Care home costs in Bedford
Weekly fees for 2026, from the homes that publish them. Updated as homes confirm their prices.
There are 72 care homes registered with the CQC in Bedford, East of England. 6 have a weekly fee on record with us, each dated and traced to where it came from.
The typical residential care home fee in Bedford is £1,270 a week, about £66,040 a year. The middle half of homes charge between £1,090 and £1,500. That is close to the East of England average of £1,329. That is close to the England figure of £1,300.
Nursing homes charge more because registered nurses are on site. Across the East of England the typical nursing fee is £1,552 a week. The NHS pays a weekly contribution towards the nursing part of the fee, direct to the home.
Of the homes with a published fee, Oasis House in Bedford is the least expensive at £1,030 a week and The Airedale Nursing Home in Bedford the most at £1,650. A gap that size within one council area is normal: the room, the building and whether nursing is included all move the price.
Compare with a live-in carer at home through PrimeCarers
About £66,040 a year
For a couple, two places: £2,540 a week
Nursing care: £1,552 a week in the East of England
A live-in carer, at homeThe typical live-in carer near Bedford, set by the carer
Staying at home could cost about £190 a week less, £9,880 over a year
A couple can share one carer, about £1,355 a week, £1,185 a week less than two places.
PrimeCarers runs this site. Carers on it are self-employed and set their own rates. Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check in the last 18 months, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them.
Care homes in Bedford with a fee on record
| Care home | Town | CQC | From, a week | vs typical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A live-in carer at home, PrimeCarers For comparison. One carer can look after a couple | Near Bedford | Not a care home | £1,080 | 15% below |
| Oasis House Dementia | Bedford | CQC: Good | £1,030 | 19% below |
| Henrietta House Dementia | Bedford | CQC: Good | £1,090 | 14% below |
| The Mallards Dementia | Bedford | CQC: Good | £1,090 | 14% below |
| Manton Heights Care Centre Dementia | Bedford | CQC: Good | £1,450 | 14% above |
| Elstow Manor Nursing · Dementia | Bedford | CQC: Good | £1,650 | 30% above |
| The Airedale Nursing Home Nursing · Dementia | Bedford | CQC: Good | £1,650 | 30% above |
“From” is the lowest weekly figure the home has published or confirmed to us, dated on each home’s page. Homes that add or correct a fee appear here within the day.
How Bedford compares with nearby areas
| Council area | Residential, a week | Nursing, a week | Homes with fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford | £1,270 | 6 | |
| North Northamptonshire | £1,169 | £1,260 | 4 |
| Cambridgeshire | £1,000 | £1,475 | 5 |
What the fee includes
A care home fee in Bedford normally covers the room, meals, laundry, heating and personal care. Nursing homes add care from registered nurses. Hairdressing, chiropody, trips out, newspapers and some toiletries are usually charged on top, so ask for the list of extras before you sign.
Larger rooms, en suites and garden views cost more. Fees are reviewed once a year, usually in April; ask what last year’s increase was.
Who pays in Bedford
If you have more than £23,250 in savings and assets you will normally pay the full fee yourself. Below that, Bedford council assesses what you can contribute. The value of your home counts unless a partner or certain relatives still live there.
If you need nursing care the NHS pays a weekly contribution direct to the home. People with very high health needs may qualify for NHS Continuing Healthcare, which covers the whole fee.
Full guides: who pays, and when the council helps, NHS funded nursing care and Continuing Healthcare.
Care home or live-in care in Bedford?
A live-in carer through PrimeCarers typically costs £1,080 a week near Bedford for one person and the same carer can look after a couple. The typical residential fee in Bedford is £1,270 a week per person, so for a couple live-in care is usually far cheaper than two care home places. Complex live-in care, for higher needs, is typically about £1,344 a week.
88 live-in carers within about an hour of Bedford
These are self-employed carers on PrimeCarers, the introductory agency that runs this directory. Each has a profile with their own rates and reviews from families, and you choose who to talk to.
Most charge £980 to £1,260 a week. 76 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“We can all fully relax around Nyarai and she feels like part of our family, which is no mean feat!”
“She handled the new situation in front of her with such professionalism and I felt I could trust her 100%.”
Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check in the last 18 months, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them. Carers set their own rates, and who is free changes week to week.
Common questions
How much does a care home in Bedford cost a week?
The typical residential care home in Bedford charges £1,270 a week, based on 6 homes with a fee on record. Every home page shows where its figure came from and when.
How much does a care home in Bedford cost a year?
At £1,270 a week a year in a residential care home comes to about £66,040, and nursing care about £80,704. Most homes raise fees once a year, usually in April.
What is the cheapest care home in Bedford?
Oasis House in Bedford has the lowest published fee we hold for Bedford, from £1,030 a week (residential dementia care). The full table on this page lists every home with a fee on record, cheapest first.
Will Bedford council pay for my care home?
If your savings and assets are below £23,250, Bedford council will assess your needs and what you can afford, and may pay part or all of the fee. Councils pay a set rate; if the home you choose charges more, a relative or friend may need to pay a top-up. Ask the adult social care team for a needs assessment first.
Is live-in care cheaper than a care home in Bedford?
A live-in carer through PrimeCarers typically costs £1,080 a week near Bedford, and complex care about £1,344. Against the typical Bedford residential fee of £1,270 it is less for one person, and for a couple it is usually much cheaper because one carer looks after both.
Fees last checked October 2026.