Care home costs 2026: How much do you pay? (Easy Read)

This page is an easy read version of Care home costs: How much do you pay in 2026?. It simplifies the explanation of costs, who pays, council help, and shows examples.

What this page is about

This easy read page explains:

• How much care homes cost in 2026
• Who pays for care
• What help you might get from the council
• Simple examples using real numbers

How much do care homes cost (easy read)?

Care home fees are usually paid per week.

Average costs (approximate)

Type of care	Cost per week	Per year
Residential care home (no nursing)	£1,298	£67,496
Nursing home (with medical care)	£1,535	£79,820
Dementia care	Often £100–£300 more than standard care	Varies

These figures are examples to help you understand costs. Real fees vary by location and needs.

What this means

Even a short stay can be expensive.

• 6 months in a care home at £1,298 per week = £31,152
• 1 year in a nursing home at £1,535 per week = £79,820

Why prices are different

Care home prices can change depending on:

• Where the care home is (London and the South East usually cost more)
• The level of care needed
• The size and type of room

Two people in different parts of the UK may pay very different amounts for similar care.

Who pays for care home fees?

There are two main ways care is paid for:

1. You pay for yourself (self-funding)

This usually happens if you have more than £23,250 in savings or assets (in England).

2. The council helps pay

If your savings are lower, the council may help with costs.

The council decides this using a financial assessment.

Savings limits (England, 2026)

The council looks at how much money and savings you have.

Your savings	What usually happens
Over £23,250	You usually pay all care home fees yourself.
£14,250 to £23,250	You pay some of the cost. The council helps with the rest.
Under £14,250	The council pays most of the fees. You still pay a small weekly amount from income.

Different rules apply in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Example: how savings affect what you pay

Example 1

Savings: £30,000

Care home cost: £1,298 per week

You would usually pay the full £1,298 per week.

Example 2

Savings: £18,000

Care home cost: £1,298 per week

You pay part. The council pays part.

What about your home?

Your home is sometimes counted as part of your money.

Your home is not counted if:

• Your partner still lives there
• A close family member over 60 lives there
• A disabled relative lives there

If the home is counted, there are still options.

Ways people pay for care

Selling the home

The money from selling the house is used to pay care fees.

Renting out the home

Renting may bring in £800–£1,500 per month, depending on the area.

This income can help pay care costs.

Deferred Payment Scheme

The council pays the care home first.

The money is repaid later, often when the home is sold.

This can help avoid selling the home straight away.

Is there a limit on how much you have to pay?

At the moment:

• There is no lifetime cap on care home fees in England
• People can spend £100,000 or more over several years

Plans to introduce a cap were cancelled.

Benefits you may still get

Even if you pay for care yourself, you may still get help.

Attendance Allowance

• Up to £110.40 per week in 2026
• Paid to help with personal care needs
• Stops if the council starts paying for care

NHS Nursing Care Contribution

• England – From £254.60 per week
• Scotland – £111.90 per week for nursing care and/or £248.70 for personal care
• Wales –  £201.74 per week
• Northern Ireland – £100 per week
• Paid if you need nursing care
• Paid directly to the care home

Important things to check

Before choosing a care home:

• Ask what is included in the weekly fee
• Ask if things like hairdressing or trips cost extra
• Get all costs in writing

NOTE: This is an Easy Read version for information only.

If you need more help and want to talk to someone you can call our care help team for free. They can find out your specific needs and support you in choosing a care home that matches your requirements.