We use cookies to allow us and selected partners to improve your experience and our advertising. By continuing to browse you consent to our use of cookies. You can understand more and change your cookies preferences here.

Later Life Care

Use our simple tool to find out how much care might cost and what financial support is available.

Care homes and support at home near you

Use our directory to find local care homes, home care agencies and carer support services across the UK.

Which? Wills

From writing your will, to setting up your Power of Attorney, Which? is here to help you make important decisions for your future.

Financing care

Care home finance

We explain all you need to know about how to pay for a care home. This covers the wide range of care home fees, how to get local authority funding and tips on how to cover the costs if you’re self-funding.

Paying for a care home

4 min read

We explain options for paying for a care home, from local authority support and NHS Continuing Healthcare to paying the costs yourself.

Care home fees

8 min read

Find out how fees vary across the UK. There are also differences depending on your care needs and the type of care home you are looking for.

Self-funding a care home

9 min read

We explain how to cover the costs of a care home if you're a self-funder, what happens if your money runs out and where to get financial advice.

Local authority funding for a care home

10 min read

Government funding might be available to help pay for a care home – we explain the means test thresholds and other rules.

Deferred payment agreements

8 min read

A ‘deferred payment agreement’ is a long-term loan that can be requested from the council to help you pay your care home fees.

Care home top-up fees

6 min read

A top-up fee can enable someone to live in the best care home for their needs, even if the local authority is not willing to meet the full cost of the chosen home.

The 12-week property disregard

3 min read

In certain circumstances, your local authority may give you 12 weeks of breathing space to decide whether to sell your home to pay care home fees.

Paying for care in later life: a free guide from Which?

2 min read

Download our free guide to paying for care in later life. The guide covers the main care options, how much they cost and how to apply for financial support.

Real-life stories

Andrew's story

58 | ABINGDON

Read Andrew’s story about finding the perfect care home for his mother and how he learnt about the different funding options.

Pamela's story

63 | LONDON

When Pamela’s mother needed to move to a care home, the main priority was finding a home that she would be happy in.

See more real-life stories