AskBart
About usGet free advice
Finding a care home

Types of Care Homes Explained (2026)

CS
Claire Saltwater24 August 2026
Types of care homes explained — residential, nursing, dementia and more, 2026.

"Care home" covers several different things. Knowing the types — and where housing-with-support fits in — helps you look in the right place from the start.

The main types of care home

  • Residential — help with everyday living.
  • Nursing — residential care plus 24/7 registered nurses.
  • Dementia (sometimes "EMI") — specialist support and a dementia-friendly environment.
  • Respite — short stays to give a carer a break or to recover after hospital.
Average weekly cost, by type of care UK self-funder averages, 2026 (£ per week) £0 £425 £850 £1,275 £1,700 £1,298 Residential £1,343 Residential (dementia) £1,535 Nursing £1,564 Nursing (dementia)
Nursing and specialist dementia care cost more because of registered nurses and higher staffing.

Care homes vs housing with support

If a lot of daily care isn't needed yet, housing-with-support may suit better than a care home:

Two different options Care homes• Full personal care provided• Meals, staff, activities included• Residential or nursing• Best for higher care needs Housing with support• Your own flat or bungalow• Sheltered / extra-care / retirement village• Care arranged as needed• Best for more independence
AskBart lists both care homes and retirement-living options.

Matching care to needs

A rough guide to matching needs 1 Independent Retirement /sheltered housing 2 Some help Extra-care orresidential 3 Nursing needs Nursing home 4 Dementia Specialist dementiacare
Needs often progress along this line — plan for a bit more than you need today.
Not sure which type fits? A free council needs assessment will point you to the right level of care before you start visiting.
💬 Ready to compare homes near you? Search the AskBart directory by area, care type and CQC rating — or ask Bart to shortlist homes for you.

Frequently asked questions

What does "EMI" mean?

"Elderly Mentally Infirm" — an older term for specialist dementia and mental-health care homes.

Is assisted living the same as a care home?

No. Assisted living (extra-care housing) gives you your own home with care on hand, rather than full residential care.

CS

Claire Saltwater

Editor · AskBart

Claire Saltwater is AskBart's Editor and a care-home industry veteran. One of AskBart's earliest team members, she has spent years working in and around social care — so she understands first-hand the difficult, often overwhelming decisions families face when choosing a care home. Claire writes and edits AskBart's advice guides with one goal: clear, genuinely independent information, free of jargon and sales pressure. Away from her desk she loves a good farmers' market and time with her two young children.

Keep reading

How to choose a care home — a step-by-step 2026 guide.
Finding a care home

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.

CSClaire Saltwater
Residential vs nursing home — the difference explained for 2026.
Finding a care home

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.

CSClaire Saltwater
Finding a care home for couples, 2026.
Finding a care home

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.

CSClaire Saltwater

Need personal guidance?

Talk to an advisor

Our care experts are here to help you make the right choice — for free.

Get in touch