Last updated 16 October 2025
Finding a care home for a couple
When both partners in a relationship require care, finding a care home that can accommodate their needs and allow them to stay together can be a key factor in an already emotional decision to look for residential support.
For many couples, spending their later years side by side is about more than just comfort; it's about companionship, routine, love, and the life they've built together.
At Anchor, we understand the significance of this transition and the challenges people can face in finding the right care home for both partners. This guide provides essential information to help couples find an Anchor care home that supports their unique situation.
Topics covered:
- Why choose a care home as a couple?
- Understanding individual vs. shared care needs
- Types of care homes that support couples
- Can couples stay together if their needs are different?
- Practical considerations when choosing a home
- Care home fees for married couples
- Managing the emotional transition into care
- What to do if one partner needs to move first
- Continue living life together at a care home for couples
Why choose a care home as a couple?
As we age, it’s not uncommon for one or both partners in a relationship to require additional support with daily tasks or personal care. Choosing to move to a care home together can bring peace of mind, knowing that professional care is available around the clock and that both individuals are in a safe, supportive environment, designed to support a wide range of needs, can be very reassuring.
For couples, the decision to move into a care home often revolves around staying together and living somewhere that can provide each person with the right level of care. Whether it’s help with mobility, memory care, or just day-to-day tasks like cooking and cleaning, a care home can offer tailored support without sacrificing the closeness that partners have shared for decades.
Many people find it useful to get ready for this transition by finding out more about what life is like in a care home. It is common for people to have concerns about losing their independence, or the impact a move might have on important routines a couple have built their life together around. At Anchor, privacy and choice are high on our priority list. Our approach to residential care focuses on ensuring residents are supported to continue doing all the things they enjoy, both in the home as well as in the local community, with the people that matter most to them.
.jpg)
Understanding individual vs. shared care needs
One of the first steps to finding a care home for a couple is understanding the care needs of each partner. These needs can vary significantly, and that’s perfectly normal. Perhaps one partner is relatively independent, while the other has more specific care needs, such as dementia, Parkinson’s, or limited mobility.
Care homes that cater to couples are experienced in developing individual care plans within a shared living arrangement. This means each partner receives care tailored to their needs, while continuing to live together, either in the same room or suite, or in adjoining rooms.
Types of care homes that support couples
Anchor’s care homes offer a range of care settings, and many are designed to support couples in comfortable, private spaces, providing access to professional care and stimulating social environments. For couples, our care homes are able to provide:
Residential care
All Anchor’s care homes are able to provide a high standard of residential care, which is ideal for couples who require some assistance with daily living but do not have nursing care needs.
Dementia care
Tailored support for individuals with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia is available at all our care homes, with access to a team of dementia specialists and carers trained to provide life-enhancing care.
Can couples stay together if their needs are different?
In many cases, couples can stay together even if their care needs differ. While room availability and an assessment of care needs are important factors, most Anchor homes can accommodate a range of needs within the same residence, allowing each partner to receive the level of support they require without being separated. Our care teams will always do everything they can to support couples to live together.
Care homes that offer personal care plans tailor services to suit each partner. For example, one person may require assistance with personal care and mobility, while the other may benefit from the social environment and need minimal support. In these homes, shared living spaces, such as a double room or adjoining rooms, allow couples to maintain intimacy and independence simultaneously.
Practical considerations when choosing a home
When exploring care home options for couples, there are some practical factors to consider:
Room size and layout
Is there a suite or double room available that can comfortably accommodate two people and their belongings? Would you prefer separate rooms, and if so would it be important that they were close to one another?
Accessibility
Are the facilities designed to meet the mobility or care needs of both partners?
Privacy
Can the couple enjoy private time together while also accessing communal areas for social engagement?
Routine and lifestyle
Does the home support a routine that mirrors the couple’s preferences for meals, activities, or bedtime?
At Anchor, we prioritise comfort and dignity, ensuring that couples can continue to live in a way that respects their shared habits and routines, while enjoying the peace of mind that comes with professional care.
Care home fees for married couples
Paying for care can sometimes be a concern, and when two people are involved, there are additional factors to consider. Financial considerations include:
- Whether one or both partners require care
- Whether they are moving into the same care home room
- Individual financial assessments and eligibility for funding
- Property ownership and savings
In some cases, if only one partner requires care, the value of a jointly owned home may be disregarded during means testing. Local Authorities may also contribute towards the costs, depending on an individual's income and assets.
It’s recommended to speak with a financial advisor or care funding specialist to understand your specific situation. At Anchor, our team can provide guidance about care home fees and connect you with independent financial support services to help make this part of the journey a little easier.
Managing the emotional transition into care
Moving into a care home is a significant life change, and when two people are involved, it can evoke a range of emotions. Sometimes there can be other family members involved in the decision-making process and it’s essential everyone acknowledges these feelings and approaches important conversations with compassion and kindness.
For couples, the idea of leaving a long-time home or adapting to a new living arrangement may be daunting. But with the proper support, the transition can also bring a new sense of ease and security. Knowing that care is always at hand and that neither partner has to face this chapter alone can offer immense comfort.
Anchor’s care homes offer transition support, helping couples settle in, make new social connections, and maintain a strong sense of identity and partnership.
What to do if one partner needs to move first
Sometimes, one partner’s health may decline before the other’s, making it necessary for them to move into care ahead of their loved one. This can be a particularly emotional time, but it doesn’t mean the couple must be separated indefinitely.
In many cases, care homes will do everything possible to enable the second partner to join later when the time is right. In the meantime, regular visits, video calls, and overnight stays may be options to help maintain connection.
Anchor’s caring, professional staff are trained to support families during this phase, allowing both partners to adjust. Our care teams spend time really getting to know residents and their families, and good communication can make all the difference to this situation.
Continue living life together at a care home for couples
Finding a care home for a couple is not just about beds and care packages; it’s about love, dignity, and togetherness.
If you’re beginning this journey, know that you're not alone. Take the time to explore your options, ask questions, and involve your loved ones in the process. With the proper guidance and a little planning, it’s entirely possible to find a care home that meets both partners’ needs, without sacrificing being together.
Care homes for couples near you
We have more than 120 Anchor care homes in locations all over England, offering a wide range of care services. While not all of our homes have dedicated couple suites or double rooms, they can all support couples who wish to make the transition into care together as best they can. To start your enquiry simply search for a home near you and contact the home to learn how we support couples in care.
