How much does palliative care cost?
Palliative care at home costs are typically higher than other types of home care services due to the specialised nature of palliative care. However, it’s important to note that opting for live-in care could still be more cost-effective than domiciliary care, which may require additional costs for specific palliative care needs.
In fact, the total cost of hourly care for individuals with high or complex needs can sometimes surpass that of an all-inclusive live-in care service.
Additionally, palliative home care costs are typically equal to – if not less than – a residential care home.
On top of the cost benefits, one of the many advantages of receiving palliative care at home is the personalised one-to-one support that it offers. This is something that is difficult to achieve with domiciliary care or within a care home setting.
What does the cost of palliative care cover?
- Full assessment of your care needs before care starts
- Bespoke and tailored plan of care developed in partnership with our team of clinical experts
- A carefully matched care team that will meet all your holistic needs
- Dedicated care team led by an expert regional care manager
- Meal planning, household tasks and domestic support
- Social activities and lifestyle enhancement
- Companionship and emotional support, for all the family
- Access to clinical expertise and medical support
- Specialist support and expertise – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
What are the benefits of palliative care?
- Enhances quality of life for people living with serious illnesses: Palliative care addresses the physical, emotional, and practical needs of people with ongoing or life-limiting illnesses, providing a comprehensive and holistic approach to care.
- Provides relief from pain and other symptoms: By providing effective pain and symptom management, palliative care can help people maintain their comfort and independence while living with a serious illness.
- Helps people maintain independence: Palliative care focuses on empowering individuals to maintain their independence and dignity, enhancing their quality of life and sense of control over their own care.
- Emotional and spiritual support for both the patient and their family: Palliative care provides emotional support to individuals and their loved ones, helping them manage the emotional and psychological impacts of the illness.
- Avoiding unnecessary hospital admissions: Having a professional carer there to monitor and identify any changes in a person’s health has been shown to reduce infections, slips and falls and hospital readmissions.
- Support during the end-of-life process: Palliative care provides support and comfort to individuals and their families during the end-of-life process, helping them navigate the challenges and uncertainties of this difficult time.
Funding the cost of palliative care in the UK
There may be care funding available to you to receive a palliative live-in care service depending on your financial circumstances and your care needs. Your local authority will only fund care at home (referred to as social funding) if your assets are worth less than £23,500. We know that, sadly for many families, their financial situation exceeds this.
If you are assessed and have an identified healthcare need, you may be eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare funding organised by your local Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to support you to receive care in your own home.
Many families are faced with having to fund the care they receive themselves (referred to as self-funding care). For these families, there are options to help finance care at home, including a Care Fees Annuity or an Equity Release scheme.
Talk to us about your palliative care needs
Our friendly and experienced team is here to help you and your family make sense of the options available to you.
Call us today – we will help you every step of the way.