As they get older, lots of people require some professional care and support, and they will have two options to choose from; arranging home care services or moving into a residential care home. When deciding which type of care is best for them, the cost will always be a consideration and the majority of people have to contribute towards the cost of care nowadays.
The cost of in-home care for the elderly is very different to the cost of residential care homes, however, it is a huge misconception that home care is more expensive. For many who are only just starting to struggle with living independently, home care is actually the most cost-effective option and in-home care services will likely be more affordable than you assume at this moment in time. Below we have explored two of the main reasons why elderly home care is actually a budget-friendly option to consider for your loved one.
Only pay for the care that’s required
Residential care home costs tend to be all-inclusive and they will often vary between £750 to £2000 a week depending on the quality of the services and the amenities available on-site. This is very different from the cost of in-home care which is often charged per hour. An hour of home care will usually vary between £17 to £35, depending on the level of care and support that’s required. So, if your loved one only needs a few hours of care a week at the moment, then home care services will work out significantly cheaper for them.
A care needs assessment will be carried out by a home care provider to establish how much support your loved one currently needs and this assessment will then be used to design a bespoke care plan. You may find that care only ends up costing £100 a week, for example, which when compared to the cost of a residential care home, is much more affordable.
Whenever you arrange in-home care for a loved one, you will only be paying for the care and support they actually require. You won’t have to pay hundreds of pounds more for all of the extras included within residential care home costs that aren’t necessary at this moment in time. Home care is incredibly flexible too and the care plan can be amended over time to ensure that the services being provided are always meeting your loved one’s needs, even if they end up requiring some specialist care services in the future.
It’s important to note that not only will the cost of in-home care for the elderly likely be much less, but if your loved one moves into a residential care home and receives more support than they require, this can have a negative impact on their capabilities. It is really beneficial for an elderly person to continue doing as much as they can for themselves and moving into a residential care home too soon can make your loved one more dependent upon carers.
Receive some funding towards care services
When it has been identified that an elderly person requires some additional support through a care needs assessment, a financial assessment can also be carried out by the local authority. This assessment is used to determine whether they are eligible for any financial support towards the cost of their chosen care services.
A financial assessment will take into account both income and savings, and your loved one will need to meet certain thresholds in order to receive financial support. Ultimately, if they have assets over £23,250, they will have to self fund their care, but if their assets are less than this amount, their care will either be fully funded or part-funded by their local council.
There is a chance that your loved one will only get financial support if they use home care services as residential care costs are calculated slightly differently. The value of your loved one’s property will be taken into consideration during the financial assessment if they’re considering moving into a residential care home and this can result in them not receiving any financial support towards their care as their assets will be valued higher.
Arranging home care in Trafford
All in all, whilst lots of people assume that in-home care will be really expensive, it is fair to say that it might actually be the most affordable option for your loved one and it is definitely worth looking into in more detail. If you’re interested in-home care in Trafford, or the surrounding areas, and you’d like to find out more about the services available and how much they are likely to cost, don’t hesitate to contact our team at Beloved Homecare today.
We provide a range of outstanding home care services, enabling elderly people to continue living independently in the comfort and familiarity of their own homes, and we will be happy to create a personalised care plan for your loved one. We pride ourselves on helping our clients maintain the highest quality of life, yet our services are competitively priced and we are always transparent about the cost of in-home care for the elderly.