UK Dementia Care Cost Calculator
Estimate the weekly cost of dementia care in the UK across residential, nursing, and EMI specialist settings, based on 2026 industry data. Includes the means-test outcome and points to specific funding routes that often help dementia families (NHS CHC, Severe Mental Impairment council tax exemption, Attendance Allowance). Reviewed by a working UK care-home operator.
Worked example: Patricia, 81, mid-stage Alzheimer's, South East England
Patricia has mid-stage Alzheimer's. She still recognises her family but has had two falls, occasionally wanders at night, and her husband Brian (84, increasingly frail) can no longer safely care for her alone. They own their bungalow outright, valued at £320,000, and have £12,000 in joint savings.
The family runs the calculator: England · Residential dementia care · South East · £12,000.
- Weekly fee: £1,375 (residential dementia UK average) × 1.15 (South East) = £1,581/week.
- Annual cost: ~£82,200.
- Means test: Brian still lives in the bungalow, so the property is permanently disregarded as a qualifying-relative property. Only the £12,000 in savings counts — below the £14,250 lower limit, so capital is fully protected.
- Patricia's contribution: most of her pension income (~£100/week after the £31.80 Personal Expenses Allowance), plus the council assesses Brian's situation separately. Patricia is not forced to liquidate joint accounts in a way that leaves Brian destitute.
- Council pays: approximately £1,481/week (the rest, up to the council's standard rate — there may be a top-up if the chosen home charges above that rate).
Three funding routes families with dementia often miss
1. NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) — fully NHS-funded
If your parent's needs are primarily about health rather than social care, the NHS pays the full cost — wherever care is delivered. CHC is non-means-tested. The Decision Support Tool's 12 care domains include cognition, behaviour, communication, and psychological needs — all of which typically score moderate to high in dementia. CHC is harder to win than FNC, but every dementia family should consider requesting a Checklist screening. Use our NHS CHC Eligibility Checker for a 10-question self-assessment based on the official 2022 National Framework.
2. Severe Mental Impairment (SMI) council tax exemption
This is entirely separate from care funding but applies to most dementia families and is heavily under-claimed. If your parent has a doctor's diagnosis of severe mental impairment (most dementia diagnoses qualify) and receives a qualifying benefit (Attendance Allowance, PIP daily-living, DLA care component), they are disregarded for council tax purposes:
- Live alone (or with other disregarded persons): 100% exemption
- Live with one taxpaying adult: 25% reduction (single-person discount)
- Backdating: many councils backdate to the date of diagnosis — claims of several thousand pounds are common
Source: Alzheimer's Society council tax guide; Dementia UK council tax discount factsheet.
3. Attendance Allowance — £114.60/week non-means-tested
Attendance Allowance is a non-means-tested weekly benefit for over-State-Pension-age people who need help because of disability — most dementia diagnoses qualify. The 2026/27 rates are £76.70/week (lower) and £114.60/week (higher), confirmed in the DWP 2026/27 benefit rates. Beyond the cash itself, AA is the qualifying benefit that unlocks SMI council tax (above) and Carer's Allowance (£86.45/week 2026/27) for a family member providing 35+ hours of unpaid care.
Residential vs nursing vs EMI — what's the difference?
Residential dementia care (£1,375/week UK average)
A care home registered for dementia residents but without 24/7 registered nursing on site. Suitable for early to mid-stage dementia where personal care, supervision, and structured activities are the main needs. Typically the lowest-cost option among permanent placements.
Nursing dementia care (£1,585/week UK average)
A care home with 24/7 registered nursing alongside dementia-specific staff training. Required when there are clinical needs (PEG feeding, complex medication, end-of-life care, significant pressure-area or wound care). The NHS contributes £267.68/week via FNC if not on full CHC.
EMI specialist units (£1,500–£1,700+/week)
Elderly Mentally Infirm units are CQC-registered secure nursing wards for advanced dementia where behavioural challenges (severe wandering, aggression, disinhibition) can't be safely managed in an open setting. Lower staff-to-resident ratios, specialist environment design (contrast colours, no patterned floors that can be misread as holes, secure gardens, memory boxes outside rooms). Typically £100–£300/week more than the same home's standard nursing dementia floor.
