- Introduction
- Staying independent and reablement
- Residential and nursing homes
- Extra care housing
- Supported independent living schemes
There are 2 main types of care homes:
- residential homes are for people who can no longer manage at home. Staff can help with things like meals and personal care
- nursing homes are for people who need nursing care every day. They have registered nurses on site
Some care homes offer both residential and nursing care - 'dual-registered' homes. These are helpful because if your needs change, you can get more care without moving.
Many care homes offer respite care and long-term care.
Care Quality Commission (CQC) checks all care homes. They inspect homes to make sure they are safe and good quality. You can find their reports on their website.
See also Residential care home (easy read).
Common questions
The cost of care homes is different in each home. The price depends on:
- what the home offers
- how much care you need
We have an online tool to help you understand your possible costs.
See our Care Cost Indicator.
You can find out more at Paying for residential services.
Some nursing care is free from the NHS. There are 2 types:
- NHS continuing healthcare - this is for people who have a primary health need
- NHS-funded nursing care (FNC) - is for people who need nursing and social care. The NHS pays part of the nursing care costs
To find out more see Paying for health related care.
If you own your home, you can find out how this may affect how much you might have to pay at What happens to my home.
We do not run any residential or nursing care homes for older people in Surrey, although we may fund care. See A guide to paying for care to find out more.
NHS - Care Homes is a national website with information and helpful hints on:
- choosing a care home
- types of care homes
- trying a short stay first
You can also search for care homes at:
We have a simple checklist to help you plan your long‑term care. It gives advice on:
- what to look for
- what questions to ask
You can find it at Considering a care home? Checklist.
Moving into Surrey
If you move to a new care home in Surrey, we want your care to continue without any problems. We will work with you and your current local authority to make sure everything is ready. This means your care and support, and any support for your carer, will continue as normal.
You should tell both councils that you want to move. Your current council will share your care plan and financial details with us. We will then check your care needs to see if anything has changed.
You can find our contact details at Contact Adult Social Care.
Moving between care homes inside Surrey
If you need to move because your money is running out, see What to do if your money is running out.
If you pay for your own care, you can read: