If you’re starting to look for care for your loved one, you may be wondering how much does in home care cost?
In home care services are an alternative to your loved one having to move to a care home to receive the care they need.
There are many options available when it comes to finding and paying for the right elderly care for your loved one.
This article will cover the big question how much does in home care cost, and help you understand your options.
Here’s a summary of what we’ll cover:
- Hourly home care can cost between £20-£30, with prices varying by location and care needs or services used.
- Live in care services support your loved one around the clock from the comfort of their own home, but it can be costly.
- Depending on your loved one’s care needs, home care can be a less expensive option than moving them into a care home.
- If you’re worried about in home care costs, check if your loved one is eligible for funding.
What is in home care?
In home care, or home care, is when care providers visit your loved one at home to carry out services to help them live independently at home.
It allows older people who need extra support to continue living in their own home, rather than move into a care home or assisted living facility.
Trained carers visit them at home to carry out aspects of their care plan, which is established by a care needs assessment.
In home care is also known as domiciliary care – there’s more information in our guide what is domiciliary care?
Are you worried about a loved one?
Dementia care at home
Those receiving dementia care at home may need a high level of support from specialist dementia carers.
This can involve comprehensive personal care as well as support with daily activities around the home.
Plus carers may support with challenging behaviour associated with dementia or specific nursing care needs.
Palliative care at home
People receive palliative care to help them live comfortably and well with a life-limiting illness.
Or they may be receiving palliative care meaning they are coming towards the end of their life and prefer to die in the comfort of their own home.
Find out more about what is palliative care at home in our guide.
What services are provided as part of in home care?
Any care service that you find in a care or nursing home is available as part of an in home care plan.
Whether your loved one needs minimal care or requires more complex medical treatment, home care staff are trained to provide it.
This can include:
- Personal care and everyday hygiene
- Lifting and transfers
- Help with cooking and eating
- Medication support
- Household help
- Companion support
Do different services affect the cost of home care?
If you’re planning for later life care and wondering how much does in home care cost, you need to know the price of the services you need.
Services such as companion care or home help usually cost less than those which involve medical or nursing care.
This is because they don’t require specialist knowledge or equipment to help with medication or mobility needs, for example.
How much does in home care cost per hour?
The exact cost of in home care is dependent on what services your loved one needs and the hours of care they receive.
It can also depend on whether they need this care during the day or night, as well as other factors such as geographic location.
For example, London prices for home care services are often more expensive than other parts of the country.
Hourly rates
Generally speaking, you should expect to be paying between £20 and £30 an hour for in home care costs.
This is covering the basic rate for the carer providing your care, as well as agency fees if booked through a home care agency.
Bear in mind agency rules for charging around weekends, bank holidays and for time periods less than an hour.
Price breakdown example
Imagine that you need 15 hours of care services a week at the rate of £25 per hour.
That equates to:
- £375 a week
- £1500 a month
- £18,000 a year
How much does in home care cost compared to a care home?
If you’re worried about what you’ll have to pay for care, it’s worth exploring home care costs compared to a care home.
The kind of elderly care a loved one receives at home will depend entirely on their care needs which can be medical, general and social.
If they require an elderly carer to support them with minimal care tasks in just a few hours, care at home may be more economical than a care home
However, people receiving maximum support at home, such as nursing care, may find themselves spending more than they would in a care home.
Are you worried about a loved one?
How much does live in home care cost?
Live in care means that you require care or assistance 24/7.
To provide this level of care, a carer must live with you in your home, providing services and support through the day and night.
This service, as you might expect, comes at a higher cost than hourly home care visits due to the comprehensive nature of care.
Plus, people who require live in care are more likely to have complex care needs that need attention at regular intervals.
Live in care costs
Live in care prices can vary between providers, but generally speaking starts at around £1500 a week.
The cost can depend on whether it’s an individual or couple receiving care and their needs, as well as factors such as location and provider.
A live in carer is a specialist care service which is reflected in the cost, as carers must be specially trained as well as living in your home.
For more information about live in care, read our guide: Live in care: is it right for you?
Can you get funding for in home care services?
Your care needs shouldn’t be a cause of financial stress for you or your family, especially when dealing with a health concern.
Fortunately, those who cannot afford to pay for care may be eligible for funding from the local authority.
For people with a significant primary health need that requires care, NHS funded care may be available.
There are also a number of financial benefits for elderly that recognise health or care needs and help you access the right support.
Local authority funding
You may be eligible for local authority funding for care in your own home if you fit into their capital limit criteria.
When they assess your care needs, you’ll also undergo a financial means test which looks at the total value of your assets.
If you have assets worth more than the upper capital limit of £23,250 you will not be eligible for local authority funding.
Having less than the lower capital limit of £14,250 or somewhere in between the two may make you eligible for some degree of funding.
NHS Continuing Healthcare
NHS continuing healthcare is funding provided by the NHS and recognises a primary health need which has associated care needs.
If you qualify for funding and want to receive care at home, the NHS covers the cost of the support you need to meet your assessed health needs.
For more information, check out our guide on NHS continuing healthcare.
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