About

Why CareGauge UK exists

CareGauge UK exists because care costs can be hard to judge at exactly the moment people most need clarity. It is here to give people a calmer first view of a quote, what may be shaping it, and what to ask next.

Why it exists

Care costs are hard to read when time and energy are short

Care is often arranged during illness, discharge, family stress, or a sudden change in needs. Prices can be shown as hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly amounts, with extras and assumptions that are hard to compare quickly.

Who it is for

Made for people making real care decisions

Self-funders trying to work out whether a quote looks broadly fair.
Families arranging care for a parent, partner, or relative.
Unpaid carers who need a clearer starting point before agreeing to costs.
People comparing home care, live-in care, residential care, or nursing care.

What we are trying to do

Help people ask better questions, not pretend there is one perfect price

Give people a grounded benchmark, not a false promise of precision.
Help people ask better questions about what is included and what may change.
Support clearer decisions without pushing anyone towards providers.
Recognise that higher prices can reflect real complexity, not automatically poor value.

Why this matters

A few public facts behind the problem

A few public facts show why a clear first view can help when care decisions feel unfamiliar or urgent.

Homecare Association, April 2025

£32.14 an hour

Home care can add up quickly

Homecare Association said in April 2025 that this was the minimum sustainable price for homecare in England for 2025 to 2026.

View source

Which?, 9 March 2025

Nearly £1,400 a week

Care home fees can be hard to judge at a glance

Which? reported on 9 March 2025 that care home costs were nearing this level on average, showing how quickly weekly totals can rise.

View source

Carers UK, 2 February 2026

5.8 million unpaid carers

Many families are making these decisions themselves

Carers UK said in February 2026 that millions of people across the UK are providing unpaid care while trying to manage work, money, and day-to-day life.

View source

A clearer starting point

CareGauge UK is here to support clearer, more informed decisions

It is not about catching out providers or claiming there is one exact correct price. It is about helping people walk into the next conversation better prepared.

Check a care quote