Types of Care Homes Explained (2026)

"Care home" isn't one thing. It covers residential homes, nursing homes, specialist dementia units and short-stay respite beds — and it's often confused with housing-with-support, which is a different arrangement altogether. Knowing which type you actually need saves time and stops you visiting the wrong homes.

What are the main types of care home?

Most care homes in England fall into one of four categories, based on the level of care they're registered by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to provide.

Residential care

Support with everyday living — washing, dressing, meals, medication and mobility — from care staff who are not nurses. This suits someone who can no longer manage safely at home but doesn't have complex medical or nursing needs.

Nursing care

Everything residential care offers, plus registered nurses on duty around the clock. Nursing homes suit people with ongoing medical needs: conditions requiring regular monitoring, wound care, tube feeding, or complex medication regimes. If nursing needs are assessed as substantial, the NHS may fund some or all of the nursing element through NHS Continuing Healthcare, or a smaller NHS-funded nursing care contribution — worth checking via your GP or the discharge team if this applies.

Dementia care (sometimes called "EMI")

Dementia care isn't a separate tier so much as a specialism layered on top of residential or nursing care. Homes registered for dementia care have staff trained in dementia support, secure and dementia-friendly layouts, and activities designed around cognitive needs. "EMI" — Elderly Mentally Infirm — is an older term you'll still see used, particularly in older CQC registrations and some care directories. See Alzheimer's Society — about dementia for more on how needs change over time.

Respite care

A short, planned stay — anywhere from a few days to a few weeks — used to give a regular carer a break, to trial a home before committing long-term, or to support recovery after a hospital stay. Respite beds exist within residential and nursing homes, so the same distinctions above apply.

How much do different types of care home cost?

As a rule, nursing care and dementia nursing care cost more than standard residential care, because of the registered nurses and higher staffing ratios involved. Beyond that, fees vary a great deal by region, by individual home, and by the level of need — so a single national average isn't a reliable guide to what you'll pay locally. Use the AskBart directory to see guide prices for homes in your area, and see MoneyHelper for independent guidance on budgeting for care and what a local-authority financial assessment (means test) involves.

What's the difference between a care home and housing with support?

If a lot of daily care isn't needed yet, housing-with-support — sometimes called extra-care housing, assisted living or a retirement village — can be a better fit than a care home.

AskBart lists both care homes and retirement-living options, so you can compare the two side by side before deciding.

How do I match the right type of care to someone's needs?

Needs often progress in stages, so it helps to think a step ahead rather than choosing only for today:

1. Independent — retirement or sheltered housing, with some communal support on hand.
2. Some help needed — extra-care housing or standard residential care.
3. Nursing needs — a nursing home, for ongoing medical or clinical care.
4. Dementia — specialist dementia care, within a residential or nursing setting depending on other needs.

What should I check about a home's CQC rating and specialism?

Every care home in England is inspected and rated by the Care Quality Commission: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement or Inadequate. The rating tells you about quality of care generally, but it's also worth checking the home's registration details for what it's actually registered to provide — residential, nursing, dementia care, or a combination — since not every "Good" home offers every type of care.

How is care home cost worked out and paid for?

Most people either pay for their own care (self-funding) or have some or all of it met by the local authority, depending on a financial assessment (means test) of savings, income and property. In England, capital thresholds determine how much support you get — these figures are reviewed periodically, so check the current amounts on GOV.UK or with your council rather than relying on an old figure. Other things worth knowing about early:

• NHS Continuing Healthcare — full NHS funding for people with significant, ongoing health needs, assessed via the NHS rather than the council.
• Deferred payment agreements — let you delay paying care home fees using the value of your home, so you're not forced to sell it immediately.
• Third-party top-ups — where family members pay the difference if a chosen home costs more than the council will fund.
• Pension Credit — worth checking eligibility for via GOV.UK, as it can affect the wider benefits picture.
• Lasting power of attorney — arrange this, via GOV.UK, before capacity becomes an issue, so someone trusted can manage finances or health decisions if needed.

For a plain-English walkthrough of the whole system, see the NHS social care and support guide or Age UK.