Does Dorset Council contribute towards care home fees?

It can, where a person meets both the care and the financial criteria. The care needs assessment establishes whether residential care is appropriate, and a financial assessment then looks at income, savings and property to calculate the council's contribution. Because support is means tested, anyone with assets above the national threshold usually pays for their own place initially. Contact Dorset Council early, as assessments and funding decisions are rarely completed quickly.

How do I request a care needs assessment in Dorset?

Get in touch with the adult social care team at Dorset Council and explain what the person is finding difficult at home. Anyone who appears to need care and support has the right to an assessment, whatever their financial position. A social care professional will discuss the situation and consider whether a residential home is the appropriate step. If the person is in hospital, the ward team can make the referral so that the assessment is done before discharge is arranged.

How far ahead of a move should we start looking?

Start once it is clear that home is no longer working, rather than waiting for a crisis to make the decision for you. Assessments and funding decisions take weeks, and the homes families like best often have waiting lists. Beginning early leaves time to visit more than once, read inspection reports carefully and involve the person who will be moving. When a room does become available the answer is usually needed within days, so the preparation is what keeps the choice genuine.

Which residential care homes are listed for Dorset?

Eighty residential care homes appear on this page, including Denewood House Care Home, Harbour House, Castleman House and Grove Lodge. They vary considerably in size and character, from small homes to much larger ones. All are registered with the Care Quality Commission for accommodation with personal care. Open any profile to see its registration details and the findings of its most recent inspection.

What should we ask when visiting a care home in Dorset?

Ask about staffing levels day and night, how much agency cover the home relies on, and how long the manager has been in post. Find out how care plans are reviewed, how families are kept informed when something changes, and what an ordinary weekday looks like for residents. Request the fees in writing together with anything charged separately. Ask as well what would happen if your relative's needs grew, because not every home is registered to continue caring for them.

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

A residential care home provides accommodation, meals and personal care such as help with washing, dressing and medication. A nursing home holds an additional registration allowing registered nurses to work on site, which is what someone requires for wound care, tube feeding or close clinical monitoring. Every home listed on this page is registered for residential care. If a nurse must be present at all hours, search specifically for nursing registration instead.

Care Homes in Dorset

Dorset has 80 CQC registered care homes. 68 are rated Good, 3 Outstanding, 4 Requires improvement, and 5 have not yet been rated. 34 of the 80 were last inspected more than three years ago.

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

Dorset at a glance

What the numbers say about care for older people in Dorset.

Dorset Council pays, residential care: £1,156 a week. Self-funders are typically asked £1,400 to £1,650, median £1,549
Care home beds filled across Dorset: 83%. The 12 month average is 83%.
Care home beds per 1,000 people aged 75+: 59
People aged 75 and over: 66,500. Rising to 78,700 by 2035, up 18%
Care homes, last 12 months: 1 opened, 1 closed. 9 changed owner, covering 422 beds.
Who pays, across Dorset (estimate): 33% council, 57% self. The rest is NHS funded or other.
Living with dementia, aged 65 and over (estimate): 8,600. Rising to 11,000 by 2035, up 28%
People aged 85 and over: 17,900. Rising to 27,800 by 2035, up 55%

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

Planning and paying for a care home in Dorset

Why the assessment comes first

The order in which families tackle this makes a surprising difference. Starting with a care needs assessment, rather than with a shortlist of homes, gives the whole search a shape. Anyone who appears to need care and support can ask for one, and the entitlement does not depend on income or savings. The assessment considers how a person is coping, what support would genuinely help and whether residential care is the right answer at all, since some people manage well for longer with care delivered at home. Having the conclusion in writing makes every subsequent conversation sharper.

Financial assessment and council support

Where residential care is agreed, a financial assessment reviews income, savings and in most cases the value of a property to establish what the council will pay. That runs through Dorset Council Adult Social Care, which is responsible for assessing needs and for arranging funded support once eligibility is confirmed. Anyone with assets above the national threshold will normally fund their own place at first, but contact is still worth making, because savings deplete and circumstances change. If nursing input is likely to be needed, ask about NHS funded nursing care, which is assessed separately.

