How Much Do Care Homes Cost?
Across the UK, the demand for care homes has risen significantly in the last few years due to an increase in life expectancy, however, this also means that the care fees have risen with it. A lot of families and care seekers have become concerned about how they will pay care home fees, which can cause people to become reluctant or worried about moving into a care home.
In order to provide peace of mind, we will discuss in this blog the average care home costs, what's included in care home fees and the funding options available.
Average Weekly Cost of Care Homes and Nursing Homes
The average care home fees in the UK are dependent on whether you are living in a residential care home, nursing home or all-inclusive care home. According to carehome.co.uk, the average cost per week for a residential care home is £760, which is the most basic option of care due to a lower level of care needs. The average nursing home cost is higher, at £960 per week due to the complex needs of the residents. Specialist care options such as dementia care are also provided at a higher rate compared to residential care costs.
There are numerous factors that affect the cost of your care including the location, the type of care you are receiving and any additional facilities offered. If a care home is located in the South of England you should expect it to be more expensive than a care home located in Scotland or Northern Ireland. Before choosing to reside in a care home, it is important to consider all of these factors to find the most appropriate option for you or your family member.
Structure of Care Home and Nursing Home Costs
Every care home and nursing home structures its fees differently to each other. You can get an idea about how much it will cost through the facilities and services that are on offer to residents. Some care home fees will be charged per week and others may adopt a pay-as-you-go approach.
In many traditional care homes, only the basic care services are included and you may incur some extra charges for the facilities or activities a resident uses as well as any additional medical services such as a dental treatment. It is advised to contact the care home manager to find out how they structure their fees.
Residential Care Costs
Residential care home costs are usually the most affordable of all care types and an appropriate option for older individuals who are considering group living and daily assistance. Residential care is most appropriate for those who are able to mostly live independently but need support from others with certain tasks such as clothing, washing and mobility.
Residential care is most commonly offered at a flat fee to include accommodation, personal care and daily meals so you should be prepared to pay for any extra services you wish to receive. You can check this with the care home before you move in.
Nursing Care Costs
Nursing home fees differ from residential care and are suitable for individuals who are in a position where they can't live independently due to a long-term illness, disability or health condition. The fees for nursing care are often the highest compared to any other care type because individuals require a high-level of 24-hour care.
If you are a self-funder of your nursing care, you can apply for a personal independence payment (PIP) which will provide you with assistance to help pay for your fees. Nursing care is typically charged per week and includes all accommodation costs, meals as well as medical and personal care costs provided by a nurse.
Respite Care Costs
Respite care is available to individuals on a short-term basis, offering 24-hour support for individuals with a typical minimum stay of two weeks whilst they recover from an illness, after a hospital stay or to offer their caregivers a break so they can focus on themselves.
Respite care is typically paid as a daily or weekly structure. A care home will need to assess the individual through a needs assessment to make sure they are able to properly support them therefore the care costs can vary depending on a person’s specific needs.
Dementia Care Costs
Dementia care home fees are similar to nursing care in that some individuals will have complex care needs, and require around-the-clock care. The dementia care team is specially trained to cater to a variety of dementia needs, as each person will be at a different stage of their journey and will need to be cared for accordingly in an environment where they feel comfortable and safe.
It is common for dementia residents to first receive respite care, which will provide their carers with a short-term break but as their dementia progresses, permanent care will likely become the appropriate option.
What is Included in Care Home Fees?
Each care home across the UK is unique based on the care services it offers and the care needs of its residents. Generally, the care home fees will include essentials like personal care, accommodation and dining.
Each care home will also structure its own fees differently from others in the area. Some may offer an all-inclusive setup where all the costs and services are included, while others may charge extra for any additional activities or facilities. Therefore, we would advise contacting the specific care home manager to find out the most accurate information, make comparisons between multiple care homes and evaluate the cost of our care before choosing to move in.
A lot of individuals also contact their local authority for a financial assessment which outlines the type of care that is most appropriate for them and what financial aid is available to them.
What is an All-Inclusive Care Home?
In recent years, all-inclusive care homes have become more appealing to care seekers across the UK because of their convenience. With all of the services and amenities included in one set fee, it means individuals won't incur any unexpected fees during their stay. This can also provide them with peace of mind, allowing them to fully relax and receive a better quality of life.
If you pay for your care and facilities in one lump fee such as in an all-inclusive care home, you are able to enjoy regular salon appointments, meals, local excursions and all in-house facilities without worrying about the additional costs of things like the rising costs you may experience living in your own home.
When searching for an all-inclusive care home it's important to find the most appropriate facility for your family members needs. If your loved one has advanced levels of dementia, for example, you'll need to find a care home that can provide full-time care for advanced dementia as some care homes are only trained to provide care for early to mid-stage dementia.
