How do I arrange a care needs assessment in Ashford?

Contact the adult social care team at Kent County Council and ask for a care needs assessment, which is free and open to anyone who appears to need support. A practitioner will look at daily living, mobility, health, safety and the help already provided by family before setting out the level of care required. The assessment considers needs alone, with a financial assessment following separately if funded support may apply. Ask for the written outcome, since care homes will want to see it.

Can Kent County Council pay towards a care home placement?

It can, depending on the assessed need and the financial assessment that follows. Kent County Council reviews income, savings and capital, and where these fall below the national thresholds it contributes towards the weekly fee alongside a contribution from the resident. Property is treated differently according to who else lives there, so ask about deferred payment arrangements before selling anything. Even people paying privately benefit from an assessment, because it records the level of care that is appropriate.

Which care homes in Ashford appear on this listing?

Thirty registered residential care homes match this search, from Birch House, Ashlea House and Court Lodge to The Cedars Care Home, Homelands and Brambles Care Home. Each has a profile giving the provider, the care type and the most recent Care Quality Commission rating. The homes appear as a list rather than a ranking, so it pays to open a handful of profiles rather than stopping at the first recognisable name. Vacancies change constantly, and a home that is full this month may have a room next.

What is the difference between a residential care home and a nursing home?

A residential care home provides a permanent home with help for daily living such as washing, dressing, meals and company, delivered by trained care staff. A nursing home offers all of that but also employs registered nurses on the premises at all hours for health needs that care assistants cannot meet. Every home on this page is registered for residential care rather than nursing. If health needs are likely to grow, it is worth asking a home how it manages that change and whether district nurses visit.

How early should we begin looking at care homes in Ashford?

Sooner than most families think, ideally while there is still time to visit two or three homes without pressure. Popular homes hold waiting lists, and unhurried visits produce far better decisions than one urgent choice made in a hospital corridor. When a discharge is imminent the timescale can shrink to days, which is exactly when an existing shortlist proves its worth. Even if a move is a year away, reading profiles and inspection reports now costs nothing.

What should I ask when visiting a care home in Ashford?

Ask about staffing first, including how many carers are on duty at night, how long the manager has been in post and how much agency cover the home relies on. Then ask how care plans are written and reviewed, how families are told when something changes, and how the home supports someone whose needs increase. Practical points matter too, such as visiting arrangements, what happens to a room during a hospital stay, and how laundry and belongings are looked after. Finish by asking what the last inspection said and what has changed since.

Care Homes in Ashford

Ashford has 32 CQC registered care homes. 29 are rated Good, 1 Outstanding, 2 Requires improvement. 26 of the 32 were last inspected more than three years ago.

Source: Care Quality Commission register, kept up to date as ratings change.

Ashford at a glance

What the local numbers say about care for older people in Ashford, to help you judge the options below.

Kent County Council pays, residential care: £1,187 a week. Self-funders are typically asked £1,409 to £1,600, median £1,500
Care home beds filled across Kent: 88%. The 12 month average is 88%.
Care home beds per 1,000 people aged 75+: 60. Kent average is 77.
People aged 75 and over: 15,000. Rising to 17,600 by 2035, up 18%
Care homes, last 12 months: 0 opened, 0 closed. 2 changed owner, covering 29 beds.
Who pays, across Kent (estimate): 35% council, 43% self. The rest is NHS funded or other.
Living with dementia, aged 65 and over (estimate): 1,900. Rising to 2,500 by 2035, up 30%
People aged 85 and over: 3,700. Rising to 6,000 by 2035, up 61%

Powered by Orrery Intelligence. Market model built 22 October 2026 (ONS 2022 based population projections, CQC register), published care home prices, council planning records.

Arranging and paying for a care home place in Ashford

Sorting out the assessment and the money early makes everything that follows calmer, which is why this page begins there rather than with the thirty homes matching a search in Ashford. Families who understand the process before they start visiting tend to ask better questions and feel less rushed into a decision.

