The cost of assisted living

Assisted living costs

Assisted living is an option many older people choose as a way to maintain independence while also having the support they need to remain safe at home. Here, we are exploring what assisted living might look like, how much it could cost, who this might be the right choice for, and how other home care services could help.At Home Instead, our aim is to help people age positively and in place by bringing expert care to their home. For nearly 20 years, we have been providing the highest standard of care, and creating industry-leading training programmes for our Care Professionals that are accredited by nursing and medical professionals. Today, we are the world’s largest global domiciliary care network, supporting over 100,000 older adults with personalised, tailored care at home. So whatever questions you have about assisted living, we can help.

What is assisted living?

Assisted living may come under different names (for example, ‘extra-care housing’) but this essentially means an older person or couple will move into a home designed for those with limited abilities who need extra help. Depending on the type of facility, assisted living may offer support with daily tasks like washing and dressing, getting groceries, or will simply have a warden check in on a regular basis to ensure all is well. Most assisted living facilities offer individual homes within a community, so an older person will have their own space with a private entrance, as well as access to a larger community and care workers to assist them when needed. Homes are also usually set up to include necessary mobility aids, 24/7 emergency alarms and other devices to ensure the safety and comfort of people residing there. Assisted living is usually suitable for someone who has additional needs, but is still largely independent and does not need to move into a care home or nursing home, where residents have more intensive needs. This type of living can empower residents to be more independent, continue living alongside a partner or pets, and could improve their quality of life due to having additional help and community access. Some assisted living properties are available to rent or buy privately, and others may be operated by the local council.

What are the benefits and downsides of assisted living?

Assisted living benefits older adults who require some care, but not enough that warrants a move to a care home or nursing home. Some of the benefits of this type of facility include:

24-hour emergency help if needed, with devices and alarms in place
The ability to remain living with a loved one or a beloved pet
More privacy than communal care homes (which may be preferable for family visits)
A sense of safety knowing there will be regular checks, alarms or carers visiting
A sense of community, and others with similar abilities nearby
Adjustable care as health needs change
Regulation from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to ensure quality housing
Mobility devices already installed, such as ramps and grab rails, to minimise fall risk (falls are the number one mobility issue faced by older people)
Improved quality of life, with studies suggesting assisted living could provide a stable sense of self, social belonging and feelings of safety
Larger living space (whole house or flat) compared to care homes with one room
Usually an all-inclusive cost model, encompassing rent, bills and other services (such as meals) depending on the facility offering

Some downsides of assisted living include:

Community rules and schedules of care that may not be flexible
Moving out of your own home, which can be stressful for older adults
A lack of the 24-hour support an older person would receive with live-in care or in a care home
Less privacy than in your own home, since carers may be able to enter at any time
Less choice of facility if funded by the local council
Less personalised care as care workers will need to visit multiple people throughout the day
Lack of medical care that would be available with a nursing home or live-in care
Potentially long wait times to receive a place in an assisted living facility
High costs depending on where you live

How much do assisted living facilities cost compared to other forms of care?

Assisted living facilities vary in price depending on factors like the area you live in, the level of care needed, the included services (meals, cleaning, etc.) and more. It will also depend on whether you rent or buy the property, and the scheme you are a part of. Often all costs will be included, but if not, you may need to consider paying rent, ground rent, utility bills, care costs, service charges (for maintenance and communal areas), council tax, and more. All in all, it is best to speak to the individual facilities to find out whether or not they could be affordable for you. As a rough estimate, according to research from the Housing Learning and Improvement Network (LIN) done in 2019, it is thought that the average person aged 65+ can expect to use an average of 9 months of residential care in their lifetime. This typically costs an average of £535 per week or £2,300 per month, equalling an estimated average expected lifetime cost of £20,700 for a care home place. This may still be lower than the real cost of a care home, as Age UK states care homes could cost anywhere from £800 to £1,078 per week on average, depending on where you live in the country.According to the Housing LIN research, those living in specialist retirement housing units (or assisted living properties) are thought to be 0.75% as likely to move into a care home as someone in mainstream housing, which means they can expect to pay an average expected lifetime cost of £15,525, leading to a potential saving of around £5,000 per person. An alternative option may be live-in care, which provides similar 24-hour care access and benefits, while usually costing less due to only paying the salary on one carer, or several carers on a part-time rotating basis. You can learn more about this type of care in our guide to what live-in care is.The government aims to keep older people living at home for as long as possible, so this can be an excellent option to promote independence in older adults and maintain their community connections for improved wellbeing and quality of life. Live-in care costs also differ by location and level of care needed, but roughly live-in care agencies tend to cost between £1,350 and £2,000 per week in the UK which includes 24-hour personalised care in the comfort of home. You can read more in our other guides:

