What specifically does the £119 include?

A personalised matching assessment from your questionnaire, then deep analysis of up to five shortlisted care homes — that’s less than £24 per home. We identify the strongest-fit options for your situation, then review each home’s 5-year inspection history, financial health, ownership, debt levels, food safety records, staff feedback, fair cost context, and personalised visit questions generated from that home’s findings. You also receive an initial funding indication and guidance for your local council, not a full Care Home Funding Report. One-time payment—no subscription, no hidden extras. You can share the report securely with family and access it for 365 days.

Can I see an example before purchasing?

Yes. We have a demonstration report that shows the structure and type of analysis you’ll receive. It uses real data but from an anonymised example.

How is this different from free services?

Free services typically receive £2,000–£5,000 from care homes for each placement. That means the care home, not the family, is often the paying client. Our £119 comes directly from families like yours, which means you’re our only client. We can analyse any care home honestly and independently—including excellent homes that simply do not pay to appear elsewhere.

Can I try the free first step and upgrade later?

Absolutely—and many families do exactly this. The free first step gives you three matched homes as a starting point. If you then want a deeper, personalised analysis that shortlists the strongest-fit homes, you can upgrade at any time. Location, budget, and priorities carry over; you will confirm care needs so the paid match stays accurate. Take your time deciding what’s right for your situation.

How current is the information?

We use the most recent publicly available data. The regulator typically inspects homes every 18–24 months. Company accounts are annual. We note the date of each data source in your report so you know how recent each piece of information is. Today’s fees and whether a bed is free still need confirming with the home — the report helps you ask the right questions.

What does the financial check actually cover?

We cross-reference 7 independent public records per home. For the financial picture specifically, we look at who owns the home, whether the directors have changed recently, and whether there are debts or other pressures that could affect the quality of care. Financial stress often shows up in the records 6–12 months before it becomes visible to families — catching it early gives you time to act.

Which local authorities do you cover?

We provide funding guidance across English council areas. Each local authority has different funding criteria for council-supported care and different approaches to Continuing Healthcare. Your report includes guidance specific to your area.

Can other family members see the report?

Yes—and we actively encourage it. You can share the report securely with family so everyone can review the same objective information. This often makes difficult conversations clearer and less emotionally charged. Access lasts 365 days from purchase.

Can you negotiate care home fees?

Yes — and your report gives you a genuine starting point. For each home we compare its weekly fee against the typical fee for comparable homes in the same area, then give you a written negotiation prompt: whether there is meaningful room to negotiate, and a sensible percentage reduction to aim for at that home’s price level. It is enough to open a confident conversation about fees — guidance no other UK service hands families.

What happens if a care home closes?

A closure is hugely disruptive, so we look for warning signs early. We cross-reference each home’s financial records — ownership structure, recent director changes, and debt levels — and flag financial stress when it appears. These signals often surface 6–12 months before any difficulty becomes visible to families, so you can weigh closure risk properly before you commit.

Should I choose a ‘Requires Improvement’ home?

Not necessarily either way — a single current rating is only a snapshot. We show the 5-year trend across all five inspection domains, so you can see direction of travel rather than one moment in time. A ‘Requires Improvement’ home that is steadily improving can be a stronger long-term fit than a ‘Good’ home that is quietly declining.

Family reviewing a care home comparison report together

Personalised from your assessment

Choose the care home that best fits your family.Choose the care home that best fits your family — backed by 206 data points on every home.

See up to 5 realistic options side by side, with deeper checks on quality, fees, and financial resilience.Compare up to 5 realistic options side by side across quality trends, fees, reviews, staffing signals, and financial resilience.

Matched to your questionnaire • 206 checks on each shortlisted home • usually within 24 hours

Best for families comparing several realistic options

We screen a wide pool and shortlist the strongest-fit options
Your final report focuses on the 5 homes most worth comparing
Deeper checks on quality, fees, and financial resilience

Get the Care Home Matching Report — £119

Try the free first step

Best when a broad search needs narrowing properly

Independent for families

No care home can pay to appear stronger in your final five.