The care needs assessment comes first

Anyone who appears to need care and support is entitled to a free assessment, whatever their savings. The assessment is arranged through Kent County Council, the authority responsible for adult social care assessments and funded support, and it sets out the level of help a person needs before any conversation about cost. A relative providing regular support can ask for a carer's assessment at the same time. Keep the written outcome to hand, as homes will want to see what has been agreed.

How the financial side is worked out

A financial assessment follows, looking at income, savings and capital to decide whether the local authority contributes towards the weekly fee. Where a person owns their home, the treatment of that property depends on who else lives there and whether the stay is permanent, and a deferred payment arrangement can sometimes bridge the gap rather than forcing a quick sale. Attendance Allowance is not means tested and is worth claiming separately. Anyone close to the funding thresholds should ask for the calculation in writing.

What the fees usually cover

Residential fees in Ashford ordinarily cover the room, all meals, laundry, personal care and the daily life of the home. Extras such as hairdressing, chiropody, escorted appointments and outings are commonly charged on top, so ask for a written schedule showing what falls inside the weekly fee and what does not. Check the notice period, how often fees are reviewed, and what happens if savings run down to the point where local authority support begins, since not every home continues a placement on that basis.

Choosing between the care homes in Ashford

Narrowing thirty homes to a shortlist

The listing includes both larger homes and small domestic settings, some of them registered for supported living and specialist needs rather than general older people's care. Start by matching registration to the need, then filter by location, since a home close enough for regular visits is worth more over the years than a slightly smarter one an hour away. Three or four homes is a manageable shortlist.

What the ratings tell you and what they leave out

Most homes here sit at Good, which is the standard the Care Quality Commission expects. Rosemary Cottage and Orchard House were told at their last inspection that they require improvement, and that is a prompt to read the report rather than an automatic reason to strike them off, since the concerns may be narrow and already addressed. Equally, an older report describing a Good home says little about staffing today. Check the inspection date alongside the rating.

What to watch for on a visit

Visit at a busy hour, ideally around lunch, and stay long enough to see an ordinary stretch of the day. Notice whether residents are dressed as they would choose, whether staff crouch to speak at eye level, and whether the noise in the lounge is conversation or television. Ask how many staff are on at night, how long the manager has been in post, how much agency cover is used, and what happens when a resident's needs increase beyond residential care.

