The decision most families make too early

For a few hours a day, by a long way. For round-the-clock care, live-in care for one person is typically £1,120 a week against about £1,160 for a care home (range £1,100–£1,600+), so about the same, but one-to-one. For a couple it is £1,350 at home against about £2,320 for two places. The comparison in full.

When the person wants company all day and a home can provide it, when nursing needs go beyond what district nurses can cover at home, when the house is unsafe and cannot be adapted, or when they have said clearly that they would rather move. The signs either way.

Not for care at home: the home is disregarded in the means test while the person lives in it. For a care home it is counted after twelve weeks unless a partner or dependent relative still lives there. How care is funded.

A nursing home has registered nurses on site and charges more; a residential care home provides personal care and daily support. Many people who are told they need a nursing home can have the same nursing at home from the district nurse team, with carers doing the rest. Nursing home vs care home.

Usually better than a move can, because familiar surroundings and one consistent carer slow the confusion. Late-stage dementia at home means live-in care, sometimes with a waking-night carer as well. Dementia care at home.

This is where home wins by the widest margin. A live-in carer looks after both for one rate, the partner stays in their own bed, and the house stays out of the means test. A care home separates them and charges a full fee for one place. Live-in care for couples.

Yes, and most families should. Start with visits, add nights, move to live-in if needed. Our standard contract asks for 48 hours’ notice to end hourly care and 7 days for live-in, so nothing is locked in. If a care home turns out to be right, you will choose it knowing what the alternative was.

Not if they have the capacity to decide for themselves, even if the family disagrees. If capacity is in doubt, the decision is made in their best interests under the Mental Capacity Act, and staying at home with support is often what that means. Can someone be forced into care?

Use the calculator with your hours, then search your postcode to see what carers near you charge. For care homes, The Care Home Directory lists fees by area. Care cost calculator and the cost of care.

For some families, and it changes the sums: care at home in your home, with hourly or live-in support. Granny annexes and living with elderly parents.