How do I arrange a care needs assessment in Hemel Hempstead?

You can request an assessment directly from Hertfordshire County Council through their adult social care service, either online or by phone. An assessor will arrange to visit the person needing care, usually at home or in hospital if a discharge is being planned. The assessment is free and does not depend on income or savings. Once complete, you will receive a written summary that can be shared with any of the residential care homes on your shortlist.

Can Hertfordshire County Council pay for a care home placement in Hemel Hempstead?

The council can fund or contribute to a residential placement following a means test that considers capital, income and property. People with savings below the lower threshold generally receive the most support, while those above the upper threshold usually self fund. Even self funders can ask Hertfordshire County Council to arrange the placement on their behalf. If the person has significant health needs, it is also worth checking eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare.

Which providers offer residential care in Hemel Hempstead?

Care Assura lists 13 residential care homes serving Hemel Hempstead. These include St Agnells House, Shear Meadow, Jasmine House, Westbrook House, The Lodge Care Home, Mountbatten Lodge and the Walsingham Support services at Adeyfield Road and Ashley Close, among others. Each listing on the directory shows the current CQC rating and contact details. You can filter by rating to focus on the homes most likely to suit your circumstances.

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

A residential care home provides help with personal care such as washing, dressing, meals and medication, alongside companionship and activities. A nursing home offers all of that plus a qualified nurse on duty around the clock for people with more complex clinical needs. All 13 providers listed for Hemel Hempstead on Care Assura are residential care homes rather than nursing homes. If nursing input is likely to be needed, this should be flagged during the care needs assessment.

What should I ask when visiting a care home in Hemel Hempstead?

Ask about staffing levels during the day and overnight, how long the manager and senior carers have been in post, and how the home responds when a resident's needs increase. Request a copy of the fee schedule and check what is and is not included, such as chiropody, hairdressing or trips out. Ask to see the most recent CQC inspection report and any actions taken since. It is also useful to visit at mealtimes to see the food and the atmosphere for yourself.

How far in advance should I start looking for a care home?

Where possible, it helps to start exploring options a few months before care is needed, so you have time to visit several homes and compare them properly. In practice, many placements are arranged more urgently following a hospital admission or a sudden change at home. If time is short, Hertfordshire County Council can help identify homes with availability that match the assessed level of need. Waiting lists vary between providers, so it is sensible to enquire about vacancies early even if you are not ready to move immediately.

Care Homes in Hemel Hempstead

Hemel Hempstead has 13 CQC registered care homes. 8 are rated Good, 3 Requires improvement, and 2 have not yet been rated. 6 of the 13 were last inspected more than three years ago.

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

Hemel Hempstead at a glance

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

Hertfordshire County Council pays, residential care: £906 a week. Self-funders are typically asked £1,585 to £1,856, median £1,700
Care home beds filled across Hertfordshire: 86%. The 12 month average is 85%.
Care home beds per 1,000 people aged 75+: 70. Hertfordshire average is 79.
People aged 75 and over: 14,700. Rising to 17,300 by 2035, up 18%
Care homes, last 12 months: 1 opened, 0 closed
Who pays, across Hertfordshire (estimate): 34% council, 49% self. The rest is NHS funded or other.
Living with dementia, aged 65 and over (estimate): 2,000. Rising to 2,400 by 2035, up 23%
People aged 85 and over: 4,200. Rising to 5,900 by 2035, up 41%

Planned and recent building work within 5 miles

Land Between Bank Mill Lane And London Road Berkhamsted Hertfordshire. Application for a 75 bed care home. Submitted 23 December 2025. Decision pending. (3.4 miles away)
St Matthews Residential Care Home Chequer Lane Redbourn Hertfordshire Al3 7Qg. Application for a 2 bed care home. Submitted 21 May 2026. Decision pending. (4.1 miles away)

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 funding a care home place in Hemel Hempstead

Before comparing individual homes, most families find it helpful to understand what level of support is actually needed and how the costs will be met. A structured assessment sets the direction for everything that follows, from the type of home you shortlist to the financial arrangements you will need to put in place.

Starting with a care needs assessment

Anyone who appears to need help with daily living can request a free care needs assessment. A social worker or assessor will visit and look at mobility, personal care, memory, nutrition, safety at home and the wellbeing of any family carer. The outcome is a written plan describing the level of support recommended, which is useful when approaching providers on our Hemel Hempstead list.