Live-in dementia care (£1,400–£1,800/week)
A trained carer lives in the parent's own home, providing 24/7 supervision with the familiar surroundings that often reduce dementia-related confusion and agitation. Strong fit for early to mid stages; less suitable for advanced cases requiring secure environments. See our Live-in Care Cost Calculator for a detailed breakdown.
Mental Capacity Act and Power of Attorney — set it up early
Care decisions for someone with dementia become legally fraught once they lose capacity to consent. The Mental Capacity Act 2005 sets out who decides for someone who can't decide for themselves. Two types of Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) exist:
- Property and Financial Affairs LPA — decisions about money, property, savings, bills
- Health and Welfare LPA — decisions about care, medical treatment, where the person lives
Both must be set up while your parent still has capacity. Once capacity is lost, the only route is Deputyship through the Court of Protection — much slower (4–6 months), more expensive (£408 application fee plus annual supervision), and limited in scope. If your parent has been diagnosed but is still in early stages, set up LPAs now. We'll publish a Power of Attorney checklist tool soon — for now, refer to the official gov.uk LPA service.
How this calculator works (methodology)
The estimate is built from the 2026 UK average dementia care fees plus regional and care-type adjustments:
- Base weekly cost by care type — drawn from Lottie 2026 dementia care data (residential £1,375; nursing £1,585) and EMI premium estimates from Lottie's EMI unit guide. Live-in dementia care uses the lower bound of UK live-in providers' published rates.
- Regional multiplier. London ×1.20, South East ×1.15, North of England ×0.85, Wales ×0.85, rest of UK ×1.00 — reflecting Lottie's 2026 regional spread.
- FNC offset (£267.68/week, 2026/27 standard rate) is built into the nursing and EMI base figures — both are net of the FNC contribution, since the vast majority of nursing/EMI residents qualify.
- Means-test rule per nation. England and NI use £14,250 / £23,250; Wales £50,000; Scotland £22,750 / £35,750. Tariff income £1/week per £250 above the lower limit.
- Property treatment. For permanent residential / nursing / EMI placements, the home is counted unless a qualifying relative still lives there. For live-in dementia care at home, the property is not counted.
How to use this calculator
- Pick your parent's nation.
- Choose the care type. If you're not sure between residential and nursing, ask the GP or a CHC nurse assessor which is appropriate. EMI is reserved for advanced cases — most dementia residents start in residential or nursing dementia, not EMI.
- Choose region.
- Enter total assets. If a qualifying relative (spouse, civil partner, dependent child, relative aged 60+, or disabled relative) still lives in the home, do NOT include the property — it's permanently disregarded.
What's NOT included in this calculator
- NHS Continuing Healthcare — if eligible, the NHS pays the entire fee. Check separately with our CHC Eligibility Checker.
- Severe Mental Impairment council tax exemption — applies to the family home, not the care home, but worth thousands per year.
- Attendance Allowance (£76.70 / £114.60 per week, 2026/27).
- Carer's Allowance (£86.45/week, 2026/27) for a family carer providing 35+ unpaid hours/week.
- Top-up fees — the council pays only up to its standard rate. Premium homes typically need a £100–£500/week third-party top-up.
- One-off costs — admission fees, hairdressing, chiropody, clothing, deputyship application fees if needed.
- Day-care alternatives — many areas offer council-funded dementia day care (£40–£90/day) which can delay residential placement and is often a better quality-of-life option in early stages.
The figures, rules, and funding pathways are sourced from Lottie 2026 dementia care data, the DHSC 2026/27 charging circular, the NHS CHC National Framework, the Alzheimer's Society's published guides, and Dementia UK. Sources are linked inline so you can verify.
The tool is reviewed by Hinesh Patel, owner-operator of Birkdale Village Care Home, with over a decade of UK care-sector experience including direct involvement in dementia placements, CHC Checklists for cognitively impaired residents, and supporting families through the Mental Capacity Act process.
Frequently asked questions
How much does dementia care cost per week in the UK in 2026?
UK 2026 averages: residential dementia care £1,375/week, nursing dementia care £1,585/week. Specialist EMI units typically cost £1,500–£1,700+/week. London is 15–20% higher; northern regions and Wales are 10–15% lower. Live-in dementia care at home runs £1,400–£1,800/week depending on complexity.
Do people with dementia have to pay care home fees?
