Home care costs in Berkshire: a guide for families

How much does home care cost per hour?

Home care in Berkshire typically costs between £20 and £30 per hour for a visiting carer, depending on the level of support needed and the time of day. Visits from 15 minutes are available, which means a short welfare check can cost from around £5 to £8, while a full hour of personal care and companionship costs the full hourly rate.

Live-in care is usually quoted as a weekly rate, typically between £1,000 and £1,600 per week for a single person. For couples, the weekly rate is often similar, which makes live-in care significantly cheaper than two care home places.

How home care is priced

Most home care in England is charged by the hour, with shorter visits of 30 or 45 minutes priced at a proportion of the hourly rate. Rates are higher at weekends and on bank holidays, because carers are paid more for working them. Night care and live-in care are priced differently, usually as a nightly or weekly rate rather than by the hour.

At Apex we publish our fees in a single price list rather than quoting different numbers to different people. We send it to every family before we meet, so nobody sits through a conversation wondering what the bill will be. For the actual figures, see our pricing page.

What changes the cost

Five things make the biggest difference.

How many visits a week. Two visits a week for shopping and company costs a fraction of four visits a day for personal care. Most families start smaller than they expect and build up as needs change.

How long each visit is. A 30 minute visit is fine for a medication prompt and a check in. It is not fine for helping someone wash, dress and eat breakfast without rushing them. We will tell you honestly if the time you are asking for is too short to do the job well.

Whether one carer or two are needed. If someone needs a hoist or help with transfers, two carers are required for safety, and the visit costs twice as much. This is one of the things we look at closely in the first meeting.

When the visits fall. Weekend, evening and bank holiday visits carry a higher rate. Night care, whether a sleeping night or a waking night, is priced separately.

The type of care. Live-in care, where a carer lives in the home, is charged weekly and is often compared with the cost of a care home rather than with hourly visits.

Is home care cheaper than a care home?

It depends on the level of care needed and whether you are comparing for one person or a couple. For someone needing occasional visits, home care is almost always cheaper. For someone needing round-the-clock support, the costs are closer, but for couples, live-in care at home is often significantly cheaper than two care home places.

The bigger question is often about outcomes, not just cost. Home care keeps your loved one in familiar surroundings, with consistent carers and their own routine. For many families, that is worth the same or more than the cost difference.

Who pays for home care?

Home care can be paid for privately, by the local council, or through a combination. If your loved one has savings above the council threshold (currently £23,250 in England), they will likely need to self-fund. If savings are below the threshold, the council may contribute after a financial assessment.

Many people miss benefits they are entitled to, like Attendance Allowance (for people over 66) or Personal Independence Payment. These are not means-tested and can make a real difference to affordability. We can help you understand what might be available.

Can you get home care for free?

Free home care is rare but possible. NHS Continuing Healthcare is a fully funded package for people with complex health needs, and it is not means-tested. The council may also fully fund care for people with eligible needs and very low savings. Direct payments let you receive council funding and choose your own provider, including Apex.

The honest answer is that most families pay something towards care, but the amount varies widely. A conversation with our team and a look at your funding options is the best place to start.

Questions to ask about price, whoever you talk to

Ask whether the hourly rate includes travel time, whether there is a minimum visit length, how much notice is needed to cancel a visit without being charged, how often rates go up, and whether the price you are quoted is the price you will pay in six months. A good provider will answer every one of those without hesitation.

For our actual prices and how we work them out, see our pricing page. About an hour, no obligation, nothing to sign.

Questions about care?

Our team can talk you through costs, funding and what might be available for your family. Call 0118 391 3542, it's free, and there's no pressure.