Finding Home Care Grants: Support for Family Caregivers

Home care specialist highlight support schemes, grants, and benefits for family caregivers offering advice on protecting the carer's welfare

Across the UK, an estimated 10.6 million people are primarily responsible for looking after the needs, health, and well-being of a loved one within their family, whether a parent, child, sibling, grandparent, or partner.

The stress, fatigue, and emotional pressure of caring for a relative are well documented, as are the impacts caring can have on an individual’s ability to rest, get a full night’s sleep, earn an income or secure stable employment, and take holidays and breaks to recharge their batteries.

The home care specialists at Guardian Angel Carers highlight some of the support schemes, grants, and benefits to which family caregivers may be entitled. They also share advice and tips about protecting both the welfare of the carer and the independence and dignity of the care recipient.

Support and Entitlements for Family Caregivers

Many people who have not experienced care in the past may underestimate the physical and financial burden of providing care.

For a huge proportion of families, the need to pay for specialist furniture, mobility aids and accessibility devices, and devote a large amount of their time to caring, means they struggle to make ends meet.

There are two main types of support that may be enormously beneficial, helping families cope with the costs of care and giving them access to home care respite services, which can have a profound impact on the well-being and holistic health of primary caregivers:

• Home care grants are not loans or benefits—they are usually lump sums provided by the government, local authorities, charities, and support schemes. These grants can help in times of financial hardship or pay for home upgrades, such as replacing a bathroom with an accessible shower room or installing handrails and emergency call buttons.

• Carers' benefits or entitlements are regular, ongoing payments that contribute to the financial health of the family. Varying benefits are available depending on the income of the carer, the health and needs of the care recipient, and the level of care they require.

The Carer's Allowance is one of the most claimed benefits. It is an ongoing income that family caregivers may be entitled to. Depending on their circumstances, they may also receive exemptions against council tax, income support, pension credits, and housing benefits.

Importantly, family caregivers also have the right to practical support from their local authority and should be able to request flexible working arrangements to avoid any need to leave employment.

Home Care Grants for Family Caregivers in the UK

One of the complications for countless families is that home care grants are often localised or offered by charities that cover a specific region. The experienced care managers at each Guardian Angel Carers location can signpost families to local schemes or initiatives, although we’ll summarise some of the more widely available grants today.

Carers Trust Grants

The Carers Trust provides support packages through a number of local partners—families can search for the nearest centre, although these aren't available nationwide. The Trust helps ensure carers are claiming the benefits they are entitled to and allocates grant funding for a variety of requirements.

To date, the fund has awarded £3.8 million in grants, given to almost 17,000 unpaid carers. Each local centre has varied criteria but can provide grants for the costs of counselling for carers, specialist training such as moving and handling, or contributions to help cover the cost of respite care.

Turn2us Grants

Turn2us doesn’t necessarily award grants directly but maintains a database of all current grants, which helps families find applicable schemes in their area. They can put their details into a search tool, and the organisation will advise which grants match their criteria and which they may be eligible to apply to.

Many of the grants included are provided by registered charities or local authorities and include grants for appliances and furniture, contributions towards the cost of heating and food, grants to help caregivers achieve formal qualifications, grants to help with moving costs, or grants to contribute to respite care services for the family.

Disability Grants

This service is another database of grants and provides help for families where one person has a disability. It includes information about grants to help either family carers or those requiring care.

Examples include grants to help young carers achieve their aspirations, grants intended to assist with housing costs, family grants for children living with a disability, and condition-specific grants associated with certain types of disability.

The Importance of Respite Care to Help Family Caregivers With Caring Responsibilities

Grants are designed to offer family caregivers support with a range of practical, household, and home adaptation costs, and many offer the opportunity to apply for funding to assist with respite care.

As a specialist home care service, we know first-hand how incredibly valuable respite support is. A qualified, experienced carer or care team can look after the needs and well-being of your loved one in the comfort of their home, without disruption or any need to consider relocating to a residential care facility.

The benefits extend beyond safeguarding your loved one. Respite care ensures caregivers have sufficient time to relax, with a break from the pressures of caring responsibilities to look after their own needs—whether taking a well-deserved holiday, having time to catch up on rest, or enjoying social occasions.

Importantly, respite care doesn’t need to be costly. We always endeavour to offer flexibility, and customise and adapt support to your needs, consulting with each family closely to establish how we can best assist.

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About Guardian Angel Carers:
Guardian Angel Carers is a leading home care provider dedicated to delivering compassionate, personalised care services. With a strong focus on independence, dignity, and quality of life, the company supports individuals in the comfort of their own homes, offering a range of services from companionship to complex care needs.

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Source Company – https://www.gacarers.co.uk/