Looking after mum, dad or gran
Find local care for your
mum, dad or gran
Compare care homes, domiciliary care and respite with CQC ratings explained plainly, likely costs shown in £, and NHS or local council funding routes set out without the hard sell.
Prefer to get the money side straight first? Read our UK funding guide before you start ringing round.
Why families trust us
317,000+ providers across 35 countries, backed by official data
Government data
Ratings from CMS, CQC, HAS, and national registries
Verified listings
Cross-checked with state licenses and public records
Private & safe
Your inquiries are never shared or sold to third parties
Always current
Updated daily from official sources and provider submissions
Browse by Care Type
Care close to home, from London to Glasgow
Start with the cities families search most, then widen out once you have a feel for inspection notes, availability and the likely £ involved.
How It Works
Start with the kind of help needed
Begin with care home, domiciliary care, respite or dementia support.
Read the inspection picture
See CQC ratings in England, note the wider UK regulator where relevant, and get the shape of likely costs in £.
Shortlist, then speak to providers
Ring up or message only when you are ready, then compare options calmly with the family.
CQC ratings, explained plainly
For providers in England, we surface the four inspection outcomes families usually want to understand before they book a visit.
UK trust checks, not directory fluff
We cross-reference CQC registrations, Care Inspectorate, CIW and RQIA records, local council context and provider websites so the UK route feels like proper family research, not a US page with the spelling changed.
CQC Up Front
England listings surface Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate where available, rather than hiding them in the small print.
Funding Without Guesswork
We flag where local council help, NHS Continuing Healthcare or self-funding questions should shape the shortlist.
Family Voice, Not Sales Copy
Reviews and listing notes are moderated to sound like sensible family advice, not lead-generation copy.
Typical UK costs at a glance
The fee is only part of it, but these ranges help families sense-check quotes before they commit or ask the council and NHS the right questions.
DOMICILIARY CARE
£15-£25/hour
Home care visits
Useful for help with washing, meals, medication and companionship while someone stays at home.
CARE HOME
£800-£1,200/week
Residential care fees
Check what is included, whether there is a top-up, and whether local council support could change the picture.
NURSING HOME
£1,000-£1,500/week
Nursing care fees
For people who need registered nursing as well as personal care. If the main need is medical, ask about NHS Continuing Healthcare.
We needed to sort something sensible for Mum and did not fancy being chased by half a dozen sales teams. seniorhelp.care let us compare three care homes in Manchester, see the CQC notes and rough fees, then ring only the places we actually wanted to visit.
Helen R. — daughter and family carer, Manchester
The ordinary-day questions matter as much as the brochure
Once the ratings and the £ look sensible, most families want a better feel for day-to-day life.
Would Mum feel settled here on a wet Tuesday?
Ask about routines, quiet spaces, meals and whether staff know how a resident likes things done.
Can the family drop in without it feeling awkward?
Visiting hours, location and how welcome relatives feel often matter more than polished brochures.
Does the quote still make sense after the small print?
Check top-ups, one-off fees, hairdressing, transport and extras before deciding a place feels like a fair deal.
Find care near me
Start with London, Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow, then widen the search across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Paying for care: what the system actually offers
Three funding routes worth understanding before you start ringing round. Each has its own assessment process and eligibility rules.
NHS CHC
NHS Continuing Healthcare
Fully funded care for people with a "primary health need". Free at the point of use — but the assessment is rigorous and can take weeks. Ask your GP or hospital discharge team to refer you.
Attendance Allowance
Up to £108.55/week
A non-means-tested benefit for people over State Pension age who need help with personal care. You don't need a carer to claim it — it's based on what you need, not what you get.
Council-funded care
Local authority support
If savings are below £23,250, your council may contribute. A care needs assessment and financial assessment determine how much you pay. Contact your local adult social services.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a care home and a nursing home?
A care home supports day-to-day living, personal care, meals and routine help. A nursing home also has registered nurses on site for people who need regular clinical input. seniorhelp.care keeps those two categories separate so you do not end up comparing unlike-for-like.
Why are CQC ratings such a big deal?
The Care Quality Commission inspects registered services in England and grades them Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement or Inadequate. Those inspection results are one of the quickest ways to spot risk, so we surface them early rather than burying them in the small print.
How do NHS, local authority and private funding fit together?
Many families use a mix. Some people qualify for local authority support after a care needs and financial assessment, some receive NHS Continuing Healthcare because their main need is medical, and others pay privately. We call out that mix on the UK route so you can compare options with the right budget in mind and sense-check quotes in £.
Where does respite fit in?
Respite care gives family carers a break, whether that means a few domiciliary care visits, regular day care, or a short stay in a care home. It is often the most practical starting point when you need support now but are not ready to commit to a permanent move.
Run a care service?
Claim your service on seniorhelp.care so local families can see your CQC profile, care type and contact details without the usual directory clutter.