Home care · Kent
Elderly care at home in Canterbury
39 of the 26 home care agencies covering Canterbury offer elderly care. 95% of the 20 rated by CQC are Good or Outstanding, against 88% for elderly care across England. Expect to pay here about £33.50 an hour for visiting care and £1,610 a week for live-in careestimated. 12 home care agencies were last rated over four years ago and 8 registered in the last two years. The most recent rating was Respect 4Care Ltd, rated Good on 4 February 2026.
Source: CQC register · Updated 19 October 2026 · Open Government Licence
The short version
- 19 of the 20 rated agencies are Good or Outstanding; 1 is Requires improvement or Inadequate; 19 are still waiting for a first rating.
- Latest CQC rating changes in Kent, checked daily.
- Dementia is a registered specialism for 32.
- Whatever your savings, Kent council will assess care needs for free.
Reference this page as: The Care Panel, "Elderly care at home in Canterbury", Oct 2026, based on the CQC register.
- 39agencies registered with CQC
- 95%rated Good or Outstanding (of those rated)
- 32list dementia as a specialism
- 2inspected or rated since October 2024
Ranked providers of elderly care
Sorted on CQC rating and its date, with distance used last. How we rank
- All 26
- Elderly care · 26
- Care for adults under 65 · 25
- Dementia care · 22
- Physical disability care · 19
- Sensory impairment care · 16
- Mental health care · 15
- Learning disability care · 9
- Children's care · 6
- Substance misuse support · 5
| # | Agency | CQC rating | Last rated | Office | Other specialisms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Great Prospects Care Ltd | Sep 2025 | 0.7 miles | 7 | |
| 2 | Respect 4Care Ltd | Feb 2026 | 6.7 miles | 5 | |
| 3 | L'Arche Kent | May 2023 | under 0.5 miles | 2 | |
| 4 | Seniors Helping Seniors | May 2023 | under 0.5 miles | 2 | |
| 5 | Rusko Care Ltd | May 2022 | 2.8 miles | 7 | |
| 6 | ComCare | Feb 2023 | 5.5 miles | 4 | |
| 7 | Expertise Homecare Ashford and Canterbury | Apr 2023 | 5.5 miles | 6 | |
| 8 | Pure Life Homecare | Aug 2022 | 5.6 miles | 8 | |
| 9 | Beeches Homecare Services (Kent) | Dec 2021 | 5.8 miles | 6 | |
| 10 | Care Sante Kent | Oct 2024 | 6.6 miles | 8 | |
| 11 | Your Care | Jun 2022 | 6.7 miles | 6 | |
| 12 | Kent Home Care Limited | Aug 2019 | under 0.5 miles | 5 | |
| 13 | 4life Healthcare Services | Apr 2019 | 1.1 miles | 5 | |
| 14 | CCK Support Ltd | Jan 2020 | 3.9 miles | 7 | |
| 15 | Canterbury | Apr 2019 | 4.8 miles | 5 | |
| 16 | Tender Loving Carers | Dec 2020 | 5.4 miles | 5 | |
| 17 | Harbour Care Home | May 2019 | 6.4 miles | 3 | |
| 18 | Home Service Complete Care LLP | May 2019 | 6.4 miles | 4 | |
| 19 | Crossroads Care Kent | Feb 2020 | 6.5 miles | 7 | |
| 20 | Care at Home Services (South East) Limited – Canterbury, Herne Bay and Whitstable | Jun 2023 | 5.9 miles | 5 | |
| 21 | Thrive Homecare | Not yet rated | – | under 0.5 miles | 6 |
| 22 | Confident Care 24/7 | Not yet rated | – | under 0.5 miles | 7 |
| 23 | Intrinsic Care- Canterbury | Not yet rated | – | under 0.5 miles | 7 |
| 24 | Primcura Healthcare Ltd | Not yet rated | – | under 0.5 miles | 3 |
| 25 | Nurse Next Door Canterbury | Not yet rated | – | under 0.5 miles | 1 |
| 26 | A Heart for Care Limited | Not yet rated | – | under 0.5 miles | 4 |
| 27 | Yourlife (Canterbury) | Not yet rated | – | 0.5 miles | 4 |
| 28 | Reignsons Cottage Ltd | Not yet rated | – | 0.7 miles | 5 |
| 29 | Care365 Limited | Not yet rated | – | 0.9 miles | 2 |
| 30 | Infinite Oasis Healthcare Ltd | Not yet rated | – | 1.0 miles | 6 |
| 31 | Saintly Care Limited | Not yet rated | – | 1.1 miles | 0 |
| 32 | SoarStar Ltd | Not yet rated | – | 1.2 miles | 7 |
| 33 | Royal Care Canterbury | Not yet rated | – | 1.3 miles | 4 |
| 34 | Ashvine Care | Not yet rated | – | 1.4 miles | 4 |
| 35 | Savanna Living Limited | Not yet rated | – | 2.8 miles | 5 |
| 36 | Blossom Home Care Canterbury | Not yet rated | – | 4.8 miles | 4 |
| 37 | Temal Healthcare Agency Ltd | Not yet rated | – | 4.8 miles | 5 |
| 38 | Care Quality Care LTD | Not yet rated | – | 4.8 miles | 4 |
| 39 | East Kent Care Ltd – Herne Bay | Not yet rated | – | 6.4 miles | 3 |
Every agency covering Canterbury registered with CQC for elderly care, ranked by CQC rating and how recent it is, then by distance.
