The cost of living in a care home will vary all over the country, and will depend on the level of care you or a loved one will require, where you/they live, your savings and the care home provider. It is important to be aware of the costs as this will help you make the best decisions about your own or a loved one’s care. Here we’ve put together a useful guide which covers everything you need to know about the cost of care homes in the UK.
When is the Right Time to Consider Care?
There are a number of reasons why somebody might consider moving into care, such as medical needs or through the need of constant care. However, in most cases the person going into care will be the one to ultimately make the choice about whether they go into care or not. You will only be granted the decision of putting a relative into care if it is judged they lack the right mental capacity or if they need medical care that can’t be administered at home. If you believe your relative is in one of the above positions then it might be the right time to consider a care home.
How Much Are Care Home Fees?
As mentioned above, it is difficult to say exactly how much care homes cost. However if we look at care homes in the UK, the average weekly cost of living in a residential care home is around £700, whereas living in a nursing home will cost on average £888. A residential care home will provide residents with additional personal care, whereas in comparison a nursing home will mostly provide medical treatment, hence the difference in average cost.
The average cost of living in a residential or nursing care home will also depend on where in the country you live. For example, care homes in London are more expensive than care homes in the North West.
How to Know When it’s the Right Time
It’s always difficult to know when the right time is to get your friend or relative admitted to a care home. We’ve put together a useful guide to help you make an informed decision. Everybody needs additional help from time to time, but it is important to consider certain situations that may mean your loved one requires care from a home. For example, if the person you’re supporting has suffered significant physical or mental deterioration, has experienced the loss of a partner or close family member, or shows signs of loneliness or depression. It might be time to consider a care home if these signs are present.
Paying for Care Homes
When admitting yourself or a loved one into a care home, you may question who will have to pay for the care. Depending on your assets and finances, the local council may help you with some or all of the care home costs, this is known as state funding.
Here’s how your capital will be looked at and how this will affect the amount you pay for:
Your capital | Care home fee |
Over £23,250 | You must pay full fees |
£14,250 - £23,250 | You contribute from income included in the means test, such as pensions, plus an assumed, or ‘tariff’ income. The council will pay the remaining cost. |
Less than £14,250 | You no longer pay a ‘tariff’ income based on your capital, but you must continue paying from income included in the means test. The council will pay the remaining cost. |
Statistics from Age UK
As you can see, if you have capital over a certain amount, you will have to fund for the care yourself. These people are known as self-funders. Around half a million people in the UK live in care homes, and over half of these are self-funded.
If your needs are all health-based, the NHS will arrange to pay for your care under NHS continuing healthcare (known as NHS CHC). If you are eligible, your care home fees will be paid for meaning you receive free care. Learn more about NHS funded nursing care here.
What If I Run Out Of Money?
If you are self-funded and your capital reaches less than £23,250, you may be able to contact the council about funding assistance. You should request an assessment before this happens though, as they will need to agree in your need for a care home.
If you’re still unsure about whether or not a care home is the best option for you or a loved one, here’s how to find out when someone can be admitted.
