If you live in Wales then arranging care at home (also known as in-home care, home care, or domiciliary care) can be a cost-effective option.

What is the cost of care at home in Wales?

Social care at home in Wales is not free, but the Welsh Government caps the amount you may be charged for home care or home help services. On a weekly basis, local authorities cannot charge you more than £90 for care at home in Wales.

The average price of care at home in Walesis £16.78 per hour (source: UKHCA Minimum Price for Homecare 2018).

Your uniquely tailored care package may include care from one or both of these categories:

• personal care: qualified care assistants provide support with washing, dressing, dining and socialising
• nursing care: registered nurses provide support in the same areas, as well as with specialist medical requirements

Regardless of your financial situation, the value of your capital (including your savings and investments, but not your property) cannot drop below £24,000 while you pay for care at home. 

You should budget at least £30,000 per year for full-time care during the day, according to the Money Advice Service. Again, this will vary depending on where you live and the type of care you require, as well as when it’s required.

Live-in care at home (when a trained carer lives in the home of the person needing care) can cost from around £650 per week. For more complex needs, that charge could reach approximately £1,600 per week.

But what if you require 24/7 care at home? Round-the-clock care can easily exceed £150,000 per year, on average. If that’s the case, you may decide that residential care is more cost-effective.

That being the case, you may still be able to pay less for a live-in carer. Some introductory agencies, who connect you with self-employed carers, can cost significantly less.

Are you comparing the cost of care at home in Wales with the cost of a care home? We can help — click here to learn more about care home fees in Wales.

Call Care Concierge now on freephone:

 0800 098 8299

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Local council funding for care in your own home

To determine if you qualify for local council funding, you need to arrange a care needs assessment.

 Care at home in Wales may enable you to continue living at home and receive support with:

• Pre-prepared meals brought to your home
• Day care at a community provider
• Aids, equipment or home adaptations
• Respite care
• Night-sitting services
• Community transport
• Preventative and rehabilitation services, including reablement (a temporary care package typically lasting up to six weeks)
• Help finding sheltered or supported housing
• Counselling
• Support with psychological, social and cultural needs
• Some NHS services

You should also be able to access advice and information about services, welfare benefits and luncheon clubs, free of charge.

Care packages can start very small – it can be as simple as coming around and having a cup of tea and a chat, helping with the shopping, or helping to tidy up. 

Don’t forget: you must do the assessment prior to agreeing any at-home care contracts. If you don’t, and proceed to arrange care, you may lose out on local council funding.

If you’ve reached the stage where you’re thinking about care at home, you may also benefit from advice on how to broach the subject of care. 

Frequently asked questions

Does care at home in Wales include nursing care?

Based on your individual requirements, your care at home package may include care from one or both of these categories: personal care (qualified care assistants provide support with washing, dressing, dining and socialising) and nursing care (registered nurses provide support in the same areas, as well as with specialist medical requirements).

Is care at home free in Wales?

Social care at home in Wales is not free, but the Welsh Government caps the amount you may be charged for home care or home help services. On a weekly basis, local authorities cannot charge you more than £90 for care.

How much does care at home cost in Wales?

In Wales the average price of care at home is £16.78 per hour (source: UKHCA Minimum Price for Homecare 2018). This works out to £11,300 per year, based on 14 hours of care per week.

Find care at home costs in your area

Care packages can start very small – it can be as simple as coming around and having a cup of tea and a chat, helping with the shopping, or helping to tidy up. Read more about the different care types that are available.

Care Sourcer shows you details of all types of social care services, including prices, in a searchable online directory of local care agencies. 

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