The cost of home care
Everyone wants the very best care for themselves and their loved ones, but the financial considerations of this are undoubtedly important and a big part of your decision. If you are unsure where to begin when it comes to finding out the cost of the home care services you need, we can help by providing a general overview of the average prices in different regions around the UK.
Home care can offer an excellent, cost-effective alternative to care homes that is helpful for those looking for additional support with everything from personal care to medical care, so if you are currently looking into the home care options available to you, you’re in the right place.
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 home care network, supporting over 100,000 older adults with personalised, tailored care at home. So whatever questions you have about arranging home care services, we can help.
What does home care involve?
Home care (sometimes called domiciliary care) means care received in someone’s own home instead of in a hospital, clinic, care home or elsewhere. This could mean help with daily activities like cooking or getting dressed, or more intensive medical support. Whatever you require, if you are not yet ready to move to a care home, your needs can likely be met in the comfort of your own home by a trained professional.
You can read more about this in our guide: What Is Home Or Domiciliary Care?
Is home care more affordable than a care home?
Data from the National Audit Office suggests that the projected increase in adults aged 65+ requiring care by 2038 is 57% (compared with 2018), and the projected increase in the cost of that care for the same demographic is 106%. Not only is demand for care homes set to increase, but the price of care will increase too. Home care can provide a more affordable alternative to a care home that allows you to pay only for the care you need.
Since the government actively aims to keep older people living at home for as long as possible, there are many support options in place if you are interested in choosing home care over moving to a care home. You can read more about the benefits of choosing home care, including the financial upside, in our guide: The Benefits Of Home Care vs A Care Home
How much does home care cost?
As of January 2023, there are 11,544 domiciliary care services registered with the Care Quality Commission, and all will have their own price points. The cost of home care will always depend on the services you need (i.e. companionship, specialist medical care, housekeeping, etc.), how often you require them throughout the week, and the area you live in.
With so many home care agencies available, we understand it can be hard to know which price point you should be looking at. As a provider of home care services, at Home Instead we are proud to offer premium packages with the highest quality of care, while being upfront about costs and ensuring that what we offer our clients is fully transparent and fits within their budget – with us, you never need to worry about hidden or surprise bills.
Depending on where in the UK you are based, you could be looking at a slightly different average hourly cost of home care services, so the following examples should offer some insight into what you might expect to pay in your area:
Average cost of care
This table shows the average cost of care, however the true price you end up paying will be a reflection of the number of hours of care you require each week, and what kind of care this is. For example, if you need only a couple of hours of personal care or companionship each week, then your cost of care could remain fairly low if you are self-funding. At the other end of the scale, your cost of care could rise if you require more specific medical services, live-in care, or overnight support. For this reason, it is always best to reach out to the agency providing your care and discuss this with them so you are aware of costs up front.
Our home care options at Home Instead are always flexible and bespoke to you, and as your needs evolve over time we will always maintain a transparent dialogue with you and your loved ones so you never end up with unexpected costs.
Is home care paid hourly or daily?
There are many options when it comes to how you will pay for your home care, and this will depend on the services you need and the options offered by your service provider.
For example, if you need ad hoc respite care, this may be billed at an hourly rate. Or, if you have a contract with an agency for several hours of personal care each week, this may be billed as a daily rate.
At Home Instead, we know that there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to home care, so your package will be completely unique to your situation, location, health conditions and other needs. Here are some examples of the bespoke packages we have offered to clients in the past:
- One client required 7 hours of home visits to take care of their personal care needs, and this cost £231 per week
- One client was living with mid-stage dementia and needed a package of specialist care for 14 hours per week, which cost £490 per week
- One client with diabetes required 14 hours of home visits per week for diabetes monitoring and other health care needs, and this cost £518 per week
Whatever your needs, our team of Care Professionals at Home Instead can provide exactly what you require and more. Feel free to reach out to us at any time to discuss the cost of your bespoke home care services.
Do I need to pay for my own home care?
You may have to pay for your own home care, but you could also be eligible for support or full funding from your local council. We have a whole guide dedicated to figuring out how to pay for your home care services, which you can read here:Paying For Care: Who Pays What?
You may also be entitled to benefits that could help with the cost of your home care. You can read more about these here: Financial Benefits For Pensioners: Topping Up Your Income
How do I arrange home care for myself or a loved one?
We understand there’s no place like home, so our Home Instead care offering aims to help older individuals retain independence and stay in familiar surroundings. We offer a number of bespoke services which can be tailored to your needs, and our Care Professionals are highly trained to deliver the individualised service you need. Reach out to the team at Home Instead to learn more.
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. Arranging care for yourself or your loved one shouldn’t be stressful, so whatever questions you would like answered, feel free to reach out to the Home Instead team to discuss your needs.