Usually delivered within 24 hours

A deeper comparison once your family is ready to look properly.

Share securely with family

Useful when siblings or relatives need the same structured view.

Confirmed, estimated, and still needs checking

The report shows where evidence is firm and where a visit still matters.

Best when your family has a long list and needs a clearer way to narrow the field to five realistic options worth comparing properly.

The challenge

Most families compare care homes with too little evidence

Choosing the wrong home means moving your parent again — the one thing every family dreads. A rating and a visit rarely show which home is the better long-term fit.

Quality direction

What families often see

All three homes are rated "Good"

What the report helps you see

Which one is improving, which one is drifting, and which one simply looks fine at a glance? 70% of ratings are 2+ years old.

Operator resilience

What families often see

They all feel reassuring on the surface

What the report helps you see

The full report shows who owns the home, whether the directors are stable, and whether there are debts that could affect care. Financial stress often shows up in the records 6–12 months before problems become visible to families.

Workforce reality

What families often see

Staff seemed friendly on the tour

What the report helps you see

What do employees actually say? Staff satisfaction scores reveal what a 30-minute visit cannot.

Fee context

What families often see

“From £1,200 per week”

What the report helps you see

Is that a fair price? Many self-funders pay 40% more than council-funded residents for identical care.

Review pattern

What families often see

“Lovely reviews online”

What the report helps you see

But which home has the stronger review pattern overall? And what emerges when you read all 200 — not just the first 10?

Why this matters

1 in 5 families change care homes after placement.

The right information before you commit can prevent a costly and disruptive second move.

206

checks per home

Why Families Trust It

Care Home Advice UK: Independent Advice for Families

Independent care home advice for families, with clear reasoning and a report written to help you narrow a wider search to five realistic options.

How the report supports a proper family comparison

Not just what we say — how the full report is structured to help your family compare five realistic options properly.

Paid by families, not providers

We have no commercial relationship with any care home. Our revenue comes from families, not providers — so our analysis is always in your interest.

Transparent methodology

Every finding in your report is traceable to a verified public source. We show you the evidence, explain what it means, and flag where confidence is lower.

Built for families

Your report is written in plain English for family members narrowing a wider search to five realistic options — not in industry jargon or generic directory copy.

What this means in practice

No care home can pay to appear stronger or safer in your family’s final five.
Where the evidence is mixed, the report says so clearly instead of pretending certainty.
The comparison is written so siblings and relatives can review the same five options together.

Families looking for care home advice UK often find referral services first. This report is different: the advice stays independent because no care home can pay to influence the outcome.

30-Day Refund Window

If the Care Home Matching Report does not help you compare options more clearly and move forward with greater confidence, email us within 30 days and we will refund you in full. A short reason is helpful for improvement, but not required. 30-day refund window if the report does not help.

30-day refund window if the report does not help.

How it works

Choosing a Care Home: How We Match the Right Options to You

The paid report is designed for the point where a family already has realistic options and needs stronger evidence before choosing.

The report follows the way families actually decide

We begin with your situation, screen all 14,599 care homes in England, including dementia-specialist homes, and investigate the options most worth comparing. A directory search is only the starting point.

01
Step 1
Tell us what your family needs
A short assessment covering care needs, budget, location, and what matters most in day-to-day life. Most families finish in around 10–15 minutes.
10–15 minutes
02
Step 2
We match and investigate the strongest options
We identify the most suitable homes for your situation, then analyse 206 data points per home: ownership, director stability, debt levels and financial red flags, patterns across family and staff reviews, 5-year inspection trends, fair cost benchmarks, hygiene scores, and neighbourhood context.
Official and independent public sources
03
Step 3
Choose with more confidence
A clear report on up to five shortlisted homes, with match scores weighted to your priorities, category winners, risk flags, visit questions, and guidance on whether the quoted price is fair. Each home is scored against your situation — not a generic ranking. Usually delivered within 24 hours.
Share securely with family

Care Home Matching Report

Our analysis can reveal declining quality trends across inspections and financial stress in company accounts — even when a home is currently rated Good. This helps families compare homes that look similar on paper but differ in trajectory.

