The AskBart journal
Advice, guides & stories for families.
Clear, jargon-free guidance on choosing care, funding it and supporting someone you love — written by our independent care experts.
What Happens When Your Savings Run Out in a Care Home? (2026)
How care funding changes as your savings fall toward £23,250 — the 12-week disregard, council rates and top-ups.
Deferred Payment Agreements: Using Your Home to Pay for Care (2026)
How a Deferred Payment Agreement lets you use your home’s value to pay for care without selling it straight away.
Local Authority Care Funding: How to Apply (2026)
A step-by-step guide to getting council help with care home fees — the needs assessment, financial assessment and your care plan.
NHS Continuing Healthcare: Could the NHS Pay for Your Care? (2026)
What NHS Continuing Healthcare is, who qualifies, how the assessment works, and how it differs from Funded Nursing Care.
How to Choose a Care Home: A Step-by-Step Guide (2026)
A calm, step-by-step way to choose the right care home — from working out the level of care needed to visiting and deciding.
Residential vs Nursing Home: What’s the Difference? (2026)
The difference between a residential care home and a nursing home, what each costs, and how to tell which one you need.
Types of Care Homes Explained (2026)
Residential, nursing, dementia and respite care — plus assisted living and retirement villages — explained in plain English.
Finding a Care Home for Couples (2026)
How to find a care home that keeps a couple together, even when they have different care needs.
The Care Home Viewing Checklist: Questions to Ask (2026)
What to ask and look for when you visit a care home — a practical checklist, plus the green and red flags that matter most.
How to Read a CQC Report (and What the Ratings Mean) (2026)
What the CQC ratings mean, the five things inspectors check, and how to use a home’s report when you’re choosing care.
Assisted Living vs a Care Home: What’s the Difference? (2026)
How assisted living (extra-care housing) differs from a care home, and which might suit your situation.
Retirement Villages Explained: Pros, Cons and Costs (2026)
What retirement villages offer, what they cost including hidden fees, and whether one might be right for you.