Home care · Essex
Elderly care at home in Harlow
Elderly care is offered by 63 of the 65 home care agencies covering Harlow. CQC has rated 44 of them, and 80% are Good or Outstanding (versus 88% for elderly care across England). 3 hold an Outstanding rating. We estimate typical fees here at about £33.50 an hour for visiting care and £1,610 a week for live-in careestimated. 29 home care agencies were last rated more than four years ago and 8 registered since October 2024. Most recently, Kindherts Care Ltd was rated Good on 16 October 2026.
Updated 27 October 2026 from the CQC register (Open Government Licence)
The short version
- A care needs assessment from Essex council is free, and your savings do not affect it.
- New and changed CQC ratings across Essex, updated every day.
- Dementia is a registered specialism for 60.
- CQC rates 35 of the 44 agencies with a rating as Good or Outstanding; 9 are Requires improvement or Inadequate, with 19 not yet rated.
Citation: "Elderly care at home in Harlow", The Care Panel analysis of CQC register data, Oct 2026.
- 63agencies registered with CQC
- 80%of rated services are Good or Outstanding
- 60offer dementia support
- 8inspected or rated since October 2024
Ranked providers of elderly care
Order: CQC rating first, then how recent that rating is, then distance. Our ranking method
- All 65
- Elderly care · 63
- Dementia care · 61
- Physical disability care · 59
- Care for adults under 65 · 58
- Sensory impairment care · 45
- Mental health care · 35
- Learning disability care · 33
- Supported living · 11
- Children's care · 11
- Substance misuse support · 10
- Eating disorder support · 6
The full list for elderly care covering Harlow: sorted by CQC rating and rating date, then distance from the town centre.
Elderly care in Harlow: what the data shows
CQC lists elderly care for 63 of the 65 agencies covering Harlow, or 97%. 80% of those rated are Good or Outstanding, 2 points above the 78% for all agencies here and below the 88% for agencies registered for elderly care across England.
Leading on CQC ratings for elderly care: Care Just 4U, Violet Care Agency Ltd and St Elizabeth's Domiciliary Care Agency. 8 have a rating from the past two years. Oldest: June 2017. Newest: October 2026. 30 are based within 2 miles of the centre of Harlow. 19 have no rating yet; new registrations usually wait for a first inspection.
Essex as a whole has 438 agencies registered for elderly care; 90% of the rated ones are Good or Outstanding. Share registered for elderly care: 97% here, 92% across Essex.
Typical prices in the East of England: about £33.50 an hour for weekday visits (evenings and weekends cost more) and around £1,610 a week for live-in care. How we estimate costs.
About elderly care
This is the registration most providers hold with CQC. Care for older people includes personal care (washing, dressing), meals, medication, help getting about, company and keeping watch on health. Since most providers list it, look at staffing levels, carer continuity and how carefully the care fits the individual.
Questions worth asking about elderly care
- How do you keep the family updated week to week?
- What happens at weekends, at night and in an emergency?
- How do you spot early signs of illness, falls or dehydration?
- How much notice do you need to change or add care?
- What activities and company do you offer, not just personal care?
Helpline: Age UK Advice Line, 0800 678 1602. Getting a care needs assessment from Essex. Glossary: Personal care.
Elderly care around Harlow
| Place | How far | Agencies | Rated Good or Outstanding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harlow | – | 63 | 35 |
| Epping | 4.9 mi | 132 | 71 |
| Hoddesdon | 5.7 mi | 125 | 68 |
| Ware | 6.9 mi | 59 | 37 |
| Bishop's Stortford | 7.1 mi | 31 | 16 |
| Cheshunt | 8.1 mi | 177 | 99 |
| Hertford | 8.5 mi | 71 | 44 |
Your council
Essex
A care needs assessment from Essex council is free whatever your savings. With savings below £23,250, the council may help pay.
Asking Essex for an assessment, and how payment and direct payments work
Free · by email
Free care cost report for Harlow
- Typical local prices for home care, overnight and live-in care
- What the council and the NHS may pay, with the 2026/27 savings limits
- The best-rated services near you, from the CQC register
Questions families ask about elderly care in Harlow
Which agencies in Harlow provide elderly care?
The CQC register for Oct 2026 shows that 63 of the 65 agencies that have an office within 7 miles of Harlow list elderly care as a specialism. Well-rated choices include Care Just 4U, Violet Care Agency Ltd and St Elizabeth's Domiciliary Care Agency.
What CQC ratings do home care agencies in Harlow have?
Of the 44 that have been rated, 35 (80%) are rated Good or Outstanding (3 Outstanding). Rated Requires improvement or Inadequate: 9. Not yet rated: 19. That is common for services registered recently.
What are typical home care prices in Harlow?
Usual 2026 prices across England: visiting care around £32–£34 an hour; live-in care around £1,540–£1,610 a week. Ask every agency for a full list of charges, with weekend and bank holiday rates: hourly rates vary more between agencies than between regions. The Homecare Association puts the minimum sustainable price for council-funded home care in England at £34.42 an hour for 2026/27. Source: Lottie Care Index, Q3 2026. More in our cost guide.
Will Essex council pay for home care?
It may. Essex council must offer a free care needs assessment to anyone who appears to need support (Care Act 2014). If savings and investments are below £23,250, the council may contribute after a financial assessment, depending on income, and for care at home the value of the home is not counted. Attendance Allowance is not means-tested. How to contact Essex council.
What should I look for when choosing agencies in Harlow?
Three questions matter most once you have read the latest CQC report: will the staff be consistent, what is the plan for missed visits, and what is the total cost before signing? On dates, 8 of the 63 listed had an inspection or rating within the last two years; 36 have older reports. Use our checklist.
How does Harlow compare with nearby towns for elderly care?
Nearest towns we cover: Epping (4.9 miles): 132, 71 rated Good or Outstanding; Hoddesdon (5.7 miles): 125, 68 rated Good or Outstanding; Ware (6.9 miles): 59, 37 rated Good or Outstanding. Harlow itself has 63, 35 of them Good or Outstanding.
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Elderly care near Harlow
- Elderly care in Epping 4.9 mi
- Elderly care in Hoddesdon 5.7 mi
- Elderly care in Ware 6.9 mi
- Elderly care in Bishop's Stortford 7.1 mi
- Elderly care in Cheshunt 8.1 mi
- Elderly care in Hertford 8.5 mi
- Elderly care in Loughton 8.7 mi
- Elderly care in Buckhurst Hill 10.4 mi
Other help in Harlow
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CQC register data (Oct 2026), reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The Care Panel is independent of every provider listed.