How much do carers cost?

As there are so many different types of home carers, it’s hard to provide a one-size-fits-all answer. Several factors will affect how much you pay your carer. Below we’ve looked at different home care options, the average costs, and the different fees to consider when choosing a carer for private home care or using agency carers.

≥ What does a home carer do?

≥ How much does a home carer cost?

≥ Additional costs to consider when arranging home care

≥ Will the government pay for a home carer?

≥ Private care – arranging and paying for your carer directly

≥ Using an introductory agency to find a carer

What does a home carer do?

Home carers provide flexible, one-to-one support to individuals who need help with a wide range of everyday tasks. Most home carers work with elderly persons who want to remain in the familiar surroundings of their own homes or the home of a family member.

Many people opt for an in-home carer as they provide person-centred care – taking guidance from the care recipient and their family on how to protect routine and quality of life.

Because of this, the daily tasks a home carer may help with often differs from person to person. However, some common tasks include –

Personal care, such as washing and dressing
Continence care, such as offering assistance getting to the toilet, or changing pads
Cooking and preparing meals
Light housework and laundry
Running errands
Seeing friends and attending social events safely
Providing assistance with medication, such as ensuring it’s taken at the right time.

How much does a home carer cost?

There are a few different types of home care (sometimes also called domiciliary care) and the cost of each will depend on a few different factors.

Average salary of a carer

A carer in the UK can earn anywhere between £21,000 to £26,000+ a year. However, this is often dependent on experience, where they live, and the agency they work for. Self-employed private carers may earn more or less depending on the rate they set, or what they agree with the family, or introductory agency they use.

How much does a visiting carer cost?

This is where a professional care visits their client at home, at agreed dates and times, and may sometimes called hourly care. The average rate of visiting care usually falls between £18-£30 per hour, however some agencies may charge more. Some private carers and agencies may also charge a higher hourly rate if the care package requires specialist skills, such as experience using a hoist, medication management, or providing intensive personal care. Whereas if you only require a carer to call round to do an occasional welfare check, keep a loved one company or help with the odd domestic task costs are likely to be at the lower end of the scale.

You’ll also need to think carefully about how many hours of care per week you need when working out your budget. If you need upwards of 7 hours a day it may make more financial sense to explore live-in care options.

How much does a live-in carer cost?

With live-in careyour carer will move into the home and be with their client 24/7. They’ll provide personal care and help with daily activities – sleeping when their client sleeps.

The weekly rate for live-in care usually falls between £800-£1800 a week. Some agencies may charge upwards of £2000 a week if they deem the level of care required to be particularly complex for example the client requires dementia care, or the carer will be looking after a couple.

Self-employed live in carers, or those working for an introductory agency usually receive pay on a weekly basis, and as such live-in care costs are often quoted per week, as opposed to per hour.

Elder’s services are on average, 35% cheaper than traditional care options. Find out more about how we work here.

So, how many hours will a live-in carer work?

This can differ from carer to carer if you’re using self-employed carers, and care agencies may have their own limit to how long a carer can work in one day too.

At Elder we work with self-employed carers, however to ensure carers get adequate rest we recommend to both carers and customers that they only work up to 10 hours a day. We also understand that sometimes clients may need some quick assistance at night time too. Which is why we include up to two 15 minute wake ups a night in our live-in care fees. However, if a carer is being woken up regularly we ask them to let us and their client’s family know as soon as possible, as it may be that dedicated overnight care is needed.

Is a live-in carer cheaper than a care home or nursing home?

This is entirely dependant on your loved ones care needs and often, where abouts in the UK they live.

The average cost of a care home is estimated to be around £900-£1400 a week – however working out a true average is difficult as it often centres around the level of care that’s needed.

In the south of England live-in care costs are often equal or comparable to a care home. They may even be more affordable when you factor in moving costs.

When it comes to value for money, you may get more care for your money by choosing home care too. Care home fees need to cover accommodation costs, cleaning and laundry services, catering, and utility bills which may add up to more than if your loved one remained in their own home. This also means that less money is dedicated to the care or going to the carers themselves.

Residential care costs can include a lot of services that you may not necessarily need. For example some homes offer a schedule of activities and social events, or services such as hairdressing. However if your loved one isn’t interested in these things then knowing that a portion of their weekly costs are going towards funding them may mean residential care isn’t financially viable.

However, if your loved one needs specialist care, 24/7 nursing care, round the clock supervision to prevent wandering or has challenging behaviour due to dementia, then being in a specialist facility may be the best option both financially and for their wellbeing.

How much does an overnight carer cost?

There are a few different types of overnight care, which is most suitable for you will again depend on your care requirements.

A waking night carer will arrive in the evening to start their shift and work throughout the night to ensure their client is comfortable. This may mean performing hourly checks, helping them get to the toilet or use a bed pan, or repositioning them during the night. This type of carer may cost on average around £150–£200 per night, with carers working on average between 9–12 hours.