Understanding the fees

Weekly fees differ between homes according to the support required, the size and outlook of the room, and the facilities on offer. Ask for a written schedule showing exactly what the fee includes and what is charged on top, such as hairdressing, chiropody or outings, and check how often fees are reviewed and what notice you would get. Where the council funds part of a placement and the family prefers a home charging more than the agreed rate, someone else may be asked to meet the difference, so pin that number down early.

Choosing between the homes in Dorset and what to check

Reading behind the rating

Eighty homes is a manageable list, and the ratings help you sort it, but they should not decide it. With one home rated Inadequate and five rated Requires Improvement, the reports behind those judgements are worth reading closely, because concerns about record keeping are a different matter from concerns about the care people received. Look at what inspectors observed, which of the five key questions were answered poorly and what the provider had already put right. Check the dates on the stronger ratings too, since a home inspected several years ago may have changed hands or changed managers.

What to notice on a visit

Go and see the places on your shortlist, and if possible visit twice at different times. Watch whether residents are up, dressed and doing something, whether staff address people by name and without hurrying them, and whether the building genuinely works for someone with limited mobility or poor sight. Ask how many staff cover the night shift, how the home responds when a resident becomes unwell, how much agency cover is used, and whether the home could go on caring for your relative if their needs increased.

Distance and keeping notes

Travelling time deserves more thought than it usually gets, because a home that is awkward to reach quietly reduces how often people visit. Keep a written note of each home you see, what was said about availability and cost, and how the visit felt. When a room is offered, an answer is often needed within days, and those notes are what make a quick decision a confident one.

80 care homes in Dorset (showing 1–50)

