How much does it cost to have a carer?

In Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire self-employed carers tend to charge between £14-£18 per hour depending on experience.  If you take the average as £16 per hour, it will cost approximately £12,500 per year if you have a carer for 15 hours a week.

An introductory agency, such as TrustonTap, will introduce you to carers in your area for a small commission which is included in the carer’s hourly rate. The advantages of using TrustonTap rather than going directly to a carer is that you can be reassured that TrustonTap has done all the necessary checks and references to ensure the carer has the experience, valid training certificates and is DBS checked and keeps this up to date. Carers on TrustonTap’s platform are very experienced, compassionate and reliable. They know that clients can leave feedback on the platform about them and this helps ensure they continue to deliver high-quality care.

Although someone might interview very well, it is sometimes not until they begin work that it becomes clear whether the relationship is going to work. TrustonTap is on hand in case of any difficulties. TrustonTap also get to know you and your requirements so can help if your carer goes on holiday or is taken ill.

TrustonTap is very supportive of carers and the vital work they do. We ensure that our commission rate is kept very low so that 80% of what you pay goes to the self-employed carer. Most TrustonTap carers earn 50% more than they would if they worked for a traditional care agency, allowing us to be much more selective when we enlist carers on the platform.

As well as providing Hourly care, TrustonTap can also provide Overnight care which costs between £120 to £150 a night or around the clock care live-in care which costs from £849 a week.

You may also find it helpful to see our article ‘Where to Start? A short guide to care’

Care agencies are usually much more expensive as they charge high commission rates and have additional administration charges. Traditional agencies in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire charge around £22 per hour for care during the week and more at weekends – that is over £17,000 if you have a carer for 15 hours per week. Typically, the carer earns £8.00-£8.50 per hour, limiting the selection of carers they are able to offer and demotivating them. The care agency will manage the care so they decide who is coming, when and for how long. The are often unable to offer you care visits at the times you want them and they can be unwilling to send you the same carer on a regular basis.

Live-in care provided through a care agency will be in the region of £1,500 per week.

The average cost of a residential care home in the UK in 2017/18, was £32,344 a year although this does vary around the country. LaingBuisson Market Report in 2018 estimated the cost of Residential Care for someone with Dementia in the South East as £38,844 a year.

If you want a more in-depth comparison of the benefits of care homes compared to home care, please see our article ‘Care homes versus home care – what is the difference?’ which should help you make an informed choice.

Although many families pay for care privately there may be the opportunity for you to access home care funding from either your Local Authority or NHS Clinical Commissioning Group. In this case, you can request the care to be funded via Direct Payments or a Personal Health budget. This gives you control over how you spend the money allocated for your care and you will be able to access a much wider choice of care.

You may find it helpful to look at our articles on ‘What financial help can I get for my Care and Support? and ‘Paying for your own care’. You may find using the Paying for Care website helpful (see below)

Local Authority support for care of the elderly varies according to where you live but often, even if they provide you with support, they will be unable to provide the level of care that you may want for your relative or friend. For most people, there is a need to pay for at least some additional care support to provide the quality of life that you want for your loved one.

Further information:

Cost of care

Paying for Care -How much does care cost

Assessments

Care Needs Assessment
Financial assessment

Benefits & Allowances

Attendance Allowance
Personal Independence Payment
Pension Credit