The AskBart journal
Advice, guides & stories for families. – page 4
Clear, jargon-free guidance on choosing care, funding it and supporting someone you love — written by our independent care experts.
Extra Care Housing (Assisted Living) Explained
Extra care housing gives you your own front door with care staff on site — a genuine middle ground between independent living and a care home.
How Care Funding Differs Across the UK (2026)
Care funding is decided by each UK nation separately, so the rules — and the savings limits — change depending on where your relative lives.
Using Your Home to Pay for Care: Equity Release & the Alternatives
If the family home is the main asset, there are several ways it can pay for care besides selling it outright. Here's how each option works, and what to check first.
Finding Inclusive Care: Cultural, Religious & LGBT+ Needs
Moving into care shouldn't mean hiding who you are. Here's how to find a home that genuinely respects someone's culture, faith, language or LGBT+ identity — and the questions that reveal whether it does.
Who Pays for Care Home Fees? A Plain-English Guide (2026)
There are three ways care home fees get paid — self-funding, council funding and NHS funding — and many families use a mix. Here's how to work out which applies to you.
How to Choose a Care Home: A Step-by-Step Guide (2026)
A clear, step-by-step way to choose the right care home — from working out the level of care needed to visiting, checking CQC ratings, and signing the contract.
How Much Does a Care Home Cost in the UK? (2026)
Care home fees vary hugely by location and care type. Here's what to expect in 2026, and the funding routes that could reduce what you pay.
Benefits You Can Claim in a Care Home (2026)
Moving into a care home changes what benefits you can claim and how much they're worth. Here's what continues, what stops, and what to check first.
Residential vs Nursing Home: What’s the Difference? (2026)
Residential care and nursing care aren't the same thing, and mixing them up can lead to the wrong home or an unwelcome bill. Here's how to tell which one you or your relative actually need.
Care Home Top-Up Fees, Explained (2026)
If the council is funding a relative's care but the home they want costs more, someone may be asked for a 'top-up'. Here's when that's allowed — and when it isn't.
The Care Home Means Test, Explained (2026)
If you're asking the council to help with care home fees, a financial assessment decides how much you pay. Here's how the thresholds, property rules and tariff income actually work.
What Happens When Your Savings Run Out in a Care Home? (2026)
If you're paying for your own care and watching the balance drop, the system doesn't leave you stranded — but you need to act before your savings hit the limit, not after.