Fewer care bed trend continues

Compared to the size of the older population, the number of nursing and residential care home beds has consistently fallen over the past 9 years.

In 2012, there were 11.3 residential home places and 5.2 nursing home places for every 100 people over the age of 75, but by 2021 this had fallen to 9.4 and 4.6 respectively.

However, there is a great deal of variation within regions and between sectors, with the West Midlands and the South East both seeing an increase in nursing home places of 11% but with Yorkshire and the Humber seeing a fall of 11%. Similarly, London has seen a fall of 17% in residential home places, while the East Midlands has seen an increase of 7%.

Source: Social Care 360 – The Kings Fund