Dementia care in a care home costs about £1,465 a week in England for residential dementia care and about £1,670 a week for nursing dementia care. Prices range from about £1,225 a week in the North East to £1,665 in London. Dementia care at home is usually paid by the hour: agencies that offer dementia care publish a median of about £29.75 an hour, and live-in dementia care is usually £1,400 to £1,600 a week. This page breaks the costs down by region.
At a glance
- Residential dementia care: about £1,465 a week in England, £1,225 (North East) to £1,665 (London).
- Nursing dementia care: about £1,670 a week in England, £1,365 (North East) to £1,865 (London), before NHS-funded nursing care is deducted.
- Dementia care usually costs £35 to £80 a week more than standard residential care in the same region.
- Home care: a median of about £29.75 an hour published by agencies that offer dementia care.
- Councils paid home care agencies an average of £25.05 an hour in 2025/26, well below what self-funders are usually charged.
Dementia care home costs by region
| Region | Residential dementia a week | A year | Nursing dementia a week | Nursing dementia after FNC | Extra over standard residential |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North East | £1,225 | £63,700 | £1,365 | £1,097 | +£40 |
| North West | £1,255 | £65,260 | £1,575 | £1,307 | +£50 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £1,265 | £65,780 | £1,560 | £1,292 | +£35 |
| East Midlands | £1,285 | £66,820 | £1,540 | £1,272 | +£35 |
| West Midlands | £1,340 | £69,680 | £1,535 | £1,267 | +£45 |
| East of England | £1,500 | £78,000 | £1,685 | £1,417 | +£45 |
| London | £1,665 | £86,580 | £1,865 | £1,597 | +£50 |
| South East | £1,620 | £84,240 | £1,845 | £1,577 | +£65 |
| South West | £1,525 | £79,300 | £1,690 | £1,422 | +£80 |
| England | £1,465 | £76,180 | £1,670 | £1,402 | +£65 |
“After FNC” takes off the NHS-funded nursing care payment of £267.68 a week (2026/27), which the NHS pays to the home for anyone assessed as needing nursing care. See FNC rates by year. Figures are typical self-funder prices. Individual homes can be well above or below them.
Dementia care at home: hourly rates by region
These are the median hourly rates published on the websites of home care agencies that list dementia care, checked in October 2026. Many are “from” prices, so expect to pay more for short visits, evenings and weekends.
| Region | Median published rate an hour | Agencies with a published price |
|---|---|---|
| East Midlands | £32.45 | 9 |
| South West | £34.75 | 7 |
| East of England | £29.00 | 12 |
| South East | £28.75 | 16 |
| North West | £26.75 | 7 |
| West Midlands | £26.43 | 10 |
| London | £26.00 | 21 |
| England | £29.75 | 82 |
We have too few published prices from the North East and Yorkshire and the Humber to show a reliable figure. Our wider benchmark for visiting home care is about £33.50 an hour in England and £37.50 in London.
What dementia care at home costs in a week
| Level of support | Hours a week | Cost a week at £29.75 an hour |
|---|---|---|
| One hour a day | 7 | £208 |
| Two hours a day | 14 | £417 |
| Four hours a day | 28 | £833 |
| Live-in care (one carer living in) | – | £1,400 to £1,600 |
| Waking nights, 7 nights | – | about £1,600 (median £231 a night) |
Once someone needs more than about six hours of help a day, or help at night, live-in care is often cheaper than hourly visits. See live-in care costs by city and the cost of dementia care at home.
Comparing dementia care near you? Every agency and care home is listed with its latest CQC rating. Search by postcode →
What councils pay
If the council arranges your care, it pays the provider its own rate, which is usually far lower than self-funders pay. In 2025/26 councils in England paid an average of £25.05 an hour for home care, £956 a week for a care home place without nursing and £1,089 a week with nursing (people aged 65 and over). Many care homes ask for a top-up when the council rate is below their price. Find your council’s guide to paying for care to see its own rates.
Help with the cost
- NHS Continuing Healthcare pays the full cost for people whose main need is health care. Advanced dementia with complex behaviour or physical health needs can qualify. See FNC vs CHC.
- NHS-funded nursing care pays £267.68 a week towards nursing in a care home.
- Attendance Allowance is not means-tested and can help pay for care at home. See using Attendance Allowance for home care.
- The council may pay part of the cost after a care needs assessment and a financial assessment.
Sources
- DHSC: Market Sustainability and Improvement Fund, care provider fees 2025 to 2026
- GOV.UK: NHS-funded nursing care rate 2026/27
- Published prices on home care agency websites, checked by The Care Panel, October 2026
- The Care Panel care fees and quality index (regional benchmarks, October 2026)
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Free care cost report for your area
- Typical local prices for care homes and nursing homes
- What the council and the NHS may pay, with the 2026/27 savings limits
- The best-rated services near you, from the CQC register
Find dementia care near you
- Dementia care in Croydon 52
- Dementia care in Pinner 39
- Dementia care in Stanmore 33
- Dementia care in Bournemouth 31
- Dementia care in Leicester 30
- Dementia care in Birmingham 27
- Dementia care in Cheltenham 25
- Dementia care in Bognor Regis 24
All care homes in England by town → · Search by postcode
Highly rated care homes for dementia care in England
- Charterhouse Care Home Outstanding · Bristol
- Collingwood Court Outstanding · North Shields
- Deangate Care Home Outstanding · Barnsley
- Bede House Outstanding · Sunderland
Rated by CQC in the last three years. Nobody pays to appear here.
Care homes by county
- Derby
- Bedford
- Thurrock
- Redcar and Cleveland
- Cumberland
- St. Helens
- Buckinghamshire
- Slough
- Cornwall
- Wiltshire
- Telford and Wrekin
- Kingston upon Hull, City of
Care costs by council
- Care costs in Norfolk
- Care costs in Harrow
- Care costs in County Durham
- Care costs in Halton
- Care costs in Buckinghamshire
- Care costs in Bristol, City of
- Care costs in Staffordshire
- Care costs in Sheffield
Related guides
Free download
Free printable: 40 things to check in a care home
Print it before visiting: three columns, 40 questions on care, staffing, rooms, costs and the contract.
Reviewed by The Care Panel team on 26 October 2026. This guide is general information about care in England, not legal, medical or financial advice. Rules and rates change; check with your council or an adviser before making decisions.