Guides · Updated November 2026
Care guides
Plain-English guides to arranging care in England: what it costs, how to pay, how to choose a provider and what the council must do. Written from official guidance and the CQC register.
- All guides
- Elderly Care · 99
- Carer Support · 48
- Overnight Care · 11
- Personal Care · 15
- End-of-Life & Palliative · 28
- London · 99
- Care homes · 124
- Respite for Carers · 16
- Alzheimer's & Dementia · 50
- Reablement · 16
- Regulation & Quality · 62
- Live-in Care · 15
- Cost & Funding · 146
- Retirement living · 22
Cost & Funding
How much does home care cost per hour in 2026?Home care costs in England in 2026: typical hourly rates, live-in and overnight care, regional differences, and help with paying.
Care homes
How much does a care home cost in 2026?Care home costs in England in 2026: typical weekly fees for residential, nursing and dementia care, by region, and how to pay them.
Care homes
Can couples stay together in a care home?How couples can move into a care home together in England: shared rooms, different care needs, and how fees and council help work.
Care homes
How to complain about a care homeHow to raise a concern or complaint about a care home in England: the home, the council, the Ombudsman and CQC.
Care homes
When a care home closes: what happens to residentsWhat happens when a care home in England closes or its provider fails: notice, the council's duties, and how to plan a safe move.
Alzheimer's & Dementia
Choosing a dementia care home: what good looks likeHow to choose a care home for someone living with dementia: what to look for, questions to ask, and how to check CQC ratings.
Care homes
Your right to visit someone in a care homeCare home visiting in England: the CQC visiting regulation, what homes should allow, and what to do if visits are restricted.
Care homes
Respite stays in care homes: how to book and what they costHow short respite stays in care homes work in England: booking, costs, council funding and what to pack.
Care homes
Care home top-up fees: third-party top-ups explained (2026)How third-party top-ups work when the council funds a care home place: when they apply, who can pay, and what to check before agreeing.
Care homes
What happens when money runs out in a care homeWhat to do when a self-funder's savings approach £23,250 in a care home: telling the council, the financial assessment, top-ups and moving rooms.
Need care soon?
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