Can I Get Financial Support Paying for Live In Care?

Home care is a varied, flexible service where professionally trained carers support individuals and families who need assistance, companionship, or personal care, living in their own homes.

In home care differs from a care home because there is no need to move, sell a property, or find a room or bed in a permanent care facility. Instead, the carer comes to you or your loved one, including live-in care that provides full-time support according to your needs and schedule.

One of the questions often received at UK home care company Guardian Angel Carers is around costs, financial support and funding, and we'll explain how the care system works and the allowances you may be eligible for, depending on your area and local council policies.

How Does Live In Home Care Work?

Care in the home is a different prospect from moving to a care or nursing home and ensures you can stay in your own property; an ideal solution for thousands of people who need help with tasks such as shopping or cooking yet do not want to live in a residential care home.

Home care is entirely adaptable and can include the following:

• Daily, weekly, overnight, or live-in care visits.

• Personal, companionship, domiciliary and specialist care.

• Tasks and duties from cleaning and bathing to shopping or cooking fresh meals.

Live in care normally means the carer lives with you, in an allocated living space, with a rota where carers will handover to one another for continuity.

It is up to you whether they keep you company during your daily schedule, and you can communicate your preferences in terms of privacy and activities you might wish to do alone.

Can I Get Financial Support For the Costs of Live In Home Care?

Funding support varies considerably between local councils. Most will assess you or your relative to decide whether they can offer help and to what extent. Assessments consider health and mobility, your income and assets, and the support or assistance you need.

Some councils are flexible and can either organise care services on your behalf or advise what they can contribute and leave it to your discretion which services you wish to access or the level of care you feel is the best fit for your needs.

We often hear from individuals extremely worried that the means-testing process will assess the value of their home and mean they are forced to sell their property if they need care or are advised to move into a care home.

Rest assured, assessments for home care do not include your property, and even if you do not qualify for any council or NHS funding, you cannot be instructed to sell your home to cover the costs of private care.

Free Home Care Support From the NHS

Care assessments are complex and often based on means-testing and personalised reviews, which can involve a waiting period, or scheduling a meeting to work through a detailed questionnaire to establish the needs of the individual.

However, the NHS can provide some support that isn't means-tested and is available regardless of your income, wealth or the value of your home.

Examples include:

• Home adaptations worth £1,000 or less, such as handrails, walking frames, wheelchair ramps, bathroom grab rails and other equipment issued by your local hospital.

• Up to six weeks of home care support after leaving the hospital. Intermediate care might comprise practical equipment as above and sometimes includes care visits.

• Continuing healthcare is an NHS service offered to individuals with severe illnesses or disabilities and may cover care home costs and some elements of home care.

To check if you are eligible for these support services, you will normally need to apply. Your council will assess your request and let you know if you have been approved.

Most councils will refer you to their adult social services department, and you may need to schedule a home assessment visit from an occupational therapist.

For many families, this support is very welcome but limited. Post-hospital home care, where available, is normally restricted to the first six weeks, and home adaptations can help with practicalities such as getting in and out of the bath or shower but do not address other needs such as personal and companionship care.

Am I Eligible for Live In Home Care?

Anybody can organise home care from a private care agency, working with CQC-registered care providers who operate in their local community. You can cater your care to your requirements, needs and budget, implementing a regular care schedule with a transparent knowledge of the associated costs.

There are also many ways to self-fund care or top up the contributions you may be eligible for through your local council.

Self-Funding Live In Home Care

The first step is to ensure you claim all the benefits you are entitled to. Those that are not means tested will typically include:

• The Attendance Allowance for those over State Pension age.

• Your UK State Pension.

• Personal Independence Payments for those under pension age but over 16.

Other allowances and benefits may apply. Be sure to speak with your local advisory office or Citizens Advice Bureau if you believe you or a loved one may qualify for other financial support.

Families can also consider options such as an Immediate Needs Annuity, which means you purchase a plan at an outright cost in return for insurance that covers a guaranteed income for life which pays for the costs of care.

Providers vary, and it is important to research the rates and terms available since these annuities, and fee repayment plans, depend on your age, the care you expect to require, your health and the amount of income needed.

A final option, if you do not have the means to cover care costs, do not qualify for any NHS or social services support, are not eligible for any benefits or allowances, and do not wish to sell your home or move to a care facility, is to consider downsizing.

This solution can be a viable alternative to ensure you remain independent, can select a property in your local area, and are never in a position where you need to rely on council funding – but can access care on your terms, in your home, and according to your need and wishes.

Read more about Guardian Angel Carers - Guardian Angel Carers Bucks The Trend Amid Record Home Care Waiting Times

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