If you only require someone to be ‘on call’ to your loved one, rather than on duty throughout the night a sleeping night carer may be a viable option. These carers will sleep at the property much the same way a live-in carer would and provide occasional support and reassurance when needed. However, because night time carers don’t provide care during the daytime hours too, there likely won’t be a limit to how often they can be woken up to provide care.

Sleeping overnight care costs are often a little cheaper than waking night care, averaging around £100+ a night.

Additional costs to consider when looking for a home carer

While you may think the amount you pay your private carer or a care agency will be all-inclusive, unfortunately it’s common in the care industry for this to be far from the case. Often, there are additional costs to be aware of.

For example, if your carer drives or will be using a car you provide to run errands or transport your loved one, it’s important to check whether you’ll be expected to cover their fuel allowance. When it comes to visiting care some agencies will actually charge a ‘call-out fee’ which can be upwards of £5 per visit to cover your carer’s travel costs.

If you choose a live-in carer be sure to agree on food costs and petty cash before they start. They’ll likely need a way to cover weekly expenses like food shopping and errands.

Some agencies may pay carers double bank holiday pay, so you’ll also want to check whether this is a cost they absorb or expect you to cover. Self-employed care professionals may expect double on bank holidays too, so it’s an important conversation to have when agreeing your arrangements.

And, if you choose to go with an agency it’s important to ask about their agency fees. Some add quite a considerable amount to cover their administrative processes, while others will require an upfront fee before your carer starts.

It’s important to ask any potential carer or agency about any additional fees or add ons or to see a price list to save you from hidden costs further down the line.

Will the government pay for a home carer?

In some cases, yes. If you have assets and income of less than £23,250 (in England) £32,750 (in Scotland) or £50,000 (in Wales) you should be eligible for some level of care funding from your local authority.

You’ll need to complete a care assessment with your local social services department, followed by a financial assessment. Depending on your financial circumstances the local authority may decided to cover all or some of your elderly care costs.

You’ll need to request any funding your given as a direct payment as this’ll allow you to spend it on a carer or care provider of your choice. Be aware though, if your chosen care services cost more than the amount the local authority have agreed to give you, you’ll need to cover the shortfall in your care fees.

If you aren’t eligible for financial assistance, there are still ways you can make paying for care easier, such as equity release. If you’re self-funding your care and are considering a financial product like this, it’s always advisable to seek the support of afinancial advisor .

Private care – arranging and paying for your carer directly

It is possible to hire your own private home care r – rather than going through an agency. If you choose to do this yourself, you may need to register as an employer with HMRC and ensure the carer receives a living wage. This will include –

Advertising
Performing background checks and interviews
Agreeing on hours of work and creating a contract
Paying a living wage or more.
Paying carer’s tax and national insurance contributions
Making sick and holiday pay arrangements.
Agreeing notice periods
Creating disciplinary and grievance procedures.
Taking out liability insurance.
Arranging a respite care r to cover breaks, and ensure all the above are set out for this carer too.

This is ultimately time-consuming with extra costs and which is why many people choose care agencies.

Can I be a paid carer for a family member?

Absolutely yes, if your loved one is happy for you to provide care and can afford to pay you a living wage there’s no reason why not. However, this type of arrangement won’t work for everyone.

It can put a lot of strain on and change the nature of your relationship with your loved one. Providing personal care to someone you know can be awkward, and it can be difficult to process a lot of the emotions involved in becoming their primary carer.

It’s also important to consider your own personal circumstances, are they likely to change in the next few years? Are you willing to leave your professional career? Will you need to move closer to your loved one or into their home?

It’s also worth noting that while people can use their direct payments to pay a family member to be their primary carer, in most cases, if you live in the same household you won’t be allowed to.

Read more about the realities of caring for a family member here.

Using an introductory agency to find a carer

If you want to avoid high agency fees, but also don’t want to become an employer for a private carer then an introductory agency is a good middle ground for finding a skilled carer at a reasonable rate.

They’ll help you find a suitable carer from pre-screened self-employed candidates and manage a lot of the logistical tasks and paperwork such as paying your carer and have a dedicated friendly team to answer any questions you may have during your care journey.

Introductory agencies like Elder also have an internal clinical team on hand to help you identify the most suitable type of home care and ensure any safeguarding concerns are handled appropriately.

However, the agreement for how care takes place each day will stay between you and your self-employed carer – this means you get the flexibility and personalisation of hiring a private carer, without the extra legal responsibilities.

Introductory agencies are often more affordable too. For example, Elder’s services are on average, 35% cheaper than traditional home care options, and there’s no unexpected fees to worry about.

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How much do carers cost?

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What does a home carer do?