Care Homes in Bedford
Bedford has 60 CQC registered care homes. 40 are rated Good, 6 Outstanding, 11 Requires improvement, 2 Inadequate, and 1 has not yet been rated. 31 of the 60 were last inspected more than three years ago.
Source: Care Quality Commission register, kept up to date as ratings change.
Bedford at a glance
What the numbers say about care for older people in Bedford.
- Bedford Borough Council pays, residential care: £1,077 a week. Self-funders are typically asked £1,421 to £1,708, median £1,582
- Care home beds filled across Bedford: 86%. The 12 month average is 84%.
- Care home beds per 1,000 people aged 75+: 87
- People aged 75 and over: 17,300. Rising to 20,900 by 2035, up 21%
- Care homes, last 12 months: 1 opened, 2 closed. 7 changed owner, covering 87 beds.
- Who pays, across Bedford (estimate): 39% council, 35% self. The rest is NHS funded or other.
- Living with dementia, aged 65 and over (estimate): 2,300. Rising to 3,000 by 2035, up 29%
- People aged 85 and over: 4,800. Rising to 7,300 by 2035, up 50%
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 the right residential care home in Bedford
Care Assura lists 60 residential care homes across Bedford, giving families a broad range of options when a loved one can no longer manage safely at home. The Care Quality Commission has rated 6 of these as Outstanding, 39 as Good, 11 as Requires Improvement and 1 as Inadequate, with 3 homes not yet inspected. That spread means it is worth taking time to compare settings rather than choosing the first home with an available room.
What to look for on a visit
A good residential home should feel calm, clean and unhurried. Watch how staff speak to residents, whether people are dressed comfortably and engaged in activities, and how the manager responds to questions about staffing levels, training and complaints. Ask to see the most recent CQC report and any recent inspection actions. Homes such as Azalea House, Rutland Road Care Home, Victoria Cottage, Elcombe House, Pathway House and Danecroft currently hold Outstanding ratings, which can be a useful benchmark when comparing what excellent care looks like in Bedford.
Matching the home to the person
Think about location for visiting family, whether specialist support is needed for dementia or a learning disability, and whether your relative prefers a smaller household or a larger community. Some Bedford homes, such as Autism Care UK (Bedford) and several Creative Support services, are geared to specific groups, while others provide general residential care for older people. Always meet the manager, spend time in the lounge at different times of day, and if possible share a meal before deciding.
Arranging and funding a care home place in Bedford
Most people begin by requesting a care needs assessment, which is free and available to anyone who appears to need support. The assessment looks at daily living, mobility, memory, medication and safety, and produces a written record of the level of care required. This document is what care homes will look at when deciding whether they can meet a person's needs.
Working with the local council
The assessment is arranged through Bedford Borough Council Adult Social Care, which is the authority responsible for adult social care in the area. Once needs are agreed, a financial assessment follows to work out how much the council will contribute. Where savings and assets fall below the national threshold, Bedford Borough Council may fund all or part of a placement, and staff can advise on top-ups, deferred payment agreements and the process for people paying privately.
Typical cost context
Residential fees in Bedford vary according to the home, the size of the room and the level of care needed. As a general guide, weekly fees for residential care in the East of England tend to sit in the mid to upper hundreds of pounds per week, with higher figures for homes offering specialist support or premium accommodation. Always ask for a written fee breakdown that shows what is included, what counts as an extra, and how and when fees are reviewed. If you are self funding, it is still worth requesting a council assessment because it protects your position if funds later run down.
60 care homes in Bedford (showing 1–50)
- 22 De Parys Avenue · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Good
- 74 Old Ford End · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Good
- Albert House · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Good
- Amaana Care · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Inadequate
- Autism Care UK · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Good
- Avon's House · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Good
- Azalea House · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Outstanding
- Bromham House · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Good
- Bromham Road · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Good
- Brookside · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Requires improvement
- Bunyan Lodge · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Good
- Bushmead Court Residential Home · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Good
- Byron Court · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Good
- CareTech Community Services - 82 Chaucer Road · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Requires improvement
- Charter House · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Good
- Cranwell Court · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Good
- Creative Support - Dove Lane · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Requires improvement
- Creative Support - High Street · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Requires improvement
- Creative Support - The Glade · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Requires improvement
- Creative Support - The Houghtons · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Good
- Danecroft · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Outstanding
- Elcombe House · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Outstanding
- Francis House · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Good
- George Beal House · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Good
- Hangar View · Bedford, Bedford
- Henrietta House · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Good
- Hepworth House · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Good
- Highfield · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Requires improvement
- Holly Tree Lodge · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Good
- House · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Good
- Kimbolton · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Good
- Lansdowne Road · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Good
- Lansglade House · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Good
- Lavanda Villa · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Good
- Lillibet House · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Inadequate
- Lillibet Lodge · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Good
- Lodge · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Good
- Lotus House · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Good
- Loveys Lodge · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Requires improvement
- Manton Heights Care Centre · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Good
- Mulberry House · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Requires improvement
- Nichols House · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Requires improvement
- Oasis House · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Good
- Park House · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Good
- Parkside · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Good
- Pathway House · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Outstanding
- Peter's Place · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Good
- Puttenhoe · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Good
- Rivermead · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Good
- Rutland Road Care Home · Bedford, Bedford · CQC Outstanding
What care costs in Bedford, per week
| Type of care | What the council pays | What self-funders are typically asked |
|---|---|---|
| Residential care East of England figure, because too few Bedford homes publish this price. 44 homes. Median £1,582. | £1,077 | £1,421 to £1,708 |
| Nursing care East of England figure, because too few Bedford homes publish this price. 17 homes. Median £1,935. | £1,161 | £1,800 to £2,126 |
| Residential dementia care East of England figure, because too few Bedford 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 Bedford 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
- Albert House, 23 September 2026, Good
- Amaana Care, 17 July 2026, Inadequate
- Manton Heights Care Centre, 16 June 2026, Good
Longest since a report
- Bushmead Court Residential Home, 23 February 2018, Good
- Bedford House, 1 November 2018, Good
- Bunyan Lodge, 2 November 2018, Good
Frequently asked questions about care homes in Bedford
How many care homes are there in Bedford?
Bedford has 60 CQC registered care homes: 6 Outstanding, 40 Good, 11 Requires improvement, 2 Inadequate, 1 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 Bedford?
Bedford Borough Council pays an average of £1,077 a week for residential care. Self-funders are typically asked £1,421 to £1,708 a week. East of England figure, because too few Bedford 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 Bedford were inspected most recently?
Albert House (23 September 2026), Amaana Care (17 July 2026) and Manton Heights Care Centre (16 June 2026) have the most recent CQC reports.