What does a care home provide?
Care homes offer services such as laundry and meals and help with personal care. Some homes offer short-term or respite stays but normally they provide more long-term or permanent care. This can be for older people, people with dementia, people with disabilities and people with mental health problems.
Someone may need to move to a care home that also provides nursing care if their illness or disability means they need regular nursing care and this cannot be given in their own home.
Do you have to pay to live in a care home?
When we arrange a place in a home for you, we will do a detailed financial assessment of your income or capital. This will be used to work out how much you should pay towards the cost of your care.
You may be able to claim extra allowances or benefits. We will offer you benefits advice to help you claim all the benefits that you are entitled to.
If you have to move to a care home because your main need is for healthcare (rather than personal or social care) then you will qualify for help under the rules about 'continuing NHS healthcare'. This means that the NHS will pay for your care. Find find out about NHS continuing healthcare.
Find out more about paying for residential care.