise
• Companionship with residents and staff
• Social activities and entertainment, both in and out of the home

Paying for residential care

Residential care can be expensive, particularly if you are a self-funder and have to cover the fees on your own. The average weekly cost of living in a residential care home in the UK is £1,160 if you’re a self-funded resident. The monthly average cost of residential care is £4,640.

There are different ways to pay for residential care home fees and you may be able to receive support from your local authority, depending on your finances and what country you live in the UK.