What is a care home? Types, costs and what to expect

A care home is a registered residential service where people live and receive personal care, and in some homes nursing care, because they can no longer manage safely at home. In England every care home must be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Homes are usually described as residential (personal care) or nursing (a qualified nurse always on duty).

At a glance

• Residential homes provide a room and personal care. Nursing homes also have a qualified nurse on duty at all times.
• English care homes must be registered with CQC and are rated Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement or Inadequate.
• Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own regulators: the Care Inspectorate, CIW and RQIA.
• Age UK quotes 2025/26 English averages of £1,100 a week for a care home room and £1,447 for a nursing home room.
• A council needs assessment is the usual first step if you hope the council will help with fees.

What counts as a care home in law?

CQC registers care homes under a regulated activity called accommodation for persons who require nursing or personal care. The key idea is that the accommodation and the care come as one package. A resident cannot normally choose a different provider for their personal care while they live there.

That separates a care home from sheltered or extra care housing, where you hold a tenancy or lease and the care is arranged under a separate agreement. Our guide to care home or extra care housing explains the difference in more detail, and the care glossary defines other terms you may meet.

Homes can be run by councils, private companies, charities or housing associations. The ownership does not change the legal duties on the home, but it can affect fees, size and how profits are used.

What types of care home are there?

The main split is between residential and nursing care. Many homes also have a dementia unit, and some are registered for both residential and nursing places.

Age UK notes that homes with dementia services usually need higher staffing, which may show in fees, and that not every person living with dementia needs a specialist home. Our guides on residential or nursing home and choosing a dementia care home help you match the type to the person.

Who is a care home for?

Care homes are for adults who need regular help with daily life and whose needs can no longer be met safely or comfortably at home, even with visiting or live-in carers. Most residents are older people, though some homes specialise in younger adults, which our guide to care homes for younger adults covers.

A care home is not the only answer. Home care, extra care housing and short stays may fit better for some people, and our guides on home care versus a care home and when it is time for a care home set out the signs and the alternatives.

How are care homes regulated and inspected?

In England, anyone providing a regulated activity must be registered with CQC, and running one without registration is an offence. CQC can attach conditions to a registration and checks compliance at each location. A care home also needs a registered manager in day-to-day charge, which our guide on what a care home manager does explains.

Homes are rated Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement or Inadequate and must display their latest rating. The guide to reading a CQC inspection report shows how to look past the headline rating.

Each nation has its own grading and inspection style. See Care Inspectorate grades, CIW ratings and RQIA inspections.

How much does a care home cost?

Age UK’s July 2026 factsheet quotes average weekly costs in England for 2025/26 of £1,100 for a care home room and £1,447 for a nursing home room, with large regional differences. Treat these as typical figures, not quotes. What you actually pay depends on the area, the room, the level of need and the home.

In England, councils generally help to pay if savings and investments are under £23,250. The value of your home may be considered if you move into a care home, so get advice before selling or letting it. People with a nursing home place may also receive NHS-funded nursing care towards the nursing element, and a few people qualify for NHS continuing healthcare. Our care home fees explained and how much a care home costs guides break this down, and the care cost calculator gives a personal estimate.

Scotland works differently. From 1 April 2026 the Scottish payments towards care home fees are £260.30 a week for personal care and £117.10 a week for nursing care, once a care needs assessment shows they are needed. See paying for care in Scotland.

What should a care home tell you before you decide?

Before you commit, a care home should be able to tell you which care needs it caters for, what facilities and services it offers, an indication of weekly fees, any upfront payments, and its most recent CQC rating. Ask for the contract in advance and read it carefully.

• Visit more than once, at different times of day, using our list of questions to ask when visiting a care home.
• Follow the steps in how to choose a care home and compare homes side by side on our compare page.
• When you have chosen, use the moving-in checklist and the guide on what to pack.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a care home and a nursing home?

A care home (residential home) provides accommodation and personal care. A nursing home provides the same plus a qualified nurse on duty at all times, so it can meet ongoing medical needs. Some homes are registered for both types of place.

Is a care home the same as a retirement home?

No. A retirement or sheltered housing scheme usually gives you your own tenancy or lease, with optional support. A care home provides accommodation and care together as a single package and is regulated as a care service.

Who regulates care homes in the UK?

CQC regulates care homes in England, the Care Inspectorate in Scotland, Care Inspectorate Wales in Wales and the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority in Northern Ireland. Each publishes inspection reports you can read before choosing a home.

Can someone stay in a care home for a short time?

Yes. Many homes offer short stays for respite or recovery, and some accept planned bookings in advance. Short stays can also work as a trial before a permanent move. See our guides to respite stays and the care home trial period.

Do I need a care needs assessment before moving in?

You can arrange and pay for a place privately without one. If you want the council to arrange or help pay for care, you first need a care needs assessment from the local authority. Self-funders can also ask for one.

Where to get help next

Start with the funding checker to see what help may be available, then search homes near you with Find care. If a stay is only needed for a short time, read about respite stays in care homes and the care home trial period.

Sources

• CQC: Scope of registration, accommodation for persons who require nursing or personal care
• CQC: What is registration?
• NHS: Care homes and nursing homes
• Age UK: Factsheet 29, Finding, choosing and funding a care home
• mygov.scot: Costs of personal and nursing care

Reviewed by The Care Panel team on 9 November 2026. This guide is general information about care in England, not legal, medical or financial advice. Rules and rates change; check with your council or an adviser before making decisions.