Kings Park Care Home · 14 Church Road, Ferndown, Dorset, BH22 9EU
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Barchester Healthcare Homes Limited
Kings Park Care Home is a residential care home in Ferndown, Dorset. We provide accommodation and personal care for older people and for younger adults, including people living with dementia, and we offer respite stays for those who need...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Younger Adults, Respite Care
Millbrook House · Child Okeford, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 8EY
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Millbrook House (Dorset) Limited
Millbrook House is a residential care home in Blandford Forum, Dorset, caring for older people who need some help with everyday life. We provide permanent residential care and shorter respite stays. Some people come to us because managing...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Respite Care
Mile Oak Rest Home · 2 The Acorns, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 2EW
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Hillview Care Limited
Here at Mile Oak Rest Home in Wimborne, Dorset, we provide a warm and homely environment where older people can feel genuinely comfortable, safe and well looked after. We are proud to have received a "Good" rating from the Care Quality...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment, Respite Care
Walc House · 1 Springfield Road, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 1HD
Care home · CQC Good · Run by WALC Limited
Here at Walc House, we provide residential care for younger adults with learning disabilities and autism, in the heart of Swanage, Dorset. We are proud to have received a "Good" rating from the Care Quality Commission, which reflects the...
Specialisms: Learning Disability / Autism, Younger Adults, Respite Care
Anglebury Court · 21 Bonnetts Lane, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 4HB
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Care Dorset Limited
We at Anglebury Court are proud to offer compassionate residential care in the historic market town of Wareham, Dorset. As a residential care home nestled in the heart of the South West, we provide a welcoming and supportive environment...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Mental Health, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment, Younger Adults, Respite Care
Holmwood Rest Home · 39 Chine Walk, Ferndown, Dorset, BH22 8PR
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Margaret Anne Gallagher
We at Holmwood Rest Home are proud to offer warm, dedicated residential care in the peaceful town of Ferndown, Dorset. As a well established residential care home specialising in support for older people, we provide a true home from home...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Respite Care
Culliford House · Icen Way, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1ET
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Mrs Suzanne Jackson
Culliford House is a residential care home in Dorchester for older people who need help with daily living. We support people living with dementia and people with mental health needs, and we offer respite stays as well as permanent places....
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Mental Health, Respite Care
Dragonfly Care Home · 56 High Street, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 3HB
Care home · Run by Trusted Care Homes Limited
We are Dragonfly, a residential care home in Swanage caring for older people, including many who are living with dementia. We have tried to keep the feel of a house rather than an institution. People bring their own furniture and pictures,...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Respite Care
The Hyde Care Home · The Hyde Walditch, Bridport, Dorset, DT6 4LB
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Kenmore Care Holding Ltd
The Hyde Care Home is a residential home in Bridport, Dorset. We support older people and younger adults living here, including many people living with dementia, people with a physical disability and people with a visual or hearing...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment, Younger Adults, Respite Care
The Evergreens Lodge · Westbury, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 3QZ
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Nazareth Lodge Limited
At The Evergreens Lodge, we provide residential and dementia care for older people, younger adults, and those who need a shorter stay for respite, right in the heart of Sherborne, Dorset. This is a place where people come to feel settled,...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Younger Adults, Respite Care
Fairfield House Residential Care Home · Fairfield House, Lyme Regis, Dorset, DT7 3HH
Care home · CQC Requires improvement · Run by Fairfield House Healthcare Limited
Fairfield House is a residential care home in Lyme Regis, Dorset. We look after older people who need help through the day, including people living with dementia and people with a physical disability, and some younger adults. Respite stays...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Physical Disability, Younger Adults, Respite Care
Wolfeton Manor · 16 East Hill, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 9QL
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Wolfeton Manor Healthcare Limited
Wolfeton Manor is a residential care home in Dorchester, Dorset, providing a home for older people who would rather not manage on their own any longer. Our residents arrive for all sorts of reasons. Sometimes the house had become too much...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Respite Care
Larks Leas · Milldown Road, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 7DE
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Royal Bay Care Homes Ltd
Here at Larks Leas, we are a care home based in the heart of Blandford Forum, Dorset, and we take genuine pride in the community we have built within our walls. We specialise in Older Person Care, Residential Care and Respite Care,...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Respite Care
Encompass Care Specialist Mental Health Services Elsadene · 1 Verne Road, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 0RX
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Encompass Care Organisation UK
Here at Elsadene, we are a care home based in Weymouth, Dorset, providing residential support to people with a range of needs including mental health conditions, physical disabilities and the complexities that can come with older age. We...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Mental Health, Physical Disability, Younger Adults, Respite Care
Kingsley Court · 28 Dorchester Road, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 7JU
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Friary Care Limited
We are Kingsley Court, a residential care home in Weymouth, Dorset, supporting older people who need help with everyday living, including people living with dementia. We think of this as somebody's home rather than as a facility, and that...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Respite Care
Buxton House · 423B Radipole Lane, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 0QJ
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Care South
Here at Buxton House, we provide residential care for older adults in the heart of Weymouth, Dorset. We are proud to have received a "good" rating from the Care Quality Commission, which reflects the effort our whole team puts in every day...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment, Younger Adults, Respite Care
Rodlands Care Home · 4 Ullswater Crescent, Weymouth, Dorset, DT3 5HE
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Mrs Norma Peters and Mrs Claire Hunt
We at Rodlands Care Home are proud to offer warm, dedicated residential care for older people in the heart of Weymouth, Dorset. Our home has been thoughtfully created as a place where later life is met with kindness, dignity, and the...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Respite Care