Support from Hertfordshire County Council

Adult social care across the town is coordinated by Hertfordshire County Council Adult Social Care, which arranges assessments, carries out the financial means test and can commission a placement where someone qualifies for funded support. The council will look at capital, income and property when deciding how much a person contributes. Where savings sit above the upper threshold, families usually self fund, though the council can still help arrange the placement if requested.

Typical cost context

Weekly fees for residential care in Hemel Hempstead vary depending on the size of the room, whether it is en suite, and the complexity of care needed. It is worth asking each home for a written fee schedule that spells out what is included, how fees are reviewed and what happens if needs change over time. NHS Continuing Healthcare may cover the full cost in cases where the primary need is health related, so it is worth checking eligibility.

Choosing the right residential care home in Hemel Hempstead

Care Assura currently lists 13 residential care homes serving Hemel Hempstead, giving families a reasonable spread of options across the town. Of these, 8 are rated Good by the Care Quality Commission, 3 are rated Requires Improvement, and 2 are not yet rated. Reading the most recent CQC inspection report alongside your own visit gives the clearest picture of daily life inside a home.

Shortlisting homes to visit

Location often matters more than families expect, since regular visits from relatives are one of the strongest indicators of a settled placement. Homes such as St Agnells House, Shear Meadow, Jasmine House, Westbrook House, The Lodge Care Home and Mountbatten Lodge are among those currently rated Good, while Highview Lodge, Walsingham Support - 1 Ashley Close and Cherry Tree Manor are rated Requires Improvement and may be worth discussing further with the manager. Robin House and Treetops are not yet rated, which usually reflects a newer registration rather than any concern.

What to look for on a visit

Notice how staff speak to residents, whether call bells are answered promptly and how the communal areas smell and feel at different times of day. Ask about staff turnover, the activities programme, GP and dental arrangements, and how the home handles changing needs such as the onset of dementia. A confident manager will welcome detailed questions and share their most recent inspection findings openly.

13 care homes in Hemel Hempstead

Jasmine House · Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire · CQC Good
St Agnells House · Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire · CQC Good
Shear Meadow · Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire · CQC Good
Robin House · Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
Highview Lodge · Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire · CQC Requires improvement
Westbrook House · Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire · CQC Good
Walsingham Support - 2 Ashley Close · Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire · CQC Good
Cherry Tree Manor · Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire · CQC Requires improvement
Walsingham Support - 1 Ashley Close · Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire · CQC Requires improvement
Mountbatten Lodge · Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire · CQC Good
Treetops · Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
The Lodge Care Home · Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire · CQC Good
Walsingham Support - 39 Adeyfield Road · Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire · CQC Good

What care costs in Hertfordshire, per week

Type of care	What the council pays	What self-funders are typically asked
Residential care Middle half of prices from 12 Hertfordshire homes. Median £1,700.	£906	£1,585 to £1,856
Nursing care East of England figure, because too few Hertfordshire homes publish this price. 17 homes. Median £1,935.	£1,036	£1,800 to £2,126
Residential dementia care Middle half of prices from 12 Hertfordshire homes. Median £1,766.	Not published separately	£1,678 to £1,874
Nursing dementia care East of England figure, because too few Hertfordshire 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

The Lodge Care Home, 11 June 2026, Good
Walsingham Support - 1 Ashley Close, 14 January 2026, Requires improvement
Cherry Tree Manor, 11 November 2025, Requires improvement

Longest since a report

Walsingham Support - 39 Adeyfield Road, 17 January 2018, Good
Westbrook House, 9 February 2018, Good
St Agnells House, 14 February 2018, Good

Frequently asked questions about care homes in Hemel Hempstead

How many care homes are there in Hemel Hempstead?

Hemel Hempstead has 13 CQC registered care homes: 8 Good, 3 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 Hemel Hempstead?

Hertfordshire County Council pays an average of £906 a week for residential care. Self-funders are typically asked £1,585 to £1,856 a week. Middle half of prices from 12 Hertfordshire homes. Median £1,700. 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 Hemel Hempstead were inspected most recently?

The Lodge Care Home (11 June 2026), Walsingham Support - 1 Ashley Close (14 January 2026) and Cherry Tree Manor (11 November 2025) have the most recent CQC reports.

Local care news in Hertfordshire

CQC register adds a new care home in North Hertfordshire: Monread Lodge (5 November 2026)

More local care news for Hertfordshire