Questions answered
Nursing homes: 39 questions answered
How nursing homes differ from residential homes, what nurses do, NHS-funded nursing care, costs and staffing.
Reviewed by The Care Panel editorial team on 22 October 2026. How we check our information.
What it means
What is the difference between a residential care home and a nursing home?
The main difference is that a nursing home has registered nurses on duty 24 hours a day to provide medical care, while a residential care home provides personal care without on-site nursing. Full answer: Residential or nursing home: which does mum need? →
What do nurses do in a nursing home?
Nurses in a nursing home assess residents' health, give and manage medication, care for wounds and pressure sores, manage catheters, feeding tubes and injections, monitor long-term conditions and spot deterioration. They write and review nursing care plans, liaise with GPs and hospitals, and oversee care assistants. They also lead end-of-life care, including symptom control and supporting families.
Source: NHS
Is there a legal nurse-to-resident ratio in nursing homes?
No. There is no legal nurse-to-resident or carer-to-resident ratio for nursing homes in England. Regulation 18 requires the provider to deploy sufficient numbers of suitably qualified, competent and experienced staff, usually set using a dependency tool that considers residents' needs. Ask each home how many nurses and carers are on each shift, especially at night.
Source: legislation.gov.uk
See also: Care home staffing levels: is there a legal minimum?
What is an advance care plan in a nursing home?
An advance care plan records a resident's wishes about future care, such as where they would like to be cared for at the end of life, treatments they would or would not want, and what matters to them. Nursing homes should offer to discuss one when someone moves in or their health changes. It can sit alongside a legally binding advance decision to refuse treatment.
Source: NHS
What is an EMI nursing home?
EMI stands for elderly mentally infirm, an older term still used for care homes that specialise in dementia and other mental health needs in older people. An EMI nursing home has registered nurses, often including mental health nurses, as well as staff trained to support distressed behaviour. The CQC does not use the term; look for dementia or mental health among a home's specialisms.
Source: Alzheimer's Society
See also: Choosing a dementia care home: what good looks like
Is a nursing home better than dementia care at home?
It depends on the person's needs, safety and the support available. Care at home keeps someone in familiar surroundings and suits earlier stages, often with home care or live-in care. A nursing home becomes the better option when dementia brings complex health needs, round-the-clock supervision or nursing tasks that home carers cannot provide, or when family carers can no longer cope.
Source: Alzheimer's Society
Help with paying
What is NHS-funded nursing care?
NHS-funded nursing care (FNC) is a weekly payment made by the NHS directly to a nursing home to cover the cost of care from registered nurses for an eligible resident. Full answer: NHS-funded nursing care vs Continuing Healthcare →
Who is eligible for NHS-funded nursing care?
You are eligible for NHS-funded nursing care if you live in a care home registered to provide nursing, need care from a registered nurse, and do not qualify for NHS continuing healthcare. Eligibility is usually decided after the NHS considers continuing healthcare, often using the Checklist. It applies to self-funders and council-funded residents alike, regardless of income or savings.
How much is NHS-funded nursing care per week?
NHS-funded nursing care is paid at a standard weekly rate that the government sets each April for England, and it is paid directly to the nursing home. The rate rose for 2026/27. It is the same for every eligible resident regardless of their needs or the home's fees. Check the current figure on GOV.UK or the NHS website, as it changes each year.
Source: NHS
Is NHS-funded nursing care means-tested?
No. NHS-funded nursing care is not means-tested, so it is paid for eligible nursing home residents whatever their income, savings or property. It is part of free NHS care. Self-funders benefit directly because the payment should reduce what they pay the home, while for council-funded residents it covers the nursing element alongside the council's contribution.
Source: NHS
Does NHS-funded nursing care reduce my nursing home fees?
It should. The NHS pays the funded nursing care contribution directly to the home, and for a self-funder the weekly fee should either be reduced by that amount or the contract should clearly show how the payment is treated. Ask the home to confirm in writing whether its quoted fee is before or after the NHS contribution, so you are not paying twice for nursing care.
What is the difference between NHS-funded nursing care and continuing healthcare?
NHS continuing healthcare pays the full cost of care, including accommodation and personal care, for people whose main need is a health need. NHS-funded nursing care is a smaller weekly payment covering only the registered nurse element in a nursing home. Neither is means-tested. People are considered for continuing healthcare first, and if not eligible, for funded nursing care.
Source: NHS
How do you apply for continuing healthcare for someone in a nursing home?
Ask the nursing home, GP or social worker to complete the NHS continuing healthcare Checklist. If the Checklist shows possible eligibility, the local integrated care board arranges a full assessment by a multidisciplinary team using the Decision Support Tool. People who are rapidly deteriorating towards the end of life can be referred through the Fast Track route instead, which is decided much faster.
How much does NHS continuing healthcare pay for a nursing home?
NHS continuing healthcare pays the full cost of an eligible person's nursing home care, including accommodation, meals, personal care and nursing, with no means test. The integrated care board usually agrees a fee with the home directly. It may only fund homes at a rate it considers reasonable, so if the chosen home is more expensive, it may suggest an alternative.