Hyacinth House Care Home · 179-181, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 2DJ
Care home · Run by Barchester Healthcare Homes Limited
Hyacinth House Care Home is a residential home in Wimborne, Dorset. We provide care for older people and younger adults, including people living with dementia, and we offer respite stays alongside permanent places. We aim to be a home...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Younger Adults, Respite Care
Danmor Lodge · Danmor Lodge, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 7QH
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Danmor Lodge Ltd
Danmor Lodge is a residential care home in Weymouth. We care for older people who need support with daily living, including those living with dementia and those whose physical disability means they need help to move about safely. We also...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Physical Disability, Younger Adults, Respite Care
Abbey Rose · Cedar Avenue, Ringwood, Dorset, BH24 2QG
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Serene Care (UK) Ltd
Abbey Rose is a residential care home in Ringwood, Dorset. We look after older people who need support with everyday living, including people living with dementia, people managing mental health conditions, people with physical disabilities...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Mental Health, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment, Respite Care
Denewood House Care Home · 12-14 Denewood Road, Ferndown, Dorset, BH22 0LX
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Samily Care Ltd
We at Denewood House Care Home are proud to offer a warm and welcoming residential care home in the heart of Ferndown, Dorset, where older people receive compassionate support tailored to their individual needs. Nestled within this...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Respite Care
Legh House · Legh House, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 9QB
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Legh House Limited
Legh House is a residential care home in Weymouth providing care for older people, along with shorter respite stays. We are a straightforward place. There is no elaborate philosophy behind what we do beyond looking after people properly...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Respite Care
Fairlawn · St Marys Road, Ferndown, Dorset, BH22 9HB
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Care South
Here at Fairlawn, we provide a warm and homely environment in the heart of Ferndown, Dorset, where the people in our care feel genuinely valued and looked after. We are a residential care home supporting a wide range of needs, and we take...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment, Younger Adults, Respite Care
Bosworth Care Home · 6 Southdown Avenue, Weymouth, Dorset, DT3 6HR
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Bosworth Care Home (Dorset) Ltd
Bosworth Care Home is a residential home in Weymouth providing care for older people, including those living with dementia and those with a physical disability or with sight or hearing loss. What we try to offer is a home where somebody is...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment, Respite Care
Friary House · 26 Carlton Road North, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 7PY
Care home · CQC Requires improvement · Run by Friary Care Limited
Friary House provides residential care in Weymouth for older people and younger adults, including people living with dementia. We also take planned respite stays. We are a home rather than an institution, and most of what we do is...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Younger Adults, Respite Care
Eastbury House · Long Street, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 3BZ
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Eastbury House (Sherborne) Limited
Eastbury House is a residential care home in Sherborne, Dorset, offering older people a comfortable and settled place to live with support always close at hand. Our ambition is a modest one and, we think, the right one: to get the ordinary...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Respite Care
Streets Meadow · Hanham Road, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 1AS
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Care Dorset Limited
Here at Streets Meadow, we are a care home based in the heart of Wimborne, Dorset, and we are proud to offer a warm, homely environment where residents feel genuinely safe, valued and at ease. We support a wide range of needs across our...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Mental Health, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment, Younger Adults, Respite Care
Mulberry Court · Mulberry Court, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 4RE
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Salutem LD BidCo IV Limited
At Mulberry Court, we offer residential care for a wide range of people in the heart of Gillingham, Dorset. We support older adults, younger adults, and people living with learning disabilities, autism, physical disabilities, and visual or...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Learning Disability / Autism, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment, Younger Adults, Respite Care
Grassington House · 50 Prince Of Wales Road, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1PP
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Grassington House Care Home Ltd
Grassington House is a residential care home in Dorchester, Dorset, providing a settled home for older people who need support with daily living. We care for residents living with dementia, and we offer respite stays for people who need...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Respite Care
Harbour House · George Street, Bridport, Dorset, DT6 4EY
Care home · CQC Outstanding · Run by West Bay Housing Society Limited
We at Harbour House are proud to offer a warm and welcoming residential care home in the coastal town of Bridport, Dorset, where older people receive dedicated support in a setting that truly feels like home. Our community has been...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Respite Care
Encompass Care Respite Accommodation and Outreach Service · Encombe, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1PW
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Encompass Care Organisation UK
We at Encompass Care Respite Accommodation and Outreach Service are proud to offer a welcoming residential care home in Dorchester, Dorset, providing specialist support for adults with a wide range of needs. Our home is a place where...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Learning Disability / Autism, Mental Health, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment, Younger Adults, Respite Care
Waterloo Care Home · Ringwood Road, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 6RD
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Waterloo Care Home Limited
We at Waterloo Care Home warmly welcome you to our residential care home in Wimborne, Dorset, where compassionate older person care and specialist dementia support are at the heart of everything we do. Nestled in this historic market town,...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Respite Care
Ivers · Hains Lane, Sturminster Newton, Dorset, DT10 1JU
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Achieve Together Limited
Here at Ivers, we are a residential care home based in the heart of Sturminster Newton, Dorset. We support adults with learning disabilities and autism, including younger adults who are beginning their journey with us, whether that is for...
Specialisms: Learning Disability / Autism, Younger Adults, Respite Care
The Lawns · Fernhill Avenue, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 7QU
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Care Dorset Limited