32 care homes in Ashford

Echelforde · College Way, Ashford, Surrey, TW15 2XG
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Care UK Community Partnerships Ltd
Echelforde provides residential care in Ashford, Surrey, for older people, including people living with dementia, adults with learning disabilities and autism, people with mental health needs and people with physical disabilities. We also...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Learning Disability / Autism, Mental Health, Physical Disability, Respite Care
The Grange · 2 The Street, Ashford, Kent, TN24 9EX
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Willow Care Homes Ltd
We are a residential care home in Ashford, caring for older people including those living with dementia and those with physical disabilities. We aim to run the place as a household rather than an institution. People get up when they wake,...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Physical Disability, Respite Care
Rose Cottage · Church Road, Ashford, Kent, TN25 6NT
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Counticare Limited
Rose Cottage is a residential care home in Ashford supporting adults with a learning disability or autism, with respite stays available as well as permanent places. This is home for the people who live here, and we try to keep that fact at...
Specialisms: Learning Disability / Autism, Respite Care
Farm House · Highlands Farm, Ashford, Kent, TN26 3RJ
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Canterbury Oast Trust
Here at Farm House, we are a residential care home based in Ashford, Kent, and we are proud to support the people who live with us every day. We specialise in residential care, supporting adults with learning disabilities and autism, as...
Specialisms: Learning Disability / Autism, Respite Care
Heathfield Residential Home · Canterbury Road, Ashford, Kent, TN24 8QG
Nursing home · Care home · CQC Good · Nursing on site · Run by Heathfield Healthcare Limited
Heathfield in Ashford offers both residential and nursing care, with qualified nurses on duty at all times. We care for older people, including many people living with dementia, people with physical disabilities and people with sight or...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment, Respite Care
Belmont · Stone Street, Ashford, Kent, TN25 6DF
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Counticare Limited
We at Belmont are proud to offer a warm and welcoming residential care home in Ashford, Kent, where individuals living with learning disabilities and autism can truly feel at home. Our approach centres on dignity, understanding, and...
Specialisms: Learning Disability / Autism, Respite Care
The Laurels · 209 Faversham Road, Ashford, Kent, TN24 9AF
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Caretech Community Services (No.2) Limited
We are a residential home in Ashford supporting adults who need somewhere settled to live, including people living with mental health conditions. What we try to offer is stability. Familiar staff, a predictable shape to the week, meals at...
Specialisms: Mental Health, Respite Care
Court Lodge · Church Road, Ashford, Kent, TN25 6NS
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Counticare Limited
We at Court Lodge are delighted to welcome you to our warm and homely residential care home in Ashford, Kent, where personalised support for adults with learning disabilities and autism sits at the very heart of everything we do. Nestled...
Specialisms: Learning Disability / Autism, Respite Care
Birch House · The Street, Ashford, Kent, TN26 2AF
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Nexus Programme Limited
We at Birch House are proud to offer a welcoming residential care home in the heart of Ashford, Kent, where adults with learning disabilities and autism, including younger adults, can truly feel at home. Our setting has been thoughtfully...
Specialisms: Learning Disability / Autism, Younger Adults, Respite Care
Ivy Cottage · Highlands Farm, Ashford, Kent, TN26 3RJ
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Canterbury Oast Trust
We at Ivy Cottage are proud to offer a welcoming residential care home in Ashford, Kent, providing specialist support for adults living with learning disabilities and autism. Our home is designed to feel exactly that, a home, where every...
Specialisms: Learning Disability / Autism, Respite Care
Orchard House · Ashford Road, Ashford, Kent, TN23 3ED
Care home · CQC Requires improvement · Run by Caretech Community Services (No.2) Limited
Orchard House is a residential care home in Ashford, Kent, supporting adults with a learning disability, autistic adults and people with a physical disability. We also offer respite stays. This is somebody's home before it is anything...
Specialisms: Learning Disability / Autism, Physical Disability, Respite Care
Cedar Bungalows · Church Lane, Ashford, Kent, TN26 1EL
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Coveberry Limited
Cedar Bungalows is a residential care home in Ashford, Kent, supporting adults with a learning disability or autism, adults living with mental health conditions and older people who need residential care. It is a home rather than a...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Learning Disability / Autism, Mental Health, Younger Adults, Respite Care
Anderida · Church Road, Ashford, Kent, TN25 6NT
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Counticare Limited
We are a residential home in Ashford supporting adults with learning disabilities, autistic people and people living with mental health conditions. The house runs as a household rather than a service. People living here have their own...
Specialisms: Learning Disability / Autism, Mental Health, Respite Care
The Autistic Trust - 118 Beaver Lane · 118 Beaver Lane, Ashford, Kent, TN23 5NX
Care home · CQC Outstanding · Run by The Kent Autistic Trust
Here at The Kent Autistic Trust on Beaver Lane in Ashford, we provide specialist residential care for adults with autism and learning disabilities. We are proud to have received an Outstanding rating from the Care Quality Commission, a...
Specialisms: Learning Disability / Autism, Respite Care
Lyndhurst House · Charing Hill, Ashford, Kent, TN27 0NG
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Nexus Programme Limited
Lyndhurst House is a residential care home in Ashford, Kent. We support adults with a learning disability and autistic adults, including younger adults, and we offer respite stays for people who need a short break or whose family carer...
Specialisms: Learning Disability / Autism, Younger Adults, Respite Care
The Autistic Trust - 165 Jemmett Road · 165 Jemmett Road, Ashford, Kent, TN23 4RH
Care home · CQC Good · Run by The Kent Autistic Trust
Our home on Jemmett Road in Ashford provides residential care for autistic adults and adults with a learning disability. We keep the house small and domestic on purpose. It is a home on an ordinary street, and the people who live here are...
Specialisms: Learning Disability / Autism, Respite Care
Southfields · Stanhope Road, Ashford, Kent, TN23 5RW
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Kent County Council