Based on report methodology

Is this right for me?

Best Care Homes UK: How We Identify the Right Fit for You

You have a shortlist but can’t decide

You’ve visited 3 homes. All seemed decent. But you’re about to commit £1,000+ a week — and “seemed decent” isn’t due diligence.

See which home looks strongest overall: financially steadier, better reviewed in the patterns that matter, and more reasonable on fees — all in one evidence-led comparison.

You want the shortlist built around your situation

There are dozens of care homes within 30 minutes. Most are rated “Good”. How do you narrow it down when you need the shortlist built around your family, not just the nearest available beds?

We use your assessment to identify the homes that genuinely fit your care needs, budget, priorities, and location — before you visit a single one.

The hospital says discharge is next week

You’ve been given a list of homes with availability. The pressure is real. But rushed doesn’t have to mean uninformed.

Your report is usually delivered within 24 hours. Start with the comparison summary to see which options deserve immediate attention and which deserve more caution.

Your family can’t agree

Everyone has a different opinion. Nobody has the same information. One thinks Oakfield is best, another prefers Meadowbank, and someone else is Googling at 2am.

Share the report securely with family. Same data, same analysis. One conversation instead of twenty.

What your report covers

What to Look For in a Care Home: 206 Data Points That Matter

A structured comparison of five realistic options, not just another shortlist

From a broad search to five realistic options

Each part of the report removes one common blind spot when narrowing the field to five homes your family can compare properly.

Most families can gather a long list, but still struggle to identify which five homes are genuinely worth serious consideration.

The full report replaces scattered tabs, notes and conflicting opinions with one structured comparison of five realistic options.

30–40 hours of DIY researchCommission-based recommendations elsewhereDirectory listings without deeper checks

Decision check 1

Financial Resilience Comparison

Spot early warning signs before they affect your family

See what this checks

What families often still do not know

You may rely on a current rating and a polished website, with no clear sense of whether the operator behind the home is actually steady.

3-year review of official company accounts for each home
Ownership structure, debt, and director stability checks
Early warning indicators that may show up before problems become obvious

See which homes look steadier — and which deserve closer scrutiny

What families often still do not know

You may rely on a current rating and a polished website, with no clear sense of whether the operator behind the home is actually steady.

3-year review of official company accounts for each home
Ownership structure, debt, and director stability checks
Early warning indicators that may show up before problems become obvious

See which homes look steadier — and which deserve closer scrutiny

Decision check 2

Fair Cost Benchmarking

Understand whether you're paying a fair price

See what this checks

What families often still do not know

You hear a weekly fee but have no useful benchmark for whether it is typical, inflated, or worth challenging.

Regional council rate benchmark comparison
Identify overpricing vs council rates
Fee verification questions for each home

Fees compared against council benchmark rates across 152 local authorities

What families often still do not know

You hear a weekly fee but have no useful benchmark for whether it is typical, inflated, or worth challenging.

Regional council rate benchmark comparison
Identify overpricing vs council rates
Fee verification questions for each home

Fees compared against council benchmark rates across 152 local authorities

Decision check 3

NHS Continuing Healthcare Eligibility Analysis

Many families don't realise funding may be available

See what this checks

What families often still do not know

Funding rules can feel too opaque to pursue, so many families assume they will self-fund before checking what support may exist.

Assessment against CHC criteria
Council funding threshold (152 authorities)
Appeal guidance if initially rejected

Eligibility check for NHS Continuing Healthcare, council funding and DPA

What families often still do not know

Funding rules can feel too opaque to pursue, so many families assume they will self-fund before checking what support may exist.

Assessment against CHC criteria
Council funding threshold (152 authorities)
Appeal guidance if initially rejected

Eligibility check for NHS Continuing Healthcare, council funding and DPA

Decision check 4

5-Year Quality Trend Analysis

See whether quality is stable, improving or declining

See what this checks

What families often still do not know

A single inspection snapshot can hide whether quality is holding, improving, or quietly drifting in the wrong direction.

