What Is The Cost Of Live In Care?
Transparent pricing
Every care related cost is clearly detailed in the care contract and service letter.
No hidden fees
Tailored bespoke care packages, so you’re not paying extra for add-ons that you don’t need
Peace of mind
We are with you every step of the way, and can help direct you to additional support that’s available to pay for care.
How much does live in care cost?
Live in care typically costs from around £1,395 per week, with the exact cost depending on your individual care and support needs, personal preferences, whether care is required for one person or a couple, and any specialist needs such as dementia care or waking nights. As no two people are alike, we can provide an estimated figure based on the information shared when you first contact us, but our fees are confirmed after an in-person assessment and meeting you. Live-in care is often a cost-effective and comparable alternative to residential care for people who want to remain in their own home, surrounded by familiarity and memories, while receiving more support than daily pop-in visits can provide.
The cost of 24-hour live-in care depends on the level of support required and whether care is needed for one person or more than one person in the household. Every care package is bespoke and tailored to the individual. While our rates are competitive and comparable to residential care, live-in care offers the added benefit of one-to-one support in the comfort of your own home, with routines and choices built around your preferences. This means you can get up when you choose, eat what you want when you want it, and continue with the social activities and daily routines that suit your lifestyle.
Are there any Additional costs?
To be clear and transparent from the start of your journey with Live in Care. The fee we quote you is a weekly charge for care and support. This fee includes bank holiday additional charges (some companies charge extra; our fee includes the additional double time we pay our carers to ensure they are paid appropriately for working those special days).
We build in one night call of 30 minutes each day to our fees, as we expect people as they age to need assistance during night-time hours. Any additional night support will incur an additional and reasonable fee, we must ensure our carers are safe to provide support each day and not overtired, so any additional night needs are carefully monitored.
We include the cost of travel to and from your home, please be assured this will not be an additional charge.
The only other additional charges will be if our carer uses their own vehicle for any outings or activities related to your care needs, which will incur a 0.45p per mile charge. If, for any reason, our carer cannot take their daily break (we won’t leave you without support if you need us), they are entitled to charge a reasonable hourly rate for this.
How Can I Fund the cost of live in care?
We support clients whether they are self-funding (from your own savings), in receipt of direct payments to help fund the cost of care from local authority or funded directly by local authority.
There is funding available to assist with the costs of care as we age, and things become more difficult to manage independently. Live in Care can guide and advise you on possible options available, dependent on your care needs and your savings levels and support our clients with any applications for funding. The key thing to remember, is that if you live in your own home, you cannot currently be asked to sell it to fund the cost of your care.
Attendance Allowance
A non-means-tested independence payment available for people over pensionable age, and it does not matter if you have savings over the current threshold of £23,250. You will be able to claim this if you have a long-term physical or mental health condition or a disability which means you have care and support needs. There are two rates available, lower rate is for those with daytime support needs and higher rate for those with day and night support needs and you can access the forms to complete by calling 0800 731 0122
Local Authority Funding for Care
If your individual savings are less than the current limit of £23,250 (including ISA’s, stocks and shares etc.) you may be entitled to apply for local authority funding to help with the cost of your care and support needs. Your local authority will complete a Care Act Assessment of your individual support needs and a financial assessment to ensure you are below the savings bracket. Once these assessments are completed, you will be advised of the amount of care and support you have been assessed as requiring and the amount the local authority are willing to pay towards the cost of your care. You have the right to request direct payments, which means the money is paid directly to you into a specific bank account to fund your care, putting you in control of choosing your care provider. Alternatively, you can opt for the local authority to choose your care provider or ask them to fund your existing care provider direct.
Council Tax Reductions
There are council tax reductions available for those who live alone, have a disability or are living with a severe mental impairment (including formal diagnosis of dementia). We can guide you in how to claim these.
Water Bill Caps
There are capped water bills if the Water Sure scheme is applicable to your individual circumstances and health conditions. We can guide you in how to claim this.
Continuing Health Care
There is funding available from Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), replacing Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) from 1 July 2022, which is part of the NHS, for people with a primary healthcare need or those approaching the end stages of their life. This funding is a little more complex, includes a formal checklist and assessment by a nurse assessor, and is usually accessed via your GP practice. The assessment covers 12 domains related to current ability and health conditions (hence why we say it’s a little more complex). We can provide further information and guidance on request, or you can discuss this with your doctor/palliative care team.