Costs of Home Care in the UK | The Good Care Group
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Home care costs

We know that planning for the cost of care can be a stressful time for families. Our home care costs will never include any hidden fees, and we are a fully-managed care service, so you will not have to pay any agency fees or retainers.

Here we set out the various care options and their costs for you to consider.

At The Good Care Group, we know through our experience in helping many families to plan for the cost of home care, that care costs are a significant consideration. Our friendly and expert care advisors are here to help you make sense of the home help costs involved in caring for someone living in their own home. Call our team today on 0203 728 7577. We are here to help you and your family every step of the way.

If you are considering long-term care for the first time, we know that you probably want as much information as possible to help you consider all the different options. Our guide below gives you useful information to help you to make the decision that is right for you and your loved one.

Domiciliary care

Domiciliary care at home, sometimes called hourly care or visiting care is usually provided by a domiciliary care agency. A visiting carer from the agency you choose will visit you in your home, usually daily, sometimes twice or three times a day to support your care needs. Carers will support you with personal care and will enable you to have meals as and when you need them. Domiciliary care is suitable for those with low to medium needs and for someone who does not need around the clock care.

Benefits of domiciliary care

  • Daily care and support provided as and when you need it.
  • No need to move from your home to get the care you need.
  • A family carer who has been supporting you can have a break from their role as carer.

Limitations of domiciliary care

  • Visiting carers will typically only spend 20 minutes to an hour with you when they come to your home. They will have several other clients they have to visit in the day, so care tasks may feel rushed.
  • Generally, there is insufficient time for companionship or a strong relationship to be formed.
  • Domiciliary care is not suitable for someone living with high needs, as there is limited time for quality complex care to be provided.
  • Family members may still need to be involved in providing care depending on a person’s needs at other times throughout the day.
  • Co-ordination of visits from other healthcare professionals is the responsibility of you or your family.
  • Family members may need to provide cover if a carer is sick or there is an unexpected absence.

Cost considerations

Domiciliary care is charged at an hourly rate and will be paid directly to the domiciliary care agency. It is usually paid on either a weekly or monthly basis depending on the arrangement you have with the agency. Hourly rates for domiciliary care range anything from £15 to £30 per hour, depending where in the country you receive your care.

If overnight care is required the hourly rate is typically more, as it is for bank holidays, so it is prudent to consider the cost of care over a longer period, for example the cost over a year. Overnight care will start at £100 – £120 per night.

There may also be a travel fee for each care call, which if you have several visits a day, can quickly add up.

Live-in care

Live-in care is when a professional carer comes and lives with you in your home to provide you with round-the-clock care, companionship and support so that you can live a better quality of life.

When families are faced with the realisation that their loved one or family member needs care and support, many feel the only option is to move them into a care or nursing home. Live-in care is fast becoming the preferred choice for those who wish to continue to live in the comfort and familiarity of their own home, whilst receiving the care and support they need to live a fulfilled life.

According to a survey conducted by the live-in care hub, 97% of us would prefer to carry on living at home. Live-in care enables you to get the care and support you need without leaving your much-loved home. The focus of live-in care is on helping you live a purposeful and meaningful life, whilst maintaining independence, dignity and choice.

Benefits of live-in care

  • One-to-one care and support around the clock – something other long-term care arrangements simply cannot provide.
  • A uniquely developed, highly-personalised plan of care designed to meet your care needs whilst addressing how you wish to live your life; with none of the rigid timetables or set routines experienced in a care home.
  • Specialist and complex care are provided by highly-trained carers and delivered in the comfort of your own home. Familiar surroundings and routines are paramount in helping those living with specialist conditions, like dementia or Parkinson’s.
  • No need to move out of your much-loved home, with all the upset and disruption that brings. The family home can then be kept in the family, instead of being sold to fund care home fees. Staying at home means you can keep control of your life, with all your treasured memories and possessions around you.
  • With live-in care, you can keep your pet and the carer will support looking after it. If you have a dog, they will be happy to walk it for you.
  • Considerable and proven benefits to overall health and well-being, with much-needed peace of mind and reassurance for family members.
  • Those who require couples care can stay together as a loving couple, whilst receiving individual care plans. In a care home, couples may be split up to be cared for in different areas of the home.

Limitations of live-in care

  • Like with anything new, there will be a period of adjustment when the carer comes to your home. A good quality company will ensure you are matched with a carer who not only has the skills to provide you with the care you need but who shares common interests, so you feel as comfortable as possible with the new addition to your home.
  • You will need to have a spare room for your carer’s use. This private space is essential for the carer to have privacy, complete their care records and rest and recharge, to ensure they maintain their wellbeing, which is essential to the quality of care provided. The room must have a television and internet access.

Live-in care cost considerations

Live-in care costs are typically in line with a care home, and sometimes less. Costs in care homes can be much more if you need nursing care. With live-in care you have the added value of being able to keep your family home and the fee you pay for your care is purely for the quality support you receive and not the room and board of a residential home.

If you are a couple live-in care really is a cost-effective option. In a care home you would be charged double for two bedrooms. With live-in care there is only a nominal cost if two people receive care at the same address.

