Guide to average nursing home costs in the UK

One of the biggest concerns for those seeking residential care with healthcare provision is the average cost of nursing homes in the UK.  

Nursing home costs vary across the UK and for some care seekers, the costs can be quite substantial. This is why it is important to research the costs so you can make an informed decision about whether it is going to be right for your circumstances.   

In this blog we will highlight everything you need to know about nursing home costs in the UK.

Factors affecting nursing home costs

There is a wide variation in nursing home costs across the UK. The cost is dependent on factors which we discuss in further detail below.

Location: Nursing homes based in London and the South East of England tend to have a much higher cost than those based in other areas of the UK. This is due to a number of factors such as demand and population density. Care homes in rural areas also tend to cost more than those in urban areas outside London.

Reputation and nursing home size: Bigger, well-known nursing homes with a good reputation might be more expensive in some cases due to their perceived value. Similarly, nursing homes that have a high OpenScore rating and strong reviews may also charge a premium. On the other hand, smaller or less well-known nursing homes may be more affordable but offer fewer amenities or services.

Amenities: Some nursing homes have additional amenities such as a cinema room, landscaped gardens, therapy suites, in-house restaurants, contemporary ensuite rooms, beauty salons and more. Many luxury care homes have these amenities, while standard care homes may have more basic rooms, shared bathrooms, and fewer activities. So, if there are any amenities which are particularly important to you, then be sure to check that the nursing homes you are considering have those amenities.

Autumna’s directory allows you to search for nursing care homes based on a range of criteria including activities, gardens, other services and much more.

Simply enter your preferred location, select the type of care home needed, and then click on 'Additional Filters', where you can find a list of amenities, features, services and more.

What are the average nursing home costs in the UK?

Nursing homes often come at a higher cost than traditional care homes because they have nurses onsite 24/7 and they typically care for residents with more complex healthcare needs.

Our data shows that nursing homes in the north of England typically cost £1150 per week, while the average weekly cost of nursing homes located in London and the South East of England is £1500.

It is important to note that the above costs are not exact and will not necessarily reflect the final price you will pay once a suitable nursing home has been found. However, having a broad idea of the expected costs will help to give you a better idea of how much you may need to budget for when moving into a home.

An easy way to estimate potential nursing home costs in the UK is to use Autumna’s directory. Just enter your desired location and hit the search button to get started.

For instance, we searched for care homes around Leeds and then applied the ‘Nursing’ filter under Care Type and clicked Search Again.

We then selected ‘Price’ and chose £1000-£1250 to search for care homes in that price range and then pressed ‘Search again’. Of course, you should select the price range that is within your budget.

The directory also has a ‘Sort results by’ button, which allows you to choose care homes based on their weekly fees.

This brought up a list of 16 care homes that were either in or around Leeds.

How to pay for nursing home costs

There are a number of options for those that are going into a nursing home. This includes local authority funding for those with less than £23,250 savings, and self-funding, where you are responsible for paying all of the fees required for your own care.

However, it is worth noting that even if you pay for your own care, you may still be able to offset some of the costs by applying for assistance from the NHS.

For example, if you are over the age of 18 and you require ongoing care that focuses on addressing and preventing health needs, you can apply for NHS Continuing Healthcare. This type of financial assistance does not require a means test.

If you do not qualify for NHS Continuing Healthcare, you may be able to apply for NHS-funded nursing care. With this type of care, the NHS will pay for the nursing services component of nursing home fees, which will reduce the cost of paying for your care. To find out more about NHS Funded Care, you will need to get in contact with your local integrated commissioning boards (ICBs) which you can find on the NHS website.

To learn more about the other options available to you when paying for care, check out our ‘Ultimate guide to self-funding care’ blog which lists several financial resources you can tap into to manage your care costs.

Looking for affordable nursing homes in the UK?

If you are looking for affordable nursing homes in the UK, Autumna’s directory can help you find what you need in minutes. For tailored help, you can also fill out a simple questionnaire and Autumna will search for suitable care homes on your behalf.

You can also speak directly to a friendly human being by calling our Advice Line on 01892 335 330.