Care home occupancy edged above the annual average and digital record adoption continued to increase, according to the latest quarterly adult social care statistics published by the Department of Health and Social Care.
The update provides a snapshot of occupancy, visiting arrangements and technology adoption across adult social care settings in England as of mid-August 2026.
The Department said rates of occupied beds, admittable vacancies and non-admittable vacancies had remained broadly stable during the previous 12 months, with the latest figures indicating a gradual strengthening in occupancy levels during summer 2026.
Here are the key insights from the latest update:
Care home occupancy rises above annual average
The proportion of care home beds rose to the highest level above the annual average in the week ending 14 August 2026, when 86.8 per cent of care home beds were occupied., which was slightly above the 12-month average of 86.2 per cent, and continued an upward trend started in June, following falls during parts of late 2025 and early 2026.
Meanwhile just over one in five beds (10.2 per cent) were vacant and admittable, below the 12 month average of 10.7 per cent, while 3.0 per cent were vacant and non-admittable, according to the data, which is based on responses covering 355,809 residents across 91.9 per cent of responding care home providers.
Occupancy highest in nursing homes
The latest figures show relatively little variation in occupancy across care home types, although nursing homes continued to record the highest level of bed utilisation.
As of the week ending 14 August 2026, occupancy stood at 87.4 per cent in non-specialist nursing homes, compared with 86.9 per cent in specialist and other care homes and 86.5 per cent in non-specialist residential homes.
Wide variation in regional occupancy levels
London recorded the highest occupancy rate at 90.5 per cent, followed by the North West at 88.4 per cent and the West Midlands at 88.1 per cent. The lowest occupancy levels were reported in the South West at 84.3 per cent and the East of England at 84.4 per cent.
Vacancy rates broadly mirrored the occupancy picture. The South West reported the highest proportion of admittable vacant beds at 12.5 per cent, compared with 7.1 per cent in London. Non-admittable vacancies ranged from 2.4 per cent in Yorkshire and the Humber to 4.1 per cent in London.
Digital records adoption continues to grow
The latest data showed continued progress in the rollout of digital social care records (DSCR).
As of June 2026, an estimated 83.6 per cent of adult social care provider locations were using a digital social care record, up from 79.3 per cent a year earlier, meaning that the vast majority (91.9 per cent) of people cared for by CQC-registered adult social care providers in England are estimated to have a DSCR, compared with 88.3 per cent in June 2025.
