Elderly and social care in the UK
Social care covers a range of support: residential care homes, nursing homes (with registered nurses on site), home care (domiciliary care delivered in your own home), dementia care, supported living and day care. In England, almost all of these services must be registered with the Care Quality Commission, which inspects and rates them. Because this is care for vulnerable people, we treat the CQC rating as essential context on every listing.
Why the CQC rating matters here
For care homes and home-care agencies, CQC registration is a legal requirement — a provider operating without it is a serious red flag. The rating (Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement or Inadequate) reflects how safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led the service was at its last inspection. Always read the linked CQC report, not just the headline rating, and visit in person where you can.
Paying for care
How care is paid for depends on your circumstances and savings. Your local council can carry out a needs assessment and a financial assessment to determine what support you may be entitled to. Some people fund their own care. Rules and thresholds change, so check the latest guidance on GOV.UK or speak to your local authority's adult social care team.
Choosing a provider
Consider the CQC rating and report, the specialisms a home offers (for example dementia or nursing care), location for family visits, and your own assessment on a visit. This page is general information, not advice about an individual's care needs — for that, speak to your local authority or a qualified adviser.
Last updated: 2026-07-22