Who Should Be Paying Care Costs?
It is most common for care home and nursing home fees to be paid by the person who is seeking the care or their family members, known as 'self-funding'. Not everyone is in a position to pay for the personal care fees themselves. People who are not able to cover the full amount of care home costs can seek financial support from the local authority or through Complex Clinical Care funding if they require complex nursing care.
Receiving Financial Support To Cover Care Costs
The initial step when considering financial help from a local authority or the NHS is to apply for funding through the local council. The local council will conduct a financial assessment and means test to find out about your savings and assets and see whether your income or private and state pensions fall above or below a specific savings threshold. If you are determined eligible, the local authority will contribute to the care costs by providing you with a personal budget.
In some cases, individuals require extensive care due to having a primary health need which will make them eligible for Complex Clinical Care. Finding out if you may be eligible for CHC is through a needs assessment. A multidisciplinary team will focus specifically on the individual care needs, and not conduct a means test like the local authority.
If someone is in a position where neither local authority funding nor Complex Clinical Care funding is available to them, they can apply for a deferred payment agreement. In this circumstance, the local authority will pay for care costs through a loan agreement, which is eventually repaid when the individual is in a position to sell their assets or home. It is essential to understand that interest is often added to the remaining loan balance. Individuals can also use equity release to begin to pay back the remaining costs to the local authority.
Financial assistance is not always guaranteed, and some care homes may not accept funding support from the local authority or the NHS. Before choosing to reside in a specific care home, it is important to enquire with the manager whether they accept financial support to avoid future complications.
Local Authority Funding
There is a specific type of funding which is where the local authority pays for the care costs that individuals are unable to afford.
Local authority funding refers to funding provided by a local council to support individuals who are unable to afford the care fees. To check if somebody is eligible for funding, a means test is conducted, which involves carrying out a financial assessment of an individual's personal circumstances, outlining any pensions, assets and savings.
While funding from the local authority will pay for your accommodation, meals and essential personal care, it won't extend to cover additional services or amenities offered by the care home. Any additional services are the individual's responsibility to cover with their personal expenses allowance.
In some cases, a top-up fee is required. This is when someone has chosen a care home that exceeds the personal budget amount provided by the local authority, and so the individual or a family member is required to cover the rest of the care fees.
Self Funding
You are considered a self-funder if you pay for care yourself as a result of having sufficient income or assets to pay the cost of your care. This means a person is responsible for the costs of their care. If their care needs develop whilst they are residing in a care home, they may be eligible for Complex Clinical Care or local authority support in the future.
Care home fees will vary depending on the type of care home, its location and the care services and facilities offered. Moving into a care home is a big financial commitment so you need to carefully consider if you will be able to afford to pay for care independently. We would recommend getting in touch with a financial advisor who will be able to fully outline if self-funding is an appropriate option for you as well as what other options are available.
Complex Clinical Care
Complex Clinical Care refers to the NHS funding a person's nursing care costs which is most commonly given to people who have significant health needs, such as a terminal illness or long-term health condition.
To determine eligibility for this NHS-funded care, a full needs assessment is completed by a team of healthcare professionals. This assessment will thoroughly assess the individual's current mental and physical state, and look at whether their care needs are extreme or intense. A means test will be carried out, but it will only look at whether an individual should contribute towards their accommodation costs.
During the assessment, the following areas are looked into:
- mobility
- nutrition
- communication abilities
- altered states of consciousness
- breathing
- continence
- skin
- emotional and psychological needs
- cognition
- behaviour
- drug therapies and medication
If a healthcare team believes the individual to have 'priority' 'severe' or 'high' in one or more of the above areas, they will likely be accepted for Complex Clinical Care.
Experience Luxury, All-Inclusive Living at Boclair Care Home
At Boclair Care Home, we offer first-class care options and outstanding facilities for our residents 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our professional and compassionate team is proud to offer tailored residential care, nursing care, dementia care, respite care and palliative care which enhances our residents' quality of life in Bearsden, Glasgow.
Our all-inclusive care home was built with the ethos that everybody deserves to live a rich and meaningful life, and we make this happen through the use of our expansive in-house facilities including our salon & nail bar, complete activities programme and sensory room.
We encourage our residents to fill their days with whatever brings them joy and provide opportunities where they can learn new skills and gain new experiences alongside like-minded individuals. We want our residents to think of Boclair as their home away from home and truly reap the rewards of group living.
Find Out More About Our Home in Bearsden
If you have any further queries regarding the full cost of your care, our facilities or social activities, get in touch with a member of our friendly team who will be delighted to assist you by emailing info@boclaircare.co.uk or calling 0141 484 5050. We look forward to hearing from you.