Full inspection history (not just current rating)
Staff satisfaction from 200+ platforms (monthly updates)
Food hygiene records and safety compliance

Inspection history, staff satisfaction trends and food hygiene records reviewed

What families often still do not know

A single inspection snapshot can hide whether quality is holding, improving, or quietly drifting in the wrong direction.

Full inspection history (not just current rating)
Staff satisfaction from 200+ platforms (monthly updates)
Food hygiene records and safety compliance

Inspection history, staff satisfaction trends and food hygiene records reviewed

Decision check 5

Care Level Matching & Future-Proofing

Reduce the risk of needing a disruptive second move

See what this checks

What families often still do not know

A home can seem suitable for today, but still be the wrong long-term fit if needs rise and the placement has to be undone later.

Residential vs nursing vs dementia specialist analysis
Prevents wrong placement requiring second move

Analysis of whether a home can support changing care needs over time

What families often still do not know

A home can seem suitable for today, but still be the wrong long-term fit if needs rise and the placement has to be undone later.

Residential vs nursing vs dementia specialist analysis
Prevents wrong placement requiring second move

Analysis of whether a home can support changing care needs over time

Decision check 6

Personalised Visit Questions

Turn a 30-minute tour into a proper due diligence visit

See what this checks

What families often still do not know

Most tours stay polite and superficial, so the most important follow-up questions never get asked while you are on site.

15–28 questions per home, generated from your report findings
Tailored to each home’s specific risks and gaps
Not a generic checklist — questions you wouldn’t think to ask

Walk into every visit knowing exactly what to ask and why

What families often still do not know

Most tours stay polite and superficial, so the most important follow-up questions never get asked while you are on site.

15–28 questions per home, generated from your report findings
Tailored to each home’s specific risks and gaps
Not a generic checklist — questions you wouldn’t think to ask

Walk into every visit knowing exactly what to ask and why

Nothing is hidden. Every single data point includes its source citation, so you can independently verify anything against the original official records. We have nothing to hide — because we're on your side.

Independent analysis on every home

Care Home Risk Assessment: Independent Checks on Every Home

We flag enforcement action, declining ratings, financial stress and early-inspection anomalies on every home — so care home financial stability risks are visible before you commit, not after.

CQC Care Home Ratings: Why the 5-Year Trend Matters

We track care home CQC ratings across all five domains and the last five inspections. A 'Good' home on a declining trajectory is a warning a single current rating never shows.

Care Home Reviews UK: What Staff and Families Really Say

We synthesise public staff and family reviews into clear signals on management quality and staff stability — patterns a star rating alone hides.

Together, these checks give families a clearer view of care home financial stability in the UK, quality direction, and staff signals before they commit.

What your report covers

Care Home Comparison: 206 Data Points Side by Side

Matching summary, side-by-side comparison, deep analysis per home, and a personalised action plan for comparing care homes in the UK.

This is the structure your family will use to compare five realistic options, share the reasoning, and decide what to check next.

Start your £119 assessment View sample report Start with the free first step

How families use the report

How the report helps families

Based on report methodology and early user feedback

“Financial stability checks flag risks that families can't see from inspection ratings alone — including homes with deteriorating accounts.”

Based on early user feedback

Families do not need more generic reassurance here. They need one place where hidden risk, quality context, and next questions are easier to see before they commit.

Deeper care context

“For dementia care research, the report brings together specialist training data, staff stability, and detailed inspection histories in one view.”

Less manual cross-checking

“Consolidating official and independent public evidence into one document replaces hours of manual cross-referencing.”

Better family alignment

“A shared, data-driven report helps family members align on a shortlist — especially when coordinating remotely.”

Decision-stage questions

Questions to Ask When Choosing a Care Home

These are the questions families usually ask once a long list needs narrowing to the homes worth serious consideration, and the questions to ask a care home become more specific.