How elderly care in Canterbury compares
Registered for elderly care: 39 out of 41 agencies covering Canterbury (95%). England-wide, 88% of agencies registered for elderly care are Good or Outstanding and here it is 95% (above England, in line with the 95% for all agencies in the town).
For elderly care, the top rated agencies are Great Prospects Care Ltd, Respect 4Care Ltd and L'Arche Kent. 2 were rated in the last two years; the oldest rating dates from April 2019 and the newest from February 2026. 19 are based within 2 miles of the centre of Canterbury. 19 have no rating yet; new registrations usually wait for a first inspection.
Kent as a whole has 372 agencies registered for elderly care; 82% of the rated ones are Good or Outstanding. Here 95% of agencies list elderly care, compared with 91% across Kent.
Typical prices in the South East: 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
Personal care such as washing and dressing, plus meals, medicines and help getting around, as well as company and an eye on health: that is care for older people. Because nearly every provider is registered for it, compare them instead on staffing, continuity and how well care is shaped around the person.
Questions to ask agencies 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 Kent. Jargon explained: Personal care.
Elderly care around Canterbury
| Place | How far | Agencies | Rated Good or Outstanding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canterbury | – | 39 | 19 |
| Whitstable | 5.5 mi | 13 | 10 |
| Herne Bay | 6.5 mi | 17 | 12 |
| Faversham | 8.8 mi | 7 | 6 |
| Sandwich | 11.1 mi | 7 | 3 |
| Ashford | 13.4 mi | 27 | 9 |
| Dover | 13.5 mi | 11 | 8 |
Your council
Kent
Kent council assesses care needs free of charge regardless of savings, and may contribute when savings are below £23,250.
Free · by email
Free care cost report for Canterbury
- 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
What families want to know about elderly care in Canterbury
Which home care agencies in Canterbury offer elderly care?
39 of the 26 CQC-registered agencies that have an office within 7 miles of Canterbury list elderly care as a specialism (CQC register, Oct 2026). Highly rated options include Great Prospects Care Ltd, Respect 4Care Ltd and L'Arche Kent.
How does CQC rate home care agencies in Canterbury?
19 (95%) are rated Good or Outstanding, out of 20 with a rating, while 1 is rated below Good. 19 are awaiting a first rating, as is usual for new registrations.
What does home care cost in Canterbury?
Prices typically seen across England in 2026: visiting care around £32–£34 an hour; live-in care around £1,540–£1,610 a week. The gap between agencies is bigger than the gap between regions. Ask for prices in writing, and check what weekends and bank holidays cost. According to the Homecare Association, councils across England should pay no less than £34.42 an hour for home care in 2026/27 if it is to be sustainable. Source: Lottie Care Index, Q3 2026. Our cost guide has more detail.
Does Kent council fund home care?
Possibly. Under the Care Act 2014, Kent council has a duty to assess, free of charge, anyone who seems to need care and support. After a means test, the council may pay towards care when savings and investments total less than £23,250, depending on income; your home's value is ignored for care at home. Attendance Allowance does not depend on savings or income. Contacting Kent council.
How do I choose between agencies in Canterbury?
Read the most recent CQC report and check its date. Here, 2 of 39 were inspected or rated within the last two years, while 18 have older reports. Before signing, ask about staff continuity, how they handle missed visits and the full price. Our checklist.
Are there more elderly care in towns near Canterbury?
In Canterbury there are 26, 8 rated Good or Outstanding. The closest towns on our site are Whitstable (5.5 miles): 13, 10 rated Good or Outstanding; Herne Bay (6.5 miles): 17, 12 rated Good or Outstanding; Faversham (8.8 miles): 7, 6 rated Good or Outstanding.
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Nearby: elderly care around Canterbury
- Elderly care in Whitstable 5.5 mi
- Elderly care in Herne Bay 6.5 mi
- Elderly care in Faversham 8.8 mi
- Elderly care in Sandwich 11.1 mi
- Elderly care in Ashford 13.4 mi
- Elderly care in Dover 13.5 mi
- Elderly care in Folkestone 13.9 mi
- Elderly care in Deal 14.2 mi
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Source for provider details: CQC, Oct 2026 (Open Government Licence v3.0). The Care Panel is a comparison site, not a care company.