Home care: Combining Affordability and Convenience
When it comes to health care, cost is an important consideration to take. No one wants to sacrifice quality to save a few bucks, and luckily there are options to suit every person’s unique needs and limitations. Here are also a few things to remember when making the home care decision for yourself or a loved one.
How much does home care cost ?
The price of home care also known as domiciliary care and in-home care does vary across the UK.
Home care in the UK costs on average between £23 to £34 per hour.
If you need home care two hours a day at a rate of £30 per hour, you will pay:
- £420 per week
- £1,680 per month
- £20,160 a year
Bear in mind that some care providers will charge a higher rate for weekends and bank holidays.
Your local council may contribute to the cost of your home care.
A needs assessment will first be carried out to determine the type of care you require.
The council will then work out how much you need to contribute to home care costs in a financial assessment, also known as a means test. How much you will pay depends on your salary and savings – the more money you have, the more you will pay.
A Financial Assessment Officer will visit your home and look at earnings, pensions, benefits and savings, but won’t need to know how much your possessions are worth, or the value of any life insurance policies.
As you are not going into a care or nursing home, the means test also won’t consider the value of your property.
- If your capital is over £23,250, you will have to pay for the home care service in full.
- If you have between £14,250 and £23,250, the council will contribute some of the money required.
- If you have less than £14,250, your capital won’t be included in the test and the council will pay for your care but will take your eligible income into account.
If the means assessment determines that you’ll be required to cover the cost of care yourself, the council is required to provide information on how to get help in your area.
If you paid your home care fees yourself to start with but you realise you are running out of money, the council might help with funding. When you get close to the £23,250 threshold, contact your local council to request an assessment as soon as possible.
Maintaining a Quality Life
For many older people, keeping a good quality of life trumps cost. Reports show that home care is the preferred choice of 82 percent of people requiring care because it doesn’t disrupt the life they’ve built for themselves. This kind of care allows people to maintain their relationships and homes while still getting the attention and help they need. Additionally, when people are being taken care of as soon as the need arises, they tend to have better health outcomes down the road.