When a long list needs narrowing properly

These are usually the questions families ask when they are no longer browsing broadly, but trying to work out which homes deserve serious attention.

If these are your questions, your family probably needs a proper comparison of realistic options

The report is designed for the point where a wider search needs narrowing: which homes deserve serious consideration, what fees look fair, whether inspection evidence is too old, and which questions to ask a care home before you commit.

Fee fairnessOutdated inspection reportsTop-up rules

A stronger comparison page should not just answer “what is this product?” It should also reflect the exact doubts families carry into calls, visits, and discussions about which homes are worth serious consideration. Your report also includes a personalised care home visit checklist with 15 to 28 questions tailored to each home.

Pricing

Less than 2 days of care — for a decision that lasts years

Start with the free first step if you are still exploring broadly. Choose the full report when your family needs a proper comparison of five realistic options.

Free first step

Start with the free first step

£0

Best if you are still gathering names and do not yet need a structured comparison of five homes.

3 matched homes to get started
10-minute first step
Useful when you are still casting the net widely

Start with the free first step

Recommended

Paid report

Choose the full report when you need a proper comparison

£119About 0.2% of a typical year's care fees

For a choice that shapes the next year of careBest if your family needs help narrowing a wider search to five realistic options worth serious consideration.

5 matched homes narrowed for deeper comparison
Evidence, caveats and visit questions across five homes
Usually delivered within 24 hours

Start the full comparison

See the exact differences

The free first step helps you begin. The full report helps your family narrow a wider search to five realistic options and compare them properly.

3 matched vs 5 matched18–24 points vs 206 checks10 minutes vs within 24 hours

Free

£0

Recommended

£119

For a choice that shapes the next year of care

Homes analysed

3 matched

5 matched

Data depth

18–24 points

206 per home

Financial stability

Risk summary

Ownership, directors, debt & red flags

Review pattern analysis

Themes, trends and contradictions

Staff satisfaction check

5-year quality trends

Personalised visit questions

15–28 per home, generated from findings

Fair cost analysis

Price gap vs council rate

14-day action plan

Share securely with family

Delivery

10 minutes

Within 24 hours

Open the full comparison table

See the line-by-line difference before you decide.

Expand

Free

£0

Recommended

£119

For a choice that shapes the next year of care

Homes analysed

Free

3 matched

Recommended

5 matched

Data depth

Free

18–24 points

Recommended

206 per home

Financial stability

Free

Risk summary

Recommended

Ownership, directors, debt & red flags

Review pattern analysis

Free

Not included

Recommended

Themes, trends and contradictions

Staff satisfaction check

Free

Not included

Recommended

Included

5-year quality trends

Free

Not included

Recommended

Included

Personalised visit questions

Free

Not included

Recommended

15–28 per home, generated from findings

Fair cost analysis

Free

Not included

Recommended

Price gap vs council rate

14-day action plan

Free

Not included

Recommended

Included

Share securely with family

Free

Not included

Recommended

Included

Delivery

Free

10 minutes

Recommended

Within 24 hours

Optional add-on

Choose this only if you also need council and NHS funding guidance alongside home-choice analysis.

Care Home Matching Report + Care Home Funding Report

Get the £119 Care Home Matching Report and the £69 Care Home Funding Report together for £149. This bundle is for families who need both the funding route and the home-choice analysis.

£149£188

Start bundle assessment

Self-funders overpay by an average of 41%. If our report saves you even £10 a week, it pays for itself in 12 weeks.

Need help with a different decision?

Need a recommendation

I need an independent recommendation I can trust

Care Home Matching Report

£119

24 hrs · No subscription

Costs and funding

Do I have to sell the house? What will the council pay?

Care Home Funding Report

£69

24 hrs · No subscription

Checking one home

I've found a home — but is it really safe?

Care Home Check

£49

1 hr · No subscription

Questions About the Care Home Matching Report

Prefer to inspect the format before you start?

View sample report

Still comparing homes? Get the visit toolkit by email

The questions to ask on every visit, red flags in inspection histories, and how to compare fees fairly — a short email series for families mid-search.