We are a residential care home in Weymouth, providing a home for older people and younger adults who need help with daily living, including those living with dementia, people with mental health conditions, people with physical disabilities...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Mental Health, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment, Younger Adults, Respite Care
Spetisbury Manor · Spetisbury, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 9EB
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Country House Care Limited
Spetisbury Manor is a residential care home near Blandford Forum in Dorset, and we provide a home for older people who need support with daily living. Respite stays are available as well. Most of what makes a care home good is...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Respite Care
Gainsborough Care Home · 53 Ulwell Road, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 1LQ
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Gainsborough Care Home Limited
Gainsborough Care Home is a residential care home in Swanage providing care for older people, including people living with dementia, people with physical disabilities, people with loss of sight or hearing, and people living with mental...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Mental Health, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment, Respite Care
Highgrove Care Home · Stapehill Road, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 7NF
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Samily Care Ltd
Highgrove Care Home is a residential home near Wimborne for older people who are finding it hard to manage alone but who do not need nursing care. We help with washing and dressing, medication, meals and the ordinary business of the day,...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Respite Care
Primrose Lodge · 121-122 Dorchester Road, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 7LG
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Primula Care Limited
Primrose Lodge is a residential care home in Weymouth for older people who are finding it hard to manage alone but who do not need nursing care. We help with washing and dressing, medication, meals and the ordinary business of the day,...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Respite Care
Maiden Castle House · 12-14 Gloucester Road, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 2NJ
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Care South
Maiden Castle House is a residential care home in Dorchester, caring for older people who can no longer manage safely on their own. We aim for the feel of a household rather than an institution, with people keeping their own routines,...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment, Younger Adults, Respite Care
The Old Vicarage Care Home · The Old Vicarage, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 6HL
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Healthcare Homes Group Limited
The Old Vicarage Care Home is a residential care home in Sherborne, Dorset. We are home to older people who need support with everyday life, including residents with physical disabilities and residents with visual or hearing impairment,...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment, Respite Care
Garden House · Garden House Rest Home, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 4HN
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Garden House Rest Home Limited
We are Garden House, a residential care home in Sherborne, Dorset. We are home to older people, and we also welcome people for respite stays when a family carer needs a break or when someone needs care for a short period. We aim for a home...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Respite Care
Five Gables Care Home · 268 Station Road, Ferndown, Dorset, BH22 0JF
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Paddington Care Ltd
Five Gables Care Home is in Ferndown, Dorset. We provide residential care for older people who need support with daily living, including people living with dementia, people with physical disabilities and people with a visual or hearing...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment, Respite Care
Nazareth Lodge · Penny Street, Sturminster Newton, Dorset, DT10 1DE
Care home · CQC Outstanding · Run by Nazareth Lodge Limited
Nazareth Lodge is a residential care home in Sturminster Newton, Dorset, providing a settled home for older people who have reached the point where living alone has become difficult. Our most recent overall rating from the Care Quality...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Respite Care
Crecy Care Home · 45 Spa Road, Weymouth, Dorset, DT3 5EP
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Crecy Care Home Limited
Crecy Care Home is a residential care home in Weymouth, Dorset. We support a notably wide range of people. Older adults live here, including many with dementia. So do people who have managed a mental health condition for years, people with...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Mental Health, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment, Respite Care, Alcohol / Drug Misuse
Trafalgar Care Home · 207 Dorchester Road, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 7LF
Care home · CQC Requires improvement · Run by Trafalgar Care Limited
We are Trafalgar Care Home in Weymouth. We look after older people, including people living with dementia, people managing a mental health condition, and people with a physical disability or a visual or hearing impairment. What we offer is...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Mental Health, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment, Respite Care
Selwood House Care Home · Chestnut Road, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 9FN
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Country Court Care Homes 2 Limited
Selwood House Care Home is in Dorchester, providing residential care for older people who can no longer manage safely on their own. We keep the feel of a house rather than a unit, with people keeping their own habits, their own belongings...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Younger Adults, Respite Care
Shire House Care Home · Sidmouth Road, Lyme Regis, Dorset, DT7 3ES
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Sentry Care Limited
We are Shire House Care Home in Lyme Regis, Dorset. We look after older people who are finding it difficult to manage at home on their own, and we take respite bookings for shorter stays. We have kept our focus clear rather than trying to...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Respite Care
Ingleside Residential Care Home · 648 Dorchester Road, Weymouth, Dorset, DT3 5LG
Care home · CQC Requires improvement · Run by Christopher James Webb
Ingleside Residential Care Home is in Weymouth, caring for older people who need support with everyday life. What we provide is help with the ordinary business of the day: assistance to wash and dress, medication managed properly and on...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Respite Care
Chestnuts Residential Care Home · 93b Wyke Road, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 9QS
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Great Oak Tree Healthcare Limited
Chestnuts is a residential care home in Weymouth providing care for older people, including those living with dementia, people managing mental health conditions and people with a physical disability or with sight or hearing loss. Our...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Mental Health, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment, Respite Care
The Malthouse Care Home · Bay Road, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 4EW
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Healthcare Homes Group Limited
We are The Malthouse, a residential care home in Gillingham caring for older people. What we offer is residential care done properly rather than anything more elaborate. Help with washing, dressing and moving about safely. Support with...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Respite Care

