How to arrange a care home for an elderly person in the UK
Arranging a care home place is one of the biggest decisions a family makes, usually at a stressful moment. This guide walks through the process step by step — assessments, choosing a home, who pays what — and covers the alternatives that might let someone stay where they are.
The process, step by step
1. Ask for a care needs assessment
Contact the adult social services department of the local council (or the HSE in Ireland) and ask for a care needs assessment. It's free, and the council must carry one out for anyone who appears to need care. The person being cared for can have someone with them, and if they lack capacity, a family member or advocate can be involved.
2. Ask for a financial assessment
The council will also do a financial assessment (means test) to work out who pays. Savings and income above the upper capital limit usually mean you pay the full cost; below it, the council contributes. If a move into a care home is likely, ask about a 12-week property disregard and deferred payment agreements before making any rushed decisions about selling a house.
3. Work out the right setting
The assessment should state what kind of care is needed: residential care (help with personal care), nursing care (ongoing medical needs) or specialist dementia care. Note that if the primary need is nursing, NHS Continuing Healthcare may fund the whole placement — always ask to be screened for it, as it is frequently missed.
4. Shortlist and visit homes
In England, check the CQC's latest inspection report for each home; Scotland uses the Care Inspectorate, Wales CIW and Northern Ireland RQIA. Visit at least two or three, ideally unannounced and at meal times. Ask about staff turnover, who the GP is, how families are kept informed, and what a typical day looks like.
5. Agree the contract before moving in
Get the fees in writing, including what's included and what costs extra. Check the notice period for leaving, whether the fee can be raised mid-stay, and who to contact about concerns. If the council is funding, they will confirm the rate they'll pay and any top-up you've agreed to.
Who pays for a care home?
In England, anyone with savings and assets over £23,250 normally pays the full cost of residential care; between the lower and upper limits the council contributes a sliding amount. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland set their own limits — Wales in particular caps the amount you pay for residential care. Attendance Allowance, pensions and other income usually count towards the fees too.
Three things families often miss: the value of the family home is ignored while a spouse or certain relatives still live there; a 12-week property disregard can delay any sale; and NHS Continuing Healthcare — not means-tested at all — should fund the placement when the primary need is nursing. Ask to be screened for it in writing if you think it might apply.
Whichever way it's funded, ask each shortlisted home for a written breakdown of fees and extras. Prices vary enormously between homes a few miles apart, and the cheapest headline rate is rarely the final bill.
Before you decide: is a care home the only option?
A care home is the right answer when needs are constant, nights are unsafe, or the family carer can no longer cope. But many moves happen before that point because families don't know what support at home looks like. It's worth comparing the options on real figures — and care at home often costs less than people expect.
Care at home (domiciliary care)
Visiting carers come to the house for personal care, medication, meals and company — from a half-hour call to several hours a day. Usually the right answer when someone is mostly independent but needs regular practical help.
Live-in care
A carer lives in the home and provides support throughout the day. It keeps one familiar face and one familiar home, and often costs a similar amount to a good care home when needs are high.
Respite care
Short-term cover — at home or in a residential setting — so a family carer can rest, recover or travel. Some families use a two-week respite stay in a home as a trial before deciding anything permanent.
Companionship and practical help
Non-personal support such as shopping, appointments, gardening and cleaning. It isn't regulated care, but isolation and an unmanageable house are often what tip families towards residential care — and both are solvable at home.
Our home care services guide compares these options in more detail, and private carer costs shows typical prices for care at home.
Common questions
How do I arrange a care home place for an elderly person?
Start by asking your local council for a free care needs assessment — they must assess anyone who appears to need care, regardless of income. The assessment decides whether a care home is the right setting, what kind of home is needed, and whether the council will contribute to the fees. You can then shortlist homes, visit them, and agree a start date and contract.
Do I have to sell my parents' house to pay for care?
Not immediately. If care is needed at home or in a care home, savings and assets above the upper capital limit (£23,250 in England, with different limits in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) usually mean you pay the full cost. The value of a house is ignored for the first 12 weeks and permanently if a spouse or certain relatives still live there. Deferred payment agreements can let the council delay payment until the house is eventually sold.
How much does a care home cost in the UK?
As a rough guide, residential care homes average around £1,200–£1,600 a week in England, and nursing homes more. Costs vary hugely by region and by the level of need, so ask each home for a full written breakdown, including extras such as hairdressing, activities and trips.
Can the council choose the care home?
If the council is paying towards the care, it must offer a choice of suitable homes, but you can top up the difference if you prefer a more expensive one. If you're paying the full cost yourself, you choose freely — though a needs assessment is still worth having to confirm what level of care is required.
What are the alternatives to a care home?
Depending on needs, care at home (visiting carers), live-in care where a carer stays in the house around the clock, respite care for short breaks, and extra help from family and local services can all delay or avoid a move. Many people combine options — for example, daytime carers plus a family member staying over at night.
Exploring care at home first?
Search carers near you for free by postcode — you only pay when you want one person's contact details, or take the Area Pass for everyone within 30 miles.