Care Homes in Dunstable
Dunstable has 14 CQC registered care homes. 10 are rated Good, 1 Outstanding, 1 Requires improvement, and 2 have not yet been rated. 9 of the 14 were last inspected more than three years ago.
Source: Care Quality Commission register, kept up to date as ratings change.
Dunstable at a glance
What the local numbers say about care for older people in Dunstable, to help you judge the options below.
- Central Bedfordshire Council pays, residential care: £1,008 a week. Self-funders are typically asked £1,421 to £1,708, median £1,582
- Care home beds filled across Central Bedfordshire: 88%. The 12 month average is 88%.
- Care home beds per 1,000 people aged 75+: 68
- People aged 75 and over: 29,400. Rising to 35,300 by 2035, up 20%
- Care homes, last 12 months: 1 opened, 3 closed. 2 changed owner, covering 122 beds.
- Who pays, across Central Bedfordshire (estimate): 42% council, 42% self. The rest is NHS funded or other.
- Living with dementia, aged 65 and over (estimate): 3,700. Rising to 4,800 by 2035, up 29%
- People aged 85 and over: 7,200. Rising to 11,300 by 2035, up 57%
Powered by Orrery Intelligence. Market model built 22 October 2026 (ONS 2022 based population projections, CQC register), published care home prices, council planning records.
Choosing a residential care home in Dunstable
Care Assura currently features 13 residential care homes in Dunstable, giving families a reasonable range of settings to consider when a loved one can no longer manage safely at home. The Care Quality Commission has rated 1 provider as Outstanding, 9 as Good, 1 as Requires Improvement, with 2 homes not yet rated. Reading the most recent inspection reports alongside our listings should help you shortlist homes that match the level of support your relative needs.
What to look for during a visit
A shortlist is only the starting point. Visiting in person tells you far more than any brochure or website. Pay attention to how staff speak to residents, whether the atmosphere feels calm and unhurried, and how the home smells and looks in communal areas. Ask to see a bedroom, the dining room at mealtimes, and any garden or quiet lounge. Homes such as The Limes, Linsell House, Ridgeway Lodge Care Home and Tudor House all appear on our Dunstable listings, and each will have its own character, staffing pattern, and approach to activities.
Matching the home to the person
Think about the specific things that matter to your relative. That might mean dementia friendly design, a particular faith or dietary requirement, proximity to family in Dunstable, or a smaller household feel. A home with an Outstanding rating will not automatically suit every individual, and a Good home with the right specialism may be a better fit. Where a provider is currently rated Requires Improvement, such as Dukeminster Court, ask directly about what has changed since the inspection and what action the manager has taken.
Arranging and funding a care home place in Dunstable
Before a placement is agreed, most people benefit from a care needs assessment. This is a free conversation with a social care professional who looks at daily living, mobility, health conditions, mental wellbeing, and any risks at home. The assessment produces a written record of eligible needs, which then guides the type of setting recommended.
How the local authority supports the process
You can request an assessment through Central Bedfordshire Council Adult Social Care, which is the body responsible for arranging assessments and funded support for residents of Dunstable. Where someone has eligible needs and limited savings, the council may contribute towards fees or arrange the placement on the person's behalf. A financial assessment sits alongside the care needs assessment to work out any contribution the individual is expected to pay.
Understanding typical costs
Residential care fees vary between providers depending on the size of the room, the level of support included, and whether the home offers specialist care. Self funders generally pay more than the local authority rate, and top up payments are sometimes requested from families where a preferred home charges above what the council will fund. It is sensible to ask each shortlisted home in Dunstable for a written breakdown of weekly fees, what is included, and how price increases are handled. Independent advice from a regulated care fees adviser can be helpful when longer term funding is a concern.
14 care homes in Dunstable
- The Limes · Cumberland Street, Dunstable, Central Bedfordshire, LU5 5BW
Care home · CQC Outstanding · Run by Optimal Living (Luton) Limited
The Limes is a residential care home in Dunstable supporting a wide range of adults. Some are older people, some have a learning disability or autism, and others are living with mental health needs, a physical disability or a visual or...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Learning Disability / Autism, Mental Health, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment, Younger Adults, Respite Care - Linsell House · Ridgeway Avenue, Dunstable, Central Bedfordshire, LU5 4QJ
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Central Bedfordshire Council
Here at Linsell House, we provide residential care for adults in the heart of Dunstable, Central Bedfordshire. We support people with a range of needs, including learning disabilities, autism, physical disabilities, and visual or hearing...