Southfields is a residential care home in Ashford. We support older people and younger adults, including adults with a learning disability, autistic adults, and people with physical disabilities or sight and hearing loss. Because the...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Learning Disability / Autism, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment, Younger Adults, Respite Care
Cosy Lodge · Westwell Leacon, Ashford, Kent, TN27 0EH
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Counticare Limited
Cosy Lodge is a residential care home in Ashford, Kent, for adults with a learning disability and autistic adults. We are a house rather than an institution, and being small is the point. Staff get to know the people they support properly,...
Specialisms: Learning Disability / Autism, Respite Care
Rosemary Cottage · Highlands Farm, Ashford, Kent, TN26 3RJ
Care home · CQC Requires improvement · Run by Canterbury Oast Trust
Rosemary Cottage is a residential care home near Ashford supporting adults with a learning disability, autistic adults and people living with a physical disability. We are a house rather than a unit, and the people who live here have a...
Specialisms: Learning Disability / Autism, Physical Disability, Respite Care
Woodchurch House · Brook Street, Ashford, Kent, TN26 3SN
Nursing home · Care home · CQC Good · Nursing on site · Run by Woodchurch House Limited
Woodchurch House is a nursing home near Ashford in Kent, and we take on a broader range of needs than most homes of our size. We care for older people and for younger adults, providing both residential and nursing care, with qualified...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Mental Health, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment, Younger Adults, Respite Care, Alcohol / Drug Misuse
Oaklands · 183 Faversham Road, Ashford, Kent, TN24 9AE
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Caretech Community Services (No.2) Limited
Oaklands is a residential care home in Ashford, Kent, supporting adults with a learning disability and autistic adults. We also offer respite stays. We run this as a household rather than a service with bedrooms attached. People choose how...
Specialisms: Learning Disability / Autism, Respite Care
Ashlea House · Bockhanger Lane, Ashford, Kent, TN24 9BP
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Nexus Programme Limited
We at Ashlea House are proud to offer a warm and welcoming residential care home in Ashford, Kent, where adults living with learning disabilities and autism can truly feel at home. Our community is built around respect, individuality, and...
Specialisms: Learning Disability / Autism, Younger Adults, Respite Care
Glover House · Glover Road, Ashford, Kent, TN24 0RZ
Care home · CQC Good · Run by The Drive Care Homes Limited
Glover House is a residential care home in Ashford, Kent, supporting adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults, people with physical disabilities, and people living with sight or hearing loss. Most of those living here are...
Specialisms: Learning Disability / Autism, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment, Younger Adults, Respite Care
Whiston House · Whiston Avenue, Ashford, Kent, TN26 3LA
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Caretech Community Services (No.2) Limited
Whiston House is a residential care home in Ashford, Kent, supporting adults with a learning disability, autistic adults and people living with mental health conditions. We also offer respite stays. We treat this as somebody's home rather...
Specialisms: Learning Disability / Autism, Mental Health, Respite Care
The Cedars Care Home · 16 Fordbridge Road, Ashford, Surrey, TW15 2SG
Care home · CQC Good · Run by The Cedars Care Home (Ashford) Limited
The Cedars Care Home is a residential care home in Ashford, Surrey. We provide a home for older people, including many living with dementia, and we also offer respite stays, whether that is to give a family carer a break or to help...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Respite Care
May Lodge · Barrow Hill, Ashford, Kent, TN25 6JG
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Caretech Community Services (No.2) Limited
May Lodge is a small residential home in Ashford. We support adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults, and we offer respite stays. Being small is the point rather than a limitation. This is a house and it feels like one....
Specialisms: Learning Disability / Autism, Respite Care
May Morning · Barrow Hill, Ashford, Kent, TN25 6JG
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Caretech Community Services (No.2) Limited
May Morning is a residential care home in Ashford, Kent, supporting adults with a learning disability, autistic adults, people managing mental health conditions and people with a visual or hearing impairment. Respite stays are available as...
Specialisms: Learning Disability / Autism, Mental Health, Visual / Hearing Impairment, Respite Care
Boldshaves Oast · Frogs Hole Lane, Ashford, Kent, TN26 3RA
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Canterbury Oast Trust
Here at Boldshaves Oast, we are a care home based in Ashford, Kent, and we are proud to support a wide range of people within our community. Our team works hard every day to make sure that everyone who lives with us feels genuinely at...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Learning Disability / Autism, Younger Adults, Respite Care
The New Bungalow · Forge Hill, Ashford, Kent, TN25 7DT
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Canterbury Oast Trust
Here at The New Bungalow, we offer residential care for adults in a warm and homely setting in Ashford, Kent. We support people with learning disabilities, autism and physical disabilities, and we also provide respite care for those who...
Specialisms: Learning Disability / Autism, Physical Disability, Respite Care
Holly Cottage · Highlands Farm, Ashford, Kent, TN26 3RJ
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Canterbury Oast Trust
Holly Cottage is a residential care home in Ashford, Kent, supporting adults with learning disabilities and autism. We run this as a home rather than a placement, and that distinction shapes everything. The people who live here choose how...
Specialisms: Learning Disability / Autism, Respite Care
Brambles Care Home · Bramble Lane, Ashford, Kent, TN25 5EE
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Brambles Care Limited
Brambles is a residential care home in Ashford, Kent, supporting older people. We offer permanent places and respite stays. We try to run the home the way a household runs rather than the way an institution does. People get up when they...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Respite Care
Homelands · Forge Hill, Ashford, Kent, TN25 7DT
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Canterbury Oast Trust
Homelands is a residential care home in Ashford in Kent. We support adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults, and we offer respite stays for people who usually live elsewhere. We run this as a home that people live in rather...
Specialisms: Learning Disability / Autism, Respite Care

