If you have an elderly loved one starting to struggle living alone, you may have started looking at potential care solutions, such as care homes or home help services. Various factors must be considered when looking at care options to ensure it’s right for your loved one, but a common theme that crops up is cost. How much does home help for the elderly cost? What is the most cost-effective care solution? In this blog, we took the time to provide a basic breakdown of the cost of home help for elderly people in comparison to moving into a care home.
Home Help Services Costs
Before we delve into the cost of home help for the elderly, let’s explore what home care is. Home help services offer an alternative to moving into a care home, allowing elderly individuals to continue living at home while a professional carer provides any physical, mental and emotional support they may require; tasks may include personal care and household maintenance.
Typically, the cost of home help for the elderly is priced by a carer’s time, whether 30 minutes, 45 minutes or hourly, and usually falls within the £20 – £40 bracket. It is important to remember that factors can influence the overall money you spend on care, including frequency of care; for example, helping with 24-hour care at home costs more than someone who may only need shorter visits every couple of days. Other factors to account for may include weekend or weekday visits, the need for additional services, and the type of care required; for example, the cost per hour of dementia help at home services, due to its more intense nature, may be higher than a senior seeking companionship care.
Care Home Costs
Turning our attention to care homes. Care homes are facilities that elderly people move into instead of staying at home, providing round-the-clock care. Care homes can often be paid every week, but just like home help services, prices can also differ depending on various factors. Firstly, the type of facility. Residential care homes may cost between £800 and £1200 each week, while nursing homes, which also provide medical support, are more likely to be between £1000 and £1500. The location of the facility can impact price, and whether it is luxury or private, the amount of medical support and any additional services must also be considered.
Assessing Cost-Effectiveness
So, how do you determine what is best for your elderly loved one? Well, it is essential to assess their needs.
If your loved one requires a little extra help on a regular but not too frequent basis, and they would prefer to stay in their own home, then it may be more cost-effective to turn to a home help solution.
On the other hand, if your loved one requires more intensive care or 24-hour monitoring, then a residential care home may be the better choice. However, some home help companies can also provide services such as dementia and end-of-life care.
Looking Beyond the Cost
While it is important to assess the cost of home help for elderly people, other factors must not be overlooked. It is essential to take your loved one’s feelings and preferences into account when it comes to staying in or leaving their home. Care is not just about providing physical support but also encouraging good mental wellbeing and quality of life, and for some, the familiarity and comfort of home is not something they wish to lose.
It’s important to research the services offered by care homes and home help agencies to ensure that seniors are provided with care that is appropriate for their needs. Checking to see that carers are flexible in their approach is also vital as every person is different and changing needs require adaptation.
Having open and honest conversations with care providers will not only give you peace of mind that your loved one will receive the best care but can also help you understand pricing structures so you can budget accordingly.
Financial Support and Funding Options
The prospect of paying for care can be daunting, but various financial support and funding options for which you may be eligible could help. By undertaking a financial assessment, local authorities can determine whether you receive financial support. The assessment will look at factors such as income and savings. Researching all options can help you make an informed decision about how best to move forward.
Learn More About Home Help Costs at Beloved Homecare
Beloved Homecare is proud to offer exceptional home help services for seniors. Our fantastic team can perform a broad range of care tasks, and by personalising each care plan you can be sure your elderly loved one is in good hands. We understand that care needs are not fixed and our flexible services allow us to adapt to these changes and continue providing first-class care.
So if you live in Altrincham, Urmston, Sale, Davyhulme, Flixton, Hale, Timperly, Bowdon, Stretford, Chorlton, Didsbury, Broadheath, Wythenshawe, Ashton on Mersey, or South Manchester, and want to get in touch with us about our services and costs, please visit our website.