A major new analysis of verified care home reviews paints a positive picture of the UK's care home sector, with nearly two-thirds of homes listed on carehome.co.uk achieving an overall review score of 9.0 or above out of 10.
The report, published by care home review website carehome.co.uk, analysed verified reviews submitted over the past five years to understand what matters most to residents and their families when choosing and living in a care home.
The findings show that 44% of care homes have an overall review score of 9.5 or above out of 10, while a further 20% score between 9.0 and 9.5, demonstrating the high regard in which many homes are held by the people who know them best.
The report also highlights the vital role staff play in shaping residents' and families' experiences. Staff consistently receive the highest ratings across all 12 review categories on carehome.co.uk, with residents and their loved ones awarding 56,222 five-star staff ratings between May 2025 and May 2026 alone – more than any other aspect of care.
At a time when adult social care continues to face significant workforce shortages and recruitment challenges, the findings recognise the extraordinary contribution care home staff make every day. Reviews consistently highlight their kindness, compassion, professionalism and dedication, with words such as ‘kind’, ‘friendly’ and ‘helpful’ appearing repeatedly in residents' and families' feedback.
One reviewer wrote: “Since my dear wife became a resident in July 2025, she has received nothing but kindness and care from the many members of staff, who have looked after her wellbeing. The exemplary carers do all they can – all of the time – to make her new life a happy one. They should all have wings and halos."
While the report paints a positive picture overall, it also identifies areas where providers have opportunities to improve. Value for money consistently receives the lowest ratings across every fee band. With care home costs increasing by around 10% in the year to December 2025, and the average weekly cost of a residential care home now £1,298, the findings reflect the financial pressures many families face and their expectation that fees should match the quality of care provided.
Activities were the second lowest-rated category, followed by food and drink, highlighting the importance of everyday experiences that shape residents' wellbeing and quality of life. The findings suggest these aspects of daily life represent important opportunities for providers to further enhance residents' experiences.
The findings also reflect a wider shift across adult social care, with regulators placing greater emphasis on people's experiences and outcomes when assessing quality. Verified reviews are therefore playing an increasingly important role in demonstrating what high-quality care looks like in practice.
Will Blackwell, CEO of Tomorrow's Guides, which operates carehome.co.uk, said: “Adult social care is often discussed in terms of the challenges it faces. However, our review data tells another important story. Residents and their families are telling us that many care homes are delivering high-quality care and positive day-to-day experiences.”
