How many care home beds are there in Dorset?

There are 4,491 registered care home beds across 120 CQC-registered homes in Dorset, of which 1,917 are in homes registered for nursing care and 3,529 in homes registered for dementia care (2026-07-10).

Is Dorset undersupplied or oversupplied with care beds?

Dorset has 28.2 beds per 100 residents aged 85+, against a national average of 32.5 — in line with national. At the national rate it would hold 5,170 beds, a shortfall of 679.

How will demand for care beds in Dorset change by 2043?

The population aged 85+ in Dorset is projected to change by +75.7% between 2025 and 2043 (ONS 2022-based projections). Held at today's 4,491 beds, that would be 16.1 beds per 100 aged 85+ — undersupplied, a shortfall of 4,595 beds at the national rate.

How many care beds does Dorset need?

At the national rate of 32.5 beds per 100 aged 85+, Dorset would hold about 5,170 beds today against its actual 4,491, rising to roughly 9,086 beds by 2043 as the 85+ population grows.

Care in Dorset

120 homes · 4,491 beds · CQC + ONS · 2026-07-10

Dorset carries 28.2 beds per 100 residents aged 85+, against a national average of 32.5 — in line with national

28.2

beds per 100 aged 85+ (national 32.5)

4,491

registered beds · 120 homes

15,909

residents aged 85+ (2020)

+75.7%

projected 85+ change to 2043

Dorset looks in line with national today — but its population aged 85+ is projected to change +75.7% by 2043. Hold today's 4,491 beds and the same stock falls to 16.1 per 100, a shortfall of 4,595 beds. Today's balance is tomorrow's shortage.

15,909

85+ today

27,957

85+ in 2043

Demand & supply today

Residents aged 75+	53,625
Residents aged 85+	15,909
Registered care beds	4,491
Beds per 100 aged 85+	28.2
Beds at the national rate (32.5/100)	5,170
Shortfall vs national rate	679 beds
Beds in homes registered for nursing	1,917
Beds in homes registered for dementia	3,529

Quality of the existing stock

80% of beds sit in homes rated Good or Outstanding by the CQC. 276 beds sit in homes rated Requires improvement or Inadequate — supply that may not endure, and therefore latent demand a new scheme can plan around.

Outstanding · 246Good · 3,340Requires improvement · 260Inadequate · 16Not rated · 629

Largest providers in Dorset

Provider	Homes	Beds
Care South	5	329
Barchester Healthcare Homes Limited	5	298
Scarborough Hall Limited	5	298
Care Dorset Limited	6	247
Colten Care (1993) Limited	4	227
Care UK Care Services Limited	2	145
Pebblestones Limited	2	99
Colten Care (2009) Limited	2	89

Appraising a care site in Dorset?

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Care in Dorset — questions

How many care home beds are there in Dorset?: There are 4,491 registered care home beds across 120 CQC-registered homes in Dorset, of which 1,917 are in homes registered for nursing care and 3,529 in homes registered for dementia care (2026-07-10).
Is Dorset undersupplied or oversupplied with care beds?: Dorset has 28.2 beds per 100 residents aged 85+, against a national average of 32.5 — in line with national. At the national rate it would hold 5,170 beds, a shortfall of 679.
How will demand for care beds in Dorset change by 2043?: The population aged 85+ in Dorset is projected to change by +75.7% between 2025 and 2043 (ONS 2022-based projections). Held at today's 4,491 beds, that would be 16.1 beds per 100 aged 85+ — undersupplied, a shortfall of 4,595 beds at the national rate.
How many care beds does Dorset need?: At the national rate of 32.5 beds per 100 aged 85+, Dorset would hold about 5,170 beds today against its actual 4,491, rising to roughly 9,086 beds by 2043 as the 85+ population grows.

Nearby authorities in South West: Cornwall · Wiltshire · East Devon · South Somerset · Swindon · South Gloucestershire · Teignbridge · Somerset West and Taunton · Plymouth · Sedgemoor
All of South West · All areas

Method: CQC HSCA Active Locations give every registered care home, its beds, registration scope (nursing / dementia) and latest rating; each home is assigned to a local authority by its nearest ONS population-weighted centroid. Demand is ONS small-area population aged 75+/85+ (2020); growth is ONS 2022-based subnational projections for the 85+ band (2025–2043). The national benchmark of 32.5 beds per 100 aged 85+ is computed from the same data, not assumed. Figures are estimates for research and site screening, not a substitute for a commissioned feasibility study. Updated July 2026.