Care home or nursing home: what's the difference?

"Care home" and "nursing home" get used as if they mean the same thing. They do not, and choosing the wrong one is one of the most common, and most upsetting, mistakes families make, because it often means moving a frail person twice.

Residential care homes

A residential home provides personal care: help with washing, dressing, getting around, taking medication, meals, and the company of other people. The staff are trained carers, but there is no qualified nurse on site. This is the right choice for someone who needs day-to-day support and supervision but not ongoing clinical care.

Nursing homes

A nursing home does everything a residential home does, and adds registered nurses on duty 24 hours a day. You need this level when someone has a medical condition that requires regular clinical care: complex medication, a feeding tube, serious wounds, advanced Parkinson's, or the later stages of many long-term illnesses. In the CQC data, a nursing home is registered for the service type "care home service with nursing"; a residential home is "without nursing".

Dementia care

Both residential and nursing homes can be registered to care for people living with dementia, but this is where quality varies the most. A home being "dementia registered" is not the same as being good at it. On a visit, watch how staff respond when a resident is confused or distressed: are they calm, patient and skilled, or do they manage by ignoring it? Look for secure outdoor space, clear signage, and a calm environment rather than constant noise.

Respite and short stays

Not every move is permanent. Many homes offer respite care, a short planned stay, often to give a family carer a break or to help someone recover after a hospital stay. It is also a low-risk way to try a home before committing to it. If a relative is wary of the idea of "a home", a week of respite somewhere genuinely good can change their mind.

How to check which is which on InspectedCare

On each home's page we list its service type and the regulated activities it is registered for, taken straight from the CQC. "Care home service with nursing" tells you it is a nursing home; "without nursing" tells you it is residential. We also show the number of beds and the home's rating history.

Plan for needs that rise

The single best piece of advice here: think one step ahead. If someone's needs are likely to increase, a home that is registered for both residential and nursing care can absorb that change without another move. The disruption of moving a frail, often confused person is significant, and avoiding a second move is worth a lot. If you are still weighing up whether a home is needed at all, read home care versus a care home.

More guides

• How to choose a care home in England
• What CQC ratings mean, and what they don't
• Questions to ask when you visit a care home

This guide is general information from InspectedCare, an independent site. It is not advice. For the official record of any service, see cqc.org.uk.