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
- Alzheimer's & Dementia · 50
- Care homes · 124
- Reablement · 16
- Live-in Care · 15
- Respite for Carers · 16
- Cost & Funding · 146
- Regulation & Quality · 62
- Retirement living · 22
- Personal Care · 15
- Carer Support · 48
- Elderly Care · 99
- London · 99
- End-of-Life & Palliative · 28
- Overnight Care · 11
Care homes
Will I have to sell my house to pay for a care home?When your home counts towards care home fees in England, when it is ignored, the 12-week disregard and deferred payment agreements.
Care homes
Care home contracts: 10 terms to check before signingThe care home contract terms families should check before signing: fees, increases, deposits, notice, fees after death, and asking a resident to leave.
Care homes
Moving a parent into a care home: a guide to the first monthPractical steps for moving a parent into a care home: before the move, moving day, the first weeks, and how to stay involved.
Care homes
Residential or nursing home: which does mum need?The difference between residential care homes and nursing homes, how to tell which is needed, what each costs and who pays.
Care homes
Care home fees explained: what’s included and what costs extraWhat care home fees in England usually include, what costs extra, how fees rise each year, and how to compare prices between homes.
Care homes
25 questions to ask when visiting a care homeThe questions to ask on a care home visit: staffing, care, daily life, the room, fees and the contract. Print our free checklist to…
Care homes
Care home or extra care housing: which is right?Extra care housing versus a care home: independence, the care available, costs and who each suits.
Care homes
How to choose a care home: a step-by-step guideChoosing a care home in England, step by step: assessing needs, checking CQC ratings, shortlisting, visiting, fees and contracts. Free checklist included.
Care homes
Care homes that allow pets: what to askHow to find a care home that accepts pets, what homes usually require, and what to do if a pet cannot move in.
Cost & Funding
Is home care VAT exempt?Is home care VAT exempt? When care at home is exempt, when VAT applies to agency fees, cleaners and unregistered carers. Download our free…
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