When it comes to getting older, it doesn’t matter how much savings you’ve stashed away, whether you’ve got a large personal budget or a small one – or even if you’re self-funding your support, everyone needs to understand the fundamentals of home care costs…
What is Home Care?
Home care support – or domiciliary care as it is otherwise known, is a fantastic alternative to residential care in a nursing home. It involves the provision of care by trained staff travelling to and from the home of someone who needs additional support – as opposed to residing in an assisted living facility. There are several different types of home care to choose from, but they all share the same goal of allowing adults to continue living independently in later life.
Who uses Home Care Services?
If you have low level health needs and want to avoid the stress of moving to some new digs, home care provides a perfect solution. It’s ideal for anyone wishing to remain in the comfort of their own home while receiving support. As a result, it’s most commonly used by elderly adults in retirement, or people with disabilities. In these cases, home care is heavily tailored to suit your needs and usually arranged through private agencies or your local council.
Why do people prefer Home Care?
Many prefer home care as it allows them to receive support in a familiar setting. Having paid carers come visit makes a huge difference, especially for those who struggle with everyday tasks. What’s more, people often prefer home care due to its flexible nature. It could be you need a carer for a couple of hours per week, or perhaps you require dedicated support for several hours a day. No matter your needs, home care offers a tailored solution to suit you.
What does my Local Authority Offer?
While many arrange home care through private agencies, many more seek provision from local authorities. Provided you meet their eligibility requirements, these groups can provide financial support to help you avoid lofty residential care costs. While this can range from the installation of independent living aids – through to arranging for a paid carer to come visit, it’s worth completing a means-test financial assessment to see what your local council can offer.
Even if you’re intending to make arrangements yourself with a private agency or carer, it’s still a good idea to have a needs assessment first to help explain your specific requirements.
What’s the Average Cost of Home Care?
One of the first things people consider when thinking about home help is how much does the care cost. You’ll find this can vary drastically depending on the level of care you require, how many hours of support you need, and where you’re living in the UK. Your local social service department – or Health and Social Care Trust in Northern Ireland, will be able to give you a solid idea of how much you’ll need to pay for home care services arranged through them.
While the cost of private care also varies, you can expect to pay anywhere between £15 and £30 per hour, with the average hourly rate of a carer being £18 to £20. This means if you – or your loved one, needs 14 hours of home care each week, this would cost between £10,920 and £21,840 per year. Though it varies, you’ll typically be expected to make direct payments on a monthly basis, with a summary of hours given to your personal care provider.
How does the cost of Home Care compare to Care Homes?
With the average cost of home care sitting between £15 and £30 per hour, you can expect to spend between £210 and £420 for 14 hours of support each week. In contrast, the average weekly cost of living in a nursing home is £888. While prices vary according to the level of support you require, home care is far more affordable than having to pay care home fees.
Reducing Home Care Costs
Most people find it’s far more comfortable and cost-effective to be cared for by relatives and loved ones when their health declines. It’s one of the many reasons people move closer to their family – or even into a garden home on their property, once they’ve reached retirement.
In fact, 1 in 8 people in the UK – around 6.5 million people, act as informal caregivers to older or disabled relatives. It’s a significant amount of free care being given – but it can take its toll. The flexibility of home care helps to alleviate these pressures. Even if you’re supplementing your own care with a professional service, you’ll still be able to lower your weekly care costs.
If you’re looking for further financial support, it’s worth exploring whether or not you’re eligible for benefits such as Attendance Allowance or Personal Independence Payment (PIP). These aren’t means-tested, and the funds can contribute towards your home care costs.
Leave it to iHus
If you’re worried about affording home care for the elderly, an annexe offers a cost-effective solution worth exploring. Regardless of your needs and ability, we take pride in constructing a bespoke space that will keep you living independently for as long as possible.Simply get in touch with our friendly and devoted team to discover how a garden home could provide the perfect care solution for you and your family…
