The thirty-fifth edition of LaingBuisson’s Care Homes for Older People UK Market Report is indispensable reading for advisors, operators, investors, commissioners, and policymakers involved in nursing and residential care home services across the UK for people aged 65-years-old and over. The report provides a robust credibility check on key questions for those operating in the sector, interested in investing in the sector or who are looking to understand the impact of change at both a national and local level.

This year’s edition explores the impact of rising care costs, National Living Wage uplifts, and the shift towards premium pricing, as well as the growing dominance of larger providers. LaingBuisson has found that the annualised value of care in residential settings across the UK is estimated at £26.2 billion at December 2024, having dipped to an annualised £17.4 billion in March 2021. The substantial recent growth in market size (40% in a period of four years and nine months) is very largely due to fee inflation, which has in turn been driven by cost inflation from National Living Wage uplifts.

This report goes beyond surface-level analysis, offering comprehensive data and visualisations on market concentration, pricing structures, capacity trends, and regional variations. With expert commentary and in-depth operational insights, it serves as a vital benchmarking tool for strategic decision-making and future planning.

For those interested in the wider social care sector, read together with LaingBuisson’s Homecare and Supported Living, Adult Specialist Care, and, Children’s Services to gain a comprehensive understanding of the social care market in the UK that cannot be found anywhere else.

• Operators of residential care and nursing homes
• Nursing agency operators
• Homecare agencies and providers
• Private equity and infrastructure investors
• REITs
• Developers
• Directors of adult social services
• Local authority commissioners
• Care advisors
• Management consultants
• Business advisors
• Long-term care insurance providers
• Central government
• Think tanks
• Policy writers

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