Can a nursing home charge a top-up if continuing healthcare is paying?
Generally no. Under NHS continuing healthcare, the NHS pays for the full package of care and the home should not charge the resident a top-up for that care. However, residents can pay privately for genuine extras not part of the assessed care, such as a larger room or hairdressing, if agreed separately. Families should not be pressured to pay towards assessed needs.
Source: GOV.UK
See also: Funding complex care: CHC and personal health budgets
What is Fast Track continuing healthcare for nursing home residents?
Fast Track is a quick route to NHS continuing healthcare for people with a rapidly deteriorating condition who may be entering a terminal phase. An appropriate clinician, such as a GP or nurse, completes the Fast Track Pathway Tool, and the integrated care board should arrange funding without waiting for a full assessment. It pays all nursing home fees, not means-tested.
Source: NHS
See also: Fast Track Continuing Healthcare for end-of-life care
Is a short nursing home stay after hospital free?
It can be. If the stay is NHS intermediate care or a rehabilitation placement arranged on discharge, it is free for up to six weeks in England. After that, or if the placement becomes long-term, normal charging rules apply, unless the person qualifies for NHS continuing healthcare. Ask the discharge team in writing how the placement is funded and when charges would start.
Source: NHS
Prices and charges
How much does a nursing home cost in England?
A typical nursing home costs about £1,690 a week in England, according to The Care Panel's Q4 2026 Index, roughly £87,900 a year. Dementia nursing adds about £30 a week on average. London is the most expensive region and the North East the least. Many residents receive NHS-funded nursing care, a weekly payment towards the nursing element of the fee.
Why are nursing homes more expensive than residential homes?
Nursing homes cost more mainly because they must employ registered nurses around the clock, who are paid more than care assistants and are in short supply. They also need more clinical equipment, such as specialist beds, hoists and pressure-relieving mattresses, and support residents with higher physical needs. The Care Panel's figures show nursing care averages about £240 a week more than residential care.
Source: The Care Panel
Does dementia nursing care cost more than general nursing care?
Slightly, on average. The Care Panel's Q4 2026 Index shows dementia nursing care adds about £30 a week to a typical nursing home fee of £1,690 in England. Individual homes may charge considerably more where a resident needs one-to-one supervision or has complex behaviour. NHS-funded nursing care or continuing healthcare may contribute, depending on the person's assessed needs.
Source: The Care Panel
How it works in practice
How do I know if someone needs a nursing home rather than a residential home?
Someone usually needs a nursing home if they have health needs that require a registered nurse regularly, day or night. Examples include complex wounds, PEG feeding, unstable conditions needing frequent monitoring, advanced Parkinson's or dementia with high physical needs, or end-of-life care. A care needs assessment, along with input from the GP or hospital team, helps decide which type is right.
Source: NHS
Can a hospice team help someone in a nursing home?
Yes. Many hospices in England have community palliative care teams that visit nursing homes to advise on symptom control, emotional support and care planning, working alongside the home's nurses and GP. Some offer training to care home staff. Referral is usually made through the GP or the nursing home. Hospice support is free.
Source: Marie Curie
Can a nursing home look after someone with a PEG feeding tube?
Yes, most nursing homes can care for residents with a PEG or other feeding tube, because registered nurses can manage feeds, flush tubes, give medicines through them and look after the stoma site. Residential homes often cannot unless staff are specifically trained and supported by community nurses. Ask the home how many tube-fed residents it supports and how dietitian input is arranged.
Source: NHS
How do I check the quality of a nursing home?
Check the home's CQC rating and latest inspection report, paying attention to the safe and effective key questions, which cover medicines, falls and clinical care. On a visit, ask how many nurses are on duty day and night, how often agency nurses are used, and how pressure sores, infections and weight loss are monitored. Ask how the home works with GPs and hospices.
Source: CQC
Can a nursing home ask a resident to leave if their needs increase?
It can, if it genuinely cannot meet the resident's needs safely, but it must follow the contract, consult the resident and family, consider reasonable adjustments and give proper notice. Nursing homes can usually cope with much higher needs than residential homes, so this is less common. For council-funded residents, the council should reassess and arrange a suitable alternative.
Can I book respite care in a nursing home?
Yes, many nursing homes offer short respite stays for people with nursing needs, giving family carers a break or covering a period of recovery. Book early, because nursing respite beds are limited. The stay is usually charged at the weekly nursing rate. If the council arranges it after a carer's or needs assessment, it applies its own charging rules for short stays.
Source: NHS
See also: Respite stays in care homes: how to book and what they cost
Other questions
Does a nursing home have to have a nurse on duty all the time?
Yes. A care home registered to provide nursing care in England must have a registered nurse on duty at all times, day and night. This is what separates it from a residential care home. The number of nurses is not fixed by law; the home must have sufficient suitably qualified staff to meet residents' needs, and the CQC checks this at inspection.
