Plan ahead and understand your rights for care, support, and later life

Care home costs in the UK average around £900–£1,200 per week for residential care and £1,100–£1,500 for nursing care, though this varies significantly by region. People with assets (including property, unless a spouse or dependent still lives there) above the upper capital limit (currently £23,250 in England) must pay for their own care. Between £14,250 and £23,250, the council contributes on a sliding scale. Below £14,250, the council pays for eligible care. The government has announced a planned £86,000 lifetime cap on eligible care costs, though the implementation timeline has been deferred.

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that allows you to appoint one or more people (attorneys) to make decisions on your behalf if you lose mental capacity. There are two types: Property and Financial Affairs LPA, and Health and Welfare LPA. You can only make an LPA while you still have mental capacity. If you lose capacity without one, your family will need to apply to the Court of Protection for a deputyship order, which is considerably more expensive and time-consuming. Making an LPA is strongly recommended as part of later life planning.

A care needs assessment is carried out by the local council and determines whether you have eligible care needs under the Care Act 2014 and what council-funded support you may receive. NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) is a separate, fully NHS-funded package for people with a complex primary health need — it is not means-tested and has no capital limits. CHC eligibility is assessed by a clinical team using the NHS Decision Support Tool. About 1 in 7 people in care homes may be eligible for CHC funding.

The council cannot force an immediate sale. If your parent moves into a care home and owns property, the council can place a legal charge on the property (a "Deferred Payment Agreement") so that the care costs are repaid when the property is eventually sold, rather than requiring an immediate sale. If a spouse, civil partner, or dependent relative still lives in the property, its value is disregarded entirely in the financial assessment.

Unpaid carers are entitled to a carer's assessment from the local council to identify their needs for support. Carers who provide at least 35 hours of care per week may be eligible for Carer's Allowance (currently £81.90 per week). Additional support may be available through carer's centres, respite care, and via Carers UK. Some employers also offer carer's leave — from April 2024, employees have a statutory right to one week of unpaid carer's leave per year.