The Cost of Home Carers, Domiciliary Care and Respite: What Sets the Price
The cost of home carers depends mainly on how many hours of care are needed, when those hours fall, and how complex the care is. With Reedsfield Care, weekday daytime domiciliary care starts from £28 an hour for weekday daytime care and live-in care from £1,300 a week, and respite at home is charged on the same basis. This guide explains the factors that move a bill up or down, and how funding from the council, the NHS and benefits fits around it, so you can estimate your own situation before asking for a written quote.
Reedsfield provides care in people's own homes only. We do not operate care homes or arrange care-home placements.
For domiciliary care the hourly rate matters far less than the number of hours. Two short visits a day and four longer visits a day are completely different bills at the same rate. So the most useful first step is to write down what help is actually needed across a normal day: getting up and washed, breakfast and tablets, lunch, an evening meal, getting ready for bed.
Once the tasks are clear, a care manager can suggest how long each visit needs to be. Visits that are too short cause rushed care, and visits that are too long cost money without adding much. A good assessment aims for the least support that genuinely solves the problem, and then reviews it as needs change.
Factors that change the cost of home care
Beyond the number of hours, several things affect what a family pays. None of them is a hidden charge; they are simply the parts of care that take more time, more skill or more people.
Complexity of care: help with moving and handling, continence, catheter or stoma care, or advanced dementia can mean longer visits or more experienced carers.
Two carers at once: if a risk assessment says a hoist transfer needs two carers, both are needed for that part of the visit.
Timing: early mornings, late evenings, nights, weekends and bank holidays can be priced differently from weekday daytime hours.
Nights: a sleeping night and a waking night are different services, because a waking carer is working all night.
Live-in or visits: once daily visits reach around four calls, live-in care from £1,300 a week often works out similar or better, with far more cover.
Couples: one live-in carer can often support both partners, which is usually much cheaper than two separate arrangements.
What respite care costs, and why it varies
Respite care gives a family carer a break while the person they look after is still supported. At home, it is priced like any other care: by the hour for visits, or by the week for live-in cover. A few hours a week so a carer can go shopping is a small bill; a fortnight of live-in cover while a carer has an operation or a holiday is a larger one.
The cost of respite care is shaped by three questions: how long the break is, whether someone needs to be in the home overnight, and how much notice there is. Planned breaks are easier to staff with a carer the person already knows. Urgent cover is still possible, and in urgent situations we can often arrange care quickly; call us to discuss start dates.
Respite in a care home is a different option with its own pricing, set by each home. Some families prefer respite at home because the person being cared for stays in familiar surroundings and the routine changes as little as possible.
How council funding works
Anyone who appears to need care can ask their council for a free needs assessment. In our area that is Surrey County Council, which runs adult social care for both Runnymede and Spelthorne. If the assessment shows eligible needs, a separate financial assessment works out how much the person should contribute, based on income and savings.
If the council is funding some or all of the care, it may arrange it directly or offer a direct payment, so the person can choose their own provider. A family carer can also ask for a carer's assessment in their own right, which is often the route to council-supported respite breaks.
The NHS pays for the whole care package when someone qualifies for NHS Continuing Healthcare, which is for people whose needs are mainly health needs. It is not means tested. The first step is a short checklist, which a GP, nurse, hospital team or social worker can complete.
Attendance Allowance is a benefit for people over State Pension age who need help with personal care because of an illness or disability. It is not means tested and can be spent on care. Carer's Allowance may be available to someone who spends at least 35 hours a week caring and meets the other conditions. Both are explained on GOV.UK, and the amounts are updated each year there.
Online averages rarely match what a family will actually pay, because the pattern of hours differs so much. The reliable way is a free assessment visit, where a care manager looks at the tasks, the home and the times help is needed, then confirms the price in writing.
Reedsfield Care is a home care agency based on Egham High Street and rated Good by the CQC. Our carers are employed and DBS checked. We cover Egham, Virginia Water, Staines, Ashford, Sunbury and Shepperton. Call 01784 740078 or use the form below to book a free assessment and a written quote.
With Reedsfield Care, weekday daytime home care starts from £28 an hour for weekday daytime care. The rate can vary with the complexity of care and the times cover is needed.
How much do domiciliary care costs add up to each week?
Multiply the hours needed by the hourly rate. The weekly total depends far more on the number of visits than on the rate, which is why we assess before quoting.
What is the cost of respite care at home?
Respite at home is priced like other care: from £28 an hour for weekday daytime visits or from £1,300 a week for live-in cover.
Will the council pay for respite care?
It may, after a carer's assessment and a financial assessment. Contact Surrey County Council adult social care to ask for one.
Is there a charge for the first visit?
No. The assessment visit is free and there is no obligation.
