How much does home care cost in Reading and Berkshire?

It is usually the first question families ask us, and it is often asked a little apologetically, as though money should not come into it. It should. Care is a long term commitment, and knowing what it costs from the start is the only way to plan properly. This article explains how home care is priced, what pushes the cost up or down, and where the money tends to come from.

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. If you would like a copy, ring us or book an initial meeting and it will arrive with your confirmation.

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.

Who usually pays

In broad terms there are four sources, and many families use more than one.

Paying privately is the most common route for people with savings above the local authority threshold. It gives you the widest choice of provider and the most control over how care is arranged.

Local authority funding follows a free needs assessment and a financial assessment. If the council agrees to fund some or all of your care, you can usually still choose your own provider through a direct payment.

Attendance Allowance is a benefit for people over State Pension age who need help with personal care. It is not means tested, so savings do not count against you, and many people who qualify never claim it.

NHS Continuing Healthcare covers the full cost of care for people whose needs are primarily health needs. The bar is high, but if you think it may apply, ask for an assessment.

We have written a separate article on funding that goes into each of these in more detail.

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.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a minimum number of hours?

Most providers, including Apex, have a minimum visit length rather than a minimum number of hours a week. That means you can start with a couple of visits a week and increase them when you need to.

Do I pay if a visit is cancelled?

It depends on notice. If you tell us in good time there is no charge. If a carer arrives and is turned away at the door, there usually is, because the carer has still been paid for the visit. The exact notice period is in our terms and we go through it at the first meeting.

Is home care cheaper than a care home?

For a few hours a week, yes, considerably. For round the clock care the two are closer, and live in care is often similar in cost to a good care home while allowing the person to stay in their own home. It depends entirely on the level of need.

Can I get help with the cost even if I own my home?

Often, yes. For care at home, the value of the home you live in is not counted in the council’s financial assessment. Attendance Allowance is not means tested at all.

Want to talk it through? Ring us on 0118 391 3542 or arrange a free initial meeting. 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.