Is there any financial support available for assisted living?

Just as you can apply for help with care costs through your local council, you may also be able to receive help paying for assisted living, depending on your personal circumstances. When you begin renting an assisted living property you may be able to receivehelp with rent and billsthrough yourHousing Benefitif applicable. If you seek to own the property, Pension Creditscould help. Before you sign up to rent or buy a property from a housing association or private provider, organise a Care Needs Assessment with your local council to find out what your care needs are and how much you might be entitled to for this. If it is thought to be an appropriate move for you, they may provide financial help for your move to an assisted livingproperty. You may find more helpful information about paying for care in our guide to paying for care.

Is assisted living the right choice for me?

Choosing between at-home care, live-in care, care homes, nursing homes and assisted living can be a big decision, with many considerations. You can speak to others for advice, such as your doctor who can advise on any medical needs you have, or your family members who can give their insight based on your circumstances. Consider what your priorities may be, such as remaining in your own community, your safety, your health and medication needs, personalisation of care, keeping your costs low, keeping your pets with you, having as much independence as possible, protecting your mental health, improving your quality of life, or something else. You should never feel pressured to move somewhere you do not want to be, so take time to consider all the options you have, the benefits and downsides of assisted living, and the costs involved. You may find some helpful advice in our other guides:

When are home care services more beneficial than assisted living?

While assisted living is certainly the right choice in a number of circumstances, it is always worth considering whether home care (care workers that visit you or live with you in your own home) could provide the services you need, potentially for a lower cost. Home care services can support older adults with daily tasks such as:

Bathing and personal care needs
Getting dressed
Cooking and meal preparation
Gentlehousework and home maintenance
Assisting with medication management and prescribed activities from doctors
Coordinate visits from healthcare professionals
Assistance organising home adaptations to aid mobility
Monitoring health conditions
Overnight care for additional needs
Live-in care for more intense or regular needs
Specialist care for conditions like dementia, cancer, diabetes and more
Arthritis care for those with limited mobility
Providing emotional support and companionship to promote wellbeing
Providelive-in supportif their care needs are more demanding and frequent

If you are unsure what type of care is right for you, our highly trained Care Professionals are experienced in helping older adults who struggle with a number of health conditions and mobility issues. We’re an award-winning home care provider and part of a worldwide organisation devoted to providing the highest-quality relationship-led care for older people in their own homes. Whatever support you need, reach out to your local Home Instead office to discuss your options.

Diane WIlliams , Head of Quality & Standards

I have worked with Home Instead since July 2016 as a member of the Quality Team, taking the role of Head of Quality & Standards in 2020.

Before joining Home Instead, I built a comprehensive career in the social care sector, beginning in 1991 as a frontline care worker and advancing to senior leadership roles across both private and voluntary sector businesses.

Throughout my career, I have supported diverse care groups in a variety of settings, including community, residential, nursing, and secure environments. My experience spans working with older adults, including those living with dementia; individuals with physical disabilities and complex, long-term health needs; people with learning disabilities, including autism; individuals with enduring mental health challenges; individuals with current or past substance use and those with forensic backgrounds.

In 2002, I qualified as a social worker and have since maintained my professional registration with Social Work England.

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