Many people decide to move into a residential or nursing home when everyday tasks start to feel challenging and they realise they can enjoy a higher quality of life with consistent care and support around them.
The process of choosing the right care home for your loved one can be confusing because you need to weigh up care home fees alongside how the care home looks after the physical and mental wellbeing of their residents.
In this guide to understanding care home fees, we’ll look at weekly care home costs, talk about what you need to consider when looking for a care home, and explain how to find a care home that feels like home.
How much does it cost to move into a care home?
When we refer to care home fees, we mean the weekly charge for a place in a residential or nursing home, the cost of which covers accommodation, meals, utilities, personal care, and (in nursing homes) clinical support.
Other factors that will impact on the cost of a care home are the standard of care they offer, what kind of room you are interested in and where the residential or nursing home is located.
If your loved one is keen to remain in the city where they live or if you want your loved one to be nearer to you, then you will need to research homes in a specific area, for example, best care homes in Devon. Your research may include how much do care homes cost in Exeter or how much do care homes cost in Plymouth.
How much do care homes cost in Exeter? In the Exeter area the self-funding weekly average for residential care is about £1,265 per week. For nursing care, the average is around £1,640 per week.
How much do care homes cost in Plymouth? In the Plymouth area the starting average weekly fee for self-funded residential care is reported as around £1,060 per week, and for nursing care around £1,400 per week.
Of course, the cost of a care home will vary depending on the type of care your loved one requires, the type of room you are interested in, the standard of care (an outstanding care home will typically cost more than a care home with a lower CQC rating) and the care home facilities.
At Southern Healthcare, our award-winning care homes in Exeter, Plymouth, Dawlish and Seaton offer exceptional value for money both in terms of care home fees and the high standard of care we consistently offer.
Sefton Hall in Dawlish, The Seaton in Seaton and Parkwood House in Plymouth have all been rated outstanding by the Care Quality Commission and The Old Rectory in Exeter has been rated good with some outstanding elements. Additionally, our care group, our individual care homes and members of our team have been awarded a slew of regional and national awards for the care we offer, including receiving Care Home of the Year award from Caring UK in 2025, the Eden Alternative platinum award (the highest grading) for all of our care homes, as well as the highest accolades from Meaningful Care Matters for our dementia care.
How to find a care home
Finding the right home is about more than care home fees – it’s about quality, fit and the philosophy of care. What level of care does the person need? Do they need residential or nursing care? Are they living with dementia?
Typically, self-funded places are more expensive than NHS funded places, although at Southern Healthcare the charge is the same whether you are coming to us through the NHS or privately.
If you are worried you cannot afford a self-funded place, then perhaps the local authority or NHS will contribute. Roughly speaking, the threshold in England is £23,250 in assets beyond which you may be fully self-funding.
Of course, understanding care home fees (what is included and excluded) is an important part of the decision-making process, but when you create a short list, it should be based on care home fees and what the care home offers residents in terms of physical and mental wellbeing. Think about what the care home’s value for money is when considering the lifestyle your loved one will have at a given care home.
Make appointments to visit homes where you can meet the care teams, see the rooms and observe the atmosphere. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about the care team’s values and philosophy of care.
At Southern Healthcare, we follow the Eden Alternative philosophy which emphasises reducing loneliness, boredom and helplessness and fostering meaningful engagement through activities, freedom of choice and human connection. A home that encourages autonomy, meaningful activity, friendship and community can make a big difference to a person’s quality of life.
When you’ve explored your options and understand what level of support your loved one needs, you’ll be in a strong position to make a confident choice. Whether you’re comparing the best care homes in Devon or looking into how much do care homes cost in Exeter or how much do care homes cost in Plymouth, thorough research will help you find a setting that offers high-quality care, support and a homely environment where life is all about living. Contact us today if you want to find out more about our award-winning care homes.