Residential Care (Older People 65+) & Nursing Homes

The Norfolk Picture

There are around 6,600 older adults (aged 65 and over) and 600 working-age adults in residential care in Norfolk, based on monthly statistics published on adult social care. *

This data shows that in Norfolk there are approximately 8,700 care home beds, of which just over 7,200 are occupied, resulting in an 84% occupancy rate. Of these total care home beds, around 1,400 are non-specialist nursing care beds, with just over 1,100 occupied, giving an 83% occupancy rate.

Based on adult social care activity data for Norfolk during 2023–24, 995 working-age adults received long-term residential care (100 of whom received nursing care). For older adults (65+), this number was 4,540 individuals, including 620 receiving nursing care.

According to Skills for Care workforce data, residential care homes with nursing care in Norfolk employ around 3,200 people (2,900 full-time equivalent – FTE). Residential care homes without nursing employ approximately 8,200 people (6,900 FTE).

For nursing care homes, the vacancy rate was 4.6% (compared to 6.2% for the Norfolk sector as a whole), and the staff turnover rate was 27.4% (compared to 20.9% overall).

For care homes without nursing, the vacancy rate was also 4.6% (again compared to 6.2% for the Norfolk sector as a whole), and the staff turnover rate was 23.4% (compared to 20.9% overall).

*October 2025