What care costs in Dorset, per week

Type of care	What the council pays	What self-funders are typically asked
Residential care South West figure, because too few Dorset homes publish this price. 52 homes. Median £1,549.	£1,156	£1,400 to £1,650
Nursing care South West figure, because too few Dorset homes publish this price. 16 homes. Median £1,810.	£1,183	£1,599 to £1,983
Residential dementia care South West figure, because too few Dorset homes publish this price. 19 homes. Median £1,665.	Not published separately	£1,450 to £1,813
Nursing dementia care England figure, because too few Dorset homes publish this price. 75 homes. Median £2,050.	Not published separately	£1,890 to £2,221

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

Kingsley Court, 18 September 2026, Good
Bosworth Care Home, 3 September 2026, Good
Eastbury House, 1 September 2026, Good

Longest since a report

Fairfield House Residential Care Home, 6 March 2018, Requires improvement
The Hyde Care Home, 4 May 2018, Good
Encompass Care Respite Accommodation and Outreach Service, 5 June 2018, Good

Frequently asked questions about care homes in Dorset

How many care homes are there in Dorset?

Dorset has 80 CQC registered care homes: 3 Outstanding, 68 Good, 4 Requires improvement, 5 not yet rated. Counts come from the CQC register and are kept up to date as ratings change.

How much does a care home cost in Dorset?

Dorset Council pays an average of £1,156 a week for residential care. Self-funders are typically asked £1,400 to £1,650 a week. South West figure, because too few Dorset homes publish this price. 52 homes. Median £1,549. 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 Dorset were inspected most recently?

Kingsley Court (18 September 2026), Bosworth Care Home (3 September 2026) and Eastbury House (1 September 2026) have the most recent CQC reports.