Care home costs in England

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The first step to knowing how much care homes in England will cost

The first step is to ask for a care needs assessment from the adult social services department of your local council.

There is no cost for a care needs assessment. A care needs assessment may be carried out online, over the telephone, or face to face and the results will include recommendations about whether care is needed, and if so, what type of care.

The care needs assessment will also help identify whether your needs require the support of specialist nurses in a nursing care home, or if your needs can be managed in a residential care home without dedicated nursing support.

Regardless of your financial status, you must arrange a needs assessment through your council’s social work department before contracting with any care service providers. Failure to do so may jeopardise your eligibility for care funding, and possibly delay admission into a care home.

If a care home is needed, you can then start to look at the cost of care homes and how you will pay for this.

If you can continue to live at home, we can also help you understand the cost of domiciliary care (care in your own home) providers in England.

How much does a care home in England cost?

The cost of a care home in England will depend on whether it is a residential care home or a nursing home.

A residential care home only has care staff, so it is appropriate for people who need assistance with their daily activities such as washing, dressing and meal preparation.

A nursing home is very like a residential care home, but the main difference is there are always trained nurses on duty for anyone who has an ongoing nursing/medical requirement. 

The table below gives a breakdown of average weekly residential and nursing care home costs for each part of the UK, per week*

* from LaingBuisson’s ‘Care Homes for Older People’ UK market report, 30th edition, published December 2019 – based on single occupancy of a room, in a for-profit care home in 2018/2019

Find care home costs in your area

Use our free care home search to find local care homes – or one of our quick links below to find a care home near you.

• London
• Bristol
• Birmingham
• Leicester
• Sheffield
• Coventry

Summary

Are care homes free in England?
Unfortunately staying at a care home in England is not free, however depending on your specific situation there is funding available to help support the costs. It is recommended to seek financial support to discuss the options available to you.

How much do residential care homes and nursing homes in England cost?
The average cost of care homes in England, varies greatly depending on where you live. In greater London you can expect to pay £949 per week for nursing home care and £741 a week for residential care homes.

Is funding available to help with the costs of care homes in England?
Council funding for care home accommodation is linked to a person’s savings and assets. If you have less than £14,250 you could qualify for full support.

Do you have to sell your house to pay care home fees in England?
Depending on your financial position you may need to sell your home to pay care home fees. However, there are circumstances where your house would not be included in the financial assessment, so it is recommended to always seek financial advice. 

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