While the costs for live-in care is comparable with care home prices it does depend on the level of care provided. Please call our care advisors today on 0203 728 7577 to see how we can help you – we can arrange an assessment of you or your loved one’s needs, so you can get a true understanding as to the cost of care at home.

Residential care facilities

Assisted living facilities

An assisted living facility is a residential complex made up of self-contained apartments, bungalows or flats, although some do offer very small houses. With an assisted living facility there is 24-hour support from carers, and some facilities will have nursing care. The home you live in will have a call bell so you can call for help and support in case there is an emergency.

Assisted living facilities are generally considered by people at the very early stages when needs are low. For instance, if a person wants to remain as independent as possible, but is living with mobility problems and just needs to know someone is on hand should they need it. Good assisted living complexes will have communal facilities, including shops, gyms and hairdressers so you can enjoy your own space and independence, whilst benefiting from a safe and contained community.

Benefits of assisted living facilities

  • Ability to remain as independent as possible by living in your own space, with 24-hour emergency support, if you need it.
  • The facility will be a community where new friendships can be formed with other like-minded people who you can share your life with if you wish.
  • A wealth of facilities is available for you to enjoy life within a safe and secure environment.

Limitations of assisted living facilities

  • They should only be considered if care needs are low. Whilst 24-hour, call-out support is available, there is no plan of care to support your needs. The care provided will be reactive and not proactive.
  • Complex and special conditions cannot be supported in an assisted living facility.
  • Most do not accept pets, so you may have to find another home for your much-loved pet.
  • If care needs increase, you may very quickly find you have to resort to another care arrangement, which may mean another move, something which most of us wish to avoid in later life.

Assisted living cost considerations

An assisted living facility is typically rented, and the weekly fee charged will depend on the size of your dwelling, the facilities on offer and the location. It is likely that if nursing care is offered then this will be an additional cost to the weekly accommodation cost. Some providers may also charge separately for use of the communal facilities, so it is worth looking at the cost over a longer period. Unlike care homes, you will still have to finance your current outgoings, for example, food.

Residential care homes

Residential care is when you move out of your own home and move into a communal residence to receive the care you need. There are different types of residential settings – some only support general care needs, like companionship, personal care, mobility care (referred to as residential care), whilst others provide support for complex care and medical needs – these are nursing homes. Most residential care operators provide homes that offer three levels of care, typically on three different floors – residential, nursing and specialist care for conditions like dementia.

Every resident has their own bedroom and en-suite, but there are communal areas to be enjoyed including lounges, dining rooms and outdoor spaces. Care is provided by a team of carers and other healthcare professionals around the clock within the care home.

Benefits of residential care

  • 24-hour care in a safe and secure environment.
  • Care homes can accommodate low to high care and support needs, as well as nursing care, generally all in one place.
  • Most good care homes have many facilities for residents to enjoy, including lounges, garden spaces, a hairdressing salon and some even have a cinema.
  • A range of social activities and events are run at set times each day, so residents are entertained and able to remain active, if they wish.
  • Some residents will be able to leave the care home and go out into the local community, if they are independent and require no support.

Limitations of care homes

  • Leaving your much-loved home and having to sell the house to fund care home fees can be very upsetting and sometimes traumatic for many, especially if you are living with a condition like dementia.
  • One-to-one care cannot be achieved in a care home setting – each carer will typically care for up to six6 residents in a care home and sometimes more, depending on the home’s approach to quality of care.
  • You will need to downsize from a large family home and move into a single room, which, for some, is very challenging and makes it difficult to retain possessions you hold dear.
  • Life in a care home is driven by routines and it is difficult for you to choose things like when you eat your meals or get up in the morning. Fixed daily patterns can contribute to feelings of losing independence and control over how you live your life.
  • Care home residents are sadly more likely to have a fall or be admitted to a hospital, than if they were receiving one-to-one care in their own homes. Reports also suggest that infection rates are rising in care home settings, where lack of mobility puts you at greater risk of pressure sores and urinary tract infections.
  • Care homes may charge for additional extras which can be very expensive; trips and activities, visits to hospitals, hairdressing services, chiropody and hosting family meals or celebrations, are generally chargeable.

Residential care cost considerations

The cost of a care home can vary significantly depending on the standards of care and the environment, as well as the location of the care home. Care homes are typically more expensive in the South East of England. If nursing care or specialist care of conditions is needed, then the weekly fee can be considerably higher. When considering a care home, it is important to ask them what is included in the weekly fee as there are generally optional extras, such as trips or hairdressing all of which can add up over the course of a year.

The weekly cost of receiving quality, award-winning care in a care home can range from £1,600 to £2,000 per week, depending on the level of care provided and the room you choose in the home. Also, if you are a couple receiving care in a care home, the cost is typically double as you will be required to have two rooms.

Frequently asked questions

Talk to us about your live-in care needs

We are experts in providing a fully-managed, high-quality live-in care service rated ‘Outstanding’ in all areas by Care Quality Commission. Call our friendly and approachable team today, to arrange an assessment of your care needs.

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