No spam · Unsubscribe anytime · 5 emails over 2 weeks

Keep researching the decision, not just the shortlist

These articles help families handle the moments that usually slow the decision down most: knowing when the move has become necessary, dealing with refusal, and asking sharper questions when you visit.

How to Choose a Care Home for Dementia UK

Most families start with CQC ratings when choosing a dementia care home. But a Good rating doesn't tell you whether staff know your parent by name. Here's what the data actually shows.

Read the guide

Are Care Home Fees Negotiable? Yes — Here's the Data

Most families pay the asking fee because they don't know they can negotiate. LaingBuisson data shows weekly fees vary by up to 40% for equivalent provision in the same area. Here's what that means for your negotiation.

Read the guide

Why Care Home Directories Miss What Matters Most

Care home directories list thousands of homes and show a star rating and a weekly fee. The information families need most — financial health, staff continuity, quality trajectory — doesn't appear on any directory.

Read the guide

10–15 minutes now could save months of uncertainty

Tell us care needs, budget, and location. We run a deep analysis and shortlist up to five best-fit homes — with 206 checks on each — usually within 24 hours.

Start your £119 assessment Start with the free first step

Go to the full comparison flow

The paid route leads to the Care Home Matching Report (£119) — a personalised shortlist from deep analysis, for a decision your family lives with for years. The free first step remains available if you are not ready yet.

If our report saves you even £10 a week on fees, it pays for itself in 12 weeks.

Choose the care home that best fits your family.Choose the care home that best fits your family — backed by 206 data points on every home.

Most families compare care homes with too little evidence

Care Home Advice UK: Independent Advice for Families

Paid by families, not providers

Transparent methodology

Built for families

Choosing a Care Home: How We Match the Right Options to You

Tell us what your family needs

We match and investigate the strongest options

Choose with more confidence

Best Care Homes UK: How We Identify the Right Fit for You

You have a shortlist but can’t decide

You want the shortlist built around your situation

The hospital says discharge is next week

Your family can’t agree

What to Look For in a Care Home: 206 Data Points That Matter

Financial Resilience Comparison

Fair Cost Benchmarking

NHS Continuing Healthcare Eligibility Analysis

5-Year Quality Trend Analysis

Care Level Matching & Future-Proofing

Personalised Visit Questions

Independent analysis on every home

Care Home Risk Assessment: Independent Checks on Every Home

CQC Care Home Ratings: Why the 5-Year Trend Matters

Care Home Reviews UK: What Staff and Families Really Say

Care Home Comparison: 206 Data Points Side by Side

How the report helps families

Questions to Ask When Choosing a Care Home

How do I know if £1,400 per week is fair, or if I'm being overcharged?

The inspection rating is 'Good', but it's from 2021. Is that still accurate?

What if the care home closes and I have to move Mum again?

I think Dad might have a case for NHS funding, but I don't know how to check.

I feel guilty about this decision. How do I know it's the right time?

We're being asked to pay top-up fees. Is that normal?

Less than 2 days of care — for a decision that lasts years

Start with the free first step

Choose the full report when you need a proper comparison

Care Home Matching Report + Care Home Funding Report

Need help with a different decision?

I need an independent recommendation I can trust

Do I have to sell the house? What will the council pay?

I've found a home — but is it really safe?

Questions About the Care Home Matching Report

What specifically does the £119 include?

Can I see an example before purchasing?

How is this different from free services?

What if I’m not satisfied with the report?

Can I try the free first step and upgrade later?

How current is the information?

What does the financial check actually cover?

Which local authorities do you cover?

Can other family members see the report?

Can you negotiate care home fees?

What happens if a care home closes?

Should I choose a ‘Requires Improvement’ home?

Keep researching the decision, not just the shortlist

How to Choose a Care Home for Dementia UK

Are Care Home Fees Negotiable? Yes — Here's the Data

Why Care Home Directories Miss What Matters Most

10–15 minutes now could save months of uncertainty