Usually yes, unless they qualify for NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC). Dementia is treated as a social care need by default, so the standard means test applies — capital above £23,250 (England) means self-funding. Many families are surprised by this because they assume Alzheimer's or vascular dementia, being medical conditions, would be NHS-funded. They're not, automatically. CHC is the route to full NHS funding for dementia, but it requires demonstrating that needs are 'primarily about health' under the National Framework.
Can I get NHS Continuing Healthcare for dementia?
Yes, in many cases — particularly for advanced or behaviourally complex dementia. The Decision Support Tool's 12 care domains include cognition, behaviour, communication, and psychological needs, all of which often score highly in dementia. CHC is more accessible for people with severe behavioural distress, unpredictability, or complex co-morbidity. Use our NHS CHC Eligibility Checker for a 10-question screening.
What's the difference between EMI and dementia care?
EMI (Elderly Mentally Infirm) is a CQC-registered nursing dementia ward designed for advanced cases where behavioural challenges can't be safely managed in an open setting. It's a subset of dementia nursing, with secure environments, lower staff-to-resident ratios, and specialist behavioural management. Dementia care more broadly covers homes registered for dementia residents — including residential dementia (no nursing) and nursing dementia. EMI is typically £100–£300/week more than the same home's standard nursing dementia floor.
Does my parent's house count if they have dementia?
For permanent residential dementia care, yes — unless a spouse, civil partner, dependent child, or qualifying relative still lives there. The 12-week property disregard gives families breathing room to plan. A Deferred Payment Agreement avoids forcing a sale. Critically: if a relative aged 60+ or someone disabled lives in the home, it's permanently disregarded. For dementia care delivered at home (live-in care or visiting carers), the home is NOT counted.
Can I get a council tax discount if my parent has dementia?
Yes — the Severe Mental Impairment (SMI) exemption. If a doctor certifies your parent as severely mentally impaired (a clinical condition, including most dementia diagnoses) AND they receive a qualifying benefit (Attendance Allowance, PIP daily-living, DLA care component), they are disregarded for council tax. If they live alone or only with other disregarded persons: 100% exemption. If they live with one taxpaying adult: 25% reduction. Many councils backdate to the date of diagnosis — claims of several thousand pounds are common.
What is Attendance Allowance for dementia and how do I claim it?
Attendance Allowance is a non-means-tested weekly benefit for people over State Pension age who need help because of a physical or mental disability. The 2026/27 rates are £76.70 (lower) and £114.60 (higher). Most dementia diagnoses qualify. Apply through gov.uk's Attendance Allowance form (AA1A). It's also the key that unlocks Carer's Allowance for a family carer and the SMI council tax exemption.
Do I need Power of Attorney before my parent goes into care?
Set it up while they still have mental capacity — it's far harder once capacity is lost. Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) has two types: Property & Financial Affairs, and Health & Welfare. Both should be considered. If capacity has already been lost, you'll need to apply for Deputyship through the Court of Protection (4–6 months, £408 application fee, ongoing supervision) — a much slower and more limited route.
Is live-in care better than a dementia care home?
It depends on the stage and the person. In early to mid dementia, staying in familiar surroundings can reduce confusion and agitation — live-in care is often genuinely better. In advanced dementia with behavioural distress, wandering, or 24/7 supervision needs, a specialist EMI or dementia nursing home may be safer and provide better quality of life. Cost is broadly comparable: £1,400–£1,800/week for live-in dementia care vs £1,375–£1,700/week for dementia residential or nursing. See our Live-in Care Cost Calculator for direct comparison.
How does the Mental Capacity Act affect care decisions?
The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (England & Wales) sets out who can make decisions on behalf of someone who lacks capacity to make them. Capacity is decision-specific — your parent may lack capacity for complex financial decisions but retain it for everyday choices. If they have capacity, they decide. If they lack capacity AND have a registered LPA, the attorney decides (within scope). If they lack capacity with no LPA, decisions are made in their 'best interests' by professionals (with family input), and Deputyship may be needed for ongoing financial decisions.
Last updated: May 2026. Sources: Lottie 2026 dementia care data; DHSC 2026/27 charging circular; Alzheimer's Society SMI council tax guide; Dementia UK CHC guide; gov.uk LPA service.