When considering arranging home care for yourself or your loved one, one of the first questions everybody wants to answer is how much it might cost. 

The is not a simple nor unique answer to that question. Care services are not usually free and how much you need to pay will depend on a number of factors such as personal and financial circumstances and also on each person's needs. It will also depend on the type of care you decide to take.

There are different types of care available and we have put together a guide to help you understand the cost of care.

Live-In Care

It is probably one of the most comprehensive forms of care, and it has many benefits for the person who is looked after.  The carer moves in to live at home, so the person who receives the care remains at home and stays close to family, friends, neighbours, so it is getting less confused as it occurs when has to move somewhere else, where everything is new to him/her and every person is a stranger.

At Cuidum we aim to match each family with the carer who fits best to support their need, taking into account not only the pathology but also matching their needs and hobbies.

The Live-In care costs start around £850 per week, which includes salary and agency fees. However, it is important to note that there might be additional costs, as with any other form of care, such as ongoing bills or special equipment needed. We recommend to the budget of around £40 a week (on average).  

Visiting Care

Usually given by a professional carer, visiting your relative a number of hours, either every day or just some days during the week, to help him/her with their daily routines such as cooking some meals, housekeeping, etc.  This type of care is usually received by people with low dependency or, just to complement another type of care if needed. 

Prices are in the range between £15 & £30 an hour during the day, going up to an average of £150 per night. 

Assisted living 

Some people prefer to move to a retirement home or assisted living accommodation. They set with a larger residential/living complex and apartments can be bought or rented, being staffing and nursing facilities provided 24h a day, as well as any other emergency support on call if needed (for example, in case of an accident).

The cost of assisted living differs depending on factors such as location, complex size and facilities provided (number of staff available, for example) etc. Therefore, although it is difficult to estimate, prices can be anywhere between £600 and £1800 a week.

Care homes

It is probably the most expensive type of care, and it occurs when the user lives in a shared home with other residents. They are usually allocated in own private rooms with bathroom and they share communal areas such as garden, dining rooms, etc.

In care homes, food and meals are all prepared by staff, medical care, hygiene care, etc. are all included with the price, which is around £50.000 a year for most users, and going up to £60.000 a year for more server cases like dementia, heavy Parkinson, etc.