Source: legislation.gov.uk
See also: Care home staffing levels: is there a legal minimum?
Do nursing homes provide end-of-life care?
Yes, end-of-life care is a core part of nursing home work, and many people in England spend their final weeks in one. Registered nurses manage symptoms such as pain and breathlessness, give medicines including through syringe drivers, and provide comfort care. Good homes involve families, follow advance care plans and can call on GPs and local hospice teams for specialist support.
Source: Marie Curie
Can someone die in their nursing home rather than going to hospital?
Yes. Many people prefer to die in the nursing home that has become their home, and most nursing homes can support this. Recording the wish in an advance care plan, and discussing a do not attempt CPR decision with the GP, helps avoid unwanted hospital admissions. Anticipatory medicines can be prescribed in advance so nurses can control symptoms quickly.
Source: Marie Curie
See also: Palliative vs End-of-Life Care: Understanding the Difference
Do nursing homes look after people with dementia?
Yes, many nursing homes are registered to care for people with dementia, often called dementia nursing or EMI nursing homes. They suit people whose dementia comes with significant physical health needs, such as immobility, swallowing problems or frequent infections. Check that dementia is listed among the home's specialisms on its CQC registration and ask about staff dementia training.
Source: Alzheimer's Society
See also: Choosing a dementia care home: what good looks like
What medical care can a nursing home provide?
Nursing homes can provide wound and pressure sore care, catheter and stoma care, injections including insulin, oxygen therapy, PEG feeding, syringe drivers for end-of-life care, and monitoring of conditions such as diabetes, heart failure or Parkinson's. They cannot provide hospital-level treatment such as intravenous drugs in most cases, and rely on GPs and hospital teams for diagnosis and specialist input.
Source: NHS
Do nursing homes have their own doctors?
Usually not. Nursing homes in England are staffed by registered nurses and care staff, while medical care comes from local GP practices. Under NHS arrangements, many homes are linked to a named GP practice that provides regular visits or weekly ward rounds and reviews residents' medication. Out of hours, nurses contact NHS 111 or emergency services when needed.
Source: NHS
Do nursing home residents get physiotherapy?
Some do. Nursing homes do not always employ physiotherapists, but residents can be referred to NHS community physiotherapy or occupational therapy through the GP. Some homes buy in private therapy sessions or offer group exercise classes. Residents admitted for short-term rehabilitation after a hospital stay often receive therapy as part of free NHS intermediate care.
Source: NHS
Can someone go straight from hospital to a nursing home?
Yes. Hospital discharge teams often arrange a move straight to a nursing home when someone cannot safely return home. This may be a short-term placement for rehabilitation or assessment, or a permanent place. Assessments for long-term needs and funding, including NHS continuing healthcare, are often carried out after discharge rather than in hospital. Families should be involved in choosing the home.
Source: NHS
See also: Recovering at Home After Hospital: How Reablement Works
Who provides equipment such as pressure mattresses in a nursing home?
Nursing homes are expected to provide standard equipment needed for the care they are registered to give, such as profiling beds, hoists and pressure-relieving mattresses. Specialist items for an individual, such as bespoke wheelchairs, may come from NHS services. Residents should not normally be charged for equipment the home needs to meet assessed nursing needs. Check the contract for details.
Source: CQC
Why is it harder to find a nursing home place than a residential place?
Nursing places are often harder to find because there are fewer nursing homes than residential homes and a national shortage of registered nurses. Some homes have deregistered their nursing beds because they could not recruit nurses. Demand for nursing and dementia nursing beds is rising as people move into care later with more complex needs, so availability varies sharply by area.
Source: The Care Panel
See also: Where it's hardest to find a care home bed in England
What staff work in a nursing home?
A nursing home is run by a CQC-registered manager and employs registered nurses, sometimes nursing associates, senior carers and care assistants who give most hands-on personal care. Homes also employ catering, housekeeping, laundry, maintenance and activities staff. Clinical leads or deputy managers usually oversee nursing standards, and some larger homes employ their own physiotherapists or therapists.
Source: Skills for Care
See also: Care home staffing levels: is there a legal minimum?
Can someone stay in a residential home if they start needing nursing care?
Sometimes. Residents of residential homes can receive nursing care from NHS district or community nurses, so a short-term or limited nursing need does not always require a move. If needs become ongoing and complex, such as 24-hour nursing supervision, a move to a nursing home may be necessary. Choosing a home registered for both residential and nursing care can avoid a move later.
Source: NHS
Are nursing homes inspected differently from residential care homes?
Nursing homes and residential homes are both inspected by the CQC using the same five key questions and four ratings. Inspectors also look at clinical issues in nursing homes, such as nurse staffing, medicines, wound care and how deterioration is recognised. There is no fixed timetable; inspections are risk-based, so the date of the last rating varies widely.
Source: CQC
Data: CQC register, Oct 2026, used under the Open Government Licence v3.0. We are an independent directory and do not provide care.