Specialisms: Learning Disability / Autism, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment, Respite Care - Tudor House · 76 West Street, Dunstable, Central Bedfordshire, LU6 1NX
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Janes Care Homes Limited
We at Tudor House are proud to offer dedicated residential care in the heart of Dunstable, Central Bedfordshire, providing a warm and supportive home for older people, including those living with dementia. Our setting has been thoughtfully...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Respite Care - Beech Close · 3 Beech Close, Dunstable, Central Bedfordshire, LU6 3SD
Care home · Run by Central Bedfordshire Council
Beech Close is a residential care home in Dunstable. We support older people and younger adults who need help with daily living, including people with a physical disability, and we take respite bookings for families needing a short break...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Physical Disability, Younger Adults, Respite Care - Dukeminster Court · Dukeminster Estate, Dunstable, Central Bedfordshire, LU5 4FF
Care home · CQC Requires improvement · Run by Quantum Care Limited
We are a residential care home in Dunstable supporting 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 and...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Mental Health, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment, Younger Adults, Respite Care - Ashton Lodge · Ashton Road, Dunstable, Central Bedfordshire, LU6 1NP
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Resicare Homes Limited
At Ashton Lodge, we offer a warm and homely environment where older people can feel genuinely comfortable, safe and well looked after. We are based in Dunstable, Central Bedfordshire, and we are proud to support the local community by...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Respite Care - Thorn Springs · Collie Place, Dunstable, Central Bedfordshire, LU5 6TW
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Ideal Carehomes (2) Limited
Thorn Springs is a residential care home in Dunstable for older people, including those living with dementia. We are not a nursing home, so what we do well is personal care, a settled daily rhythm and knowing everybody who lives here as a...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Respite Care - Ridgeway Lodge Care Home · Brandreth Avenue, Dunstable, Central Bedfordshire, LU5 4RE
Care home · CQC Good · Run by HC-One No.1 Limited
We at Ridgeway Lodge Care Home are proud to offer warm, welcoming residential care in the heart of Dunstable, Central Bedfordshire. Our home provides a comfortable and supportive setting for older people, younger adults, and those living...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Physical Disability, Younger Adults, Respite Care - 60 Bullpond Lane · Bullpond Lane, Dunstable, Central Bedfordshire, LU6 3BJ
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Voyage 1 Limited
We are a small residential care home on Bullpond Lane in Dunstable, supporting adults with a learning disability or autism, including younger adults. We also offer respite stays, which can give a family carer a genuine break while the...
Specialisms: Learning Disability / Autism, Younger Adults, Respite Care - Redwood Reablement Unit · 1-9 All Saints View, Dunstable, Central Bedfordshire, LU5 5LP
Care home · Run by Central Bedfordshire Council
The Redwood Reablement Unit in Dunstable provides short stays for older people and younger adults, including people living with dementia and people with physical disabilities, and we also take respite admissions. What we do here is...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Physical Disability, Younger Adults, Respite Care - Mansgrove Farm House · Common Road, Dunstable, Central Bedfordshire, LU6 2NL
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Harriston Homes Limited
Mansgrove Farm House is a residential home near Dunstable supporting adults with a learning disability, autistic adults, people living with mental ill health, and people with physical disabilities or sight and hearing loss. Most of the...
Specialisms: Learning Disability / Autism, Mental Health, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment, Younger Adults, Respite Care - Friars Lodge · 18-20 Priory Road, Dunstable, Central Bedfordshire, LU5 4HR
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Friars Lodge Limited
Friars Lodge is a residential care home in Dunstable in Central Bedfordshire. We provide a home for older people who need support with daily living, including people living with dementia, and we offer respite stays for those needing care...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Respite Care - Sharnbrook Care Home · 17a Park Road North, Dunstable, Central Bedfordshire, LU5 5LD
Care home · CQC Good · Run by Sharnbrook Care Home Limited
Sharnbrook Care Home is a residential home in Dunstable, Bedfordshire. We are a permanent home to older people, and we also offer respite stays for people who need care for a short period or whose family carer needs a break. Most of our...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Physical Disability, Respite Care - Ridgeway Lodge Care Home · Brandreth Avenue, Dunstable, Central Bedfordshire, LU5 4RE
Care home · CQC Good · Run by HC-One No.5 Limited
We are Ridgeway Lodge Care Home, a residential care home in Dunstable, Central Bedfordshire. We care for older people, residents living with dementia, people with a physical disability, and younger adults who need support with daily life....
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Physical Disability, Younger Adults
What care costs in Central Bedfordshire, per week
| Type of care | What the council pays | What self-funders are typically asked |
|---|---|---|
| Residential care East of England figure, because too few Central Bedfordshire homes publish this price. 44 homes. Median £1,582. | £1,008 | £1,421 to £1,708 |
| Nursing care East of England figure, because too few Central Bedfordshire homes publish this price. 17 homes. Median £1,935. | £1,061 | £1,800 to £2,126 |
| Residential dementia care East of England figure, because too few Central Bedfordshire homes publish this price. 33 homes. Median £1,785. | Not published separately | £1,602 to £1,877 |
| Nursing dementia care East of England figure, because too few Central Bedfordshire homes publish this price. 10 homes. Median £1,940. | Not published separately | £1,870 to £2,100 |
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
- Thorn Springs, 22 April 2026, Good
- The Limes, 1 October 2024, Outstanding
- Dukeminster Court, 14 December 2023, Requires improvement
Longest since a report
- Sharnbrook Care Home Limited, 12 February 2019, Good
- Linsell House, 28 March 2019, Good
- 60 Bullpond Lane, 29 May 2019, Good
Frequently asked questions about care homes in Dunstable
How many care homes are there in Dunstable?
Dunstable has 14 CQC registered care homes: 1 Outstanding, 10 Good, 1 Requires improvement, 2 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 Dunstable?
Central Bedfordshire Council pays an average of £1,008 a week for residential care. Self-funders are typically asked £1,421 to £1,708 a week. East of England figure, because too few Central Bedfordshire homes publish this price. 44 homes. Median £1,582. 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 Dunstable were inspected most recently?
Thorn Springs (22 April 2026), The Limes (1 October 2024) and Dukeminster Court (14 December 2023) have the most recent CQC reports.