What care costs in Kent, per week

Type of care	What the council pays	What self-funders are typically asked
Residential care Middle half of prices from 22 Kent homes. Median £1,500.	£1,187	£1,409 to £1,600
Nursing care Middle half of prices from 11 Kent homes. Median £1,605.	£1,378	£1,550 to £1,865
Residential dementia care Middle half of prices from 18 Kent homes. Median £1,500.	Not published separately	£1,500 to £1,619
Nursing dementia care South East figure, because too few Kent homes publish this price. 37 homes. Median £2,050.	Not published separately	£1,975 to £2,226

Published prices are often starting prices, and come from homes that publish fees, so treat them as a guide. Ask the home for its own price. Powered by Orrery Intelligence.

Inspected most recently

The Cedars Care Home, 17 August 2026, Good
Orchard House, 27 August 2025, Requires improvement
Birch House, 8 January 2025, Good

Longest since a report

Rosemary Cottage, 19 January 2018, Requires improvement
Anderida, 4 April 2018, Good
Homelands, 1 May 2018, Good

Frequently asked questions about care homes in Ashford

How many care homes are there in Ashford?

Ashford has 32 CQC registered care homes: 1 Outstanding, 29 Good, 2 Requires improvement. Counts come from the CQC register and are kept up to date as ratings change.

How much does a care home cost in Ashford?

Kent County Council pays an average of £1,187 a week for residential care. Self-funders are typically asked £1,409 to £1,600 a week. Middle half of prices from 22 Kent homes. Median £1,500. Published prices are often starting prices, and come from homes that publish fees, so treat them as a guide. Ask the home for its own price.

Which care homes in Ashford were inspected most recently?

The Cedars Care Home (17 August 2026), Orchard House (27 August 2025) and Birch House (8 January 2025) have the most recent CQC reports.

Care Homes near Ashford

Staplehurst