Nursing home residents are typically elderly people who require both medical care from qualified nurses and personal care such as help with dressing or bathing. Some nursing homes provide specialist care for people with particular conditions such as dementia, stroke or Parkinson’s disease, in addition to post-operative care and nursing care for general illnesses and ailments.

Residential care homes are similar to nursing homes, but they only provide accommodation and limited help with personal care for people who are relatively independent and do not require specialist nursing care. For more information, see our guide, Residential Care Home.

Health and social care providers, including nursing homes, are strictly regulated in order to protect service users’ health, safety and welfare. Nursing homes and their proprietors, managers and staff are subject to the registration requirements of the Care Quality Commission in England, or the equivalent regulators in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, and regulators of the social care profession itself, such as Social Care Wales. The nursing home proprietor must also ensure that they meet national minimum standards covering the premises, facilities and services for residents, medication management, record-keeping, and consent and safeguarding.

To comply with regulations and national standards, nursing homes require a range of staff, including at least one registered manager, nurses, kitchen staff, cleaners and carers. Appropriate numbers of suitably qualified staff must be on-site at all times.

This profile provides information about starting up and running an independent nursing home. It describes the skills required, the training available, the current market trends and the key trading issues. It explains the legislation that must be complied with and provides sources of further information and support.