CARE COSTS
Homecare Costs: The facts
Given the opportunity, most of us would choose to remain in our own home for as long as possible. The benefits include staying close to our social and personal support network as well as retaining a greater degree of independence.
This, however, will depend upon being able to access the right level of care and support for your needs. This is where FirstCol’s Homecare Service can help.
Whilst we will assess and discuss your care needs, our recommendations for you to maintain or retain independence may also include modifications to the home, such as installing a stair lift, adapting the bathroom or widening doors to accommodate a wheelchair.
In some circumstances, you may be able to get assistance towards these costs. Your local authority will need to prepare a support or care plan and then undertake a financial assessment of your means.
Who will pay your home care costs?
Depending upon the combination of your care needs and financial means, you will either be entitled to full or part funding from your local authority or be expected to fully fund yourself. Your ability to pay will be determined by your income, expenditure and savings – not the value of your home.
If you are self-funding your own care at home, you can choose who provides your care, and you can elect either to use a Private Homecare Service such as FirstCol or employ one or more people to carry out the work for you. If you are receiving financial assistance from your local authority, you may still be able to have a say in who provides these services – in the form of receiving direct payments, which you can then use to fund the services that you require.
FirstCol will accept payments via the Local Authority, Direct Payments or from an individual private client (subject to satisfactory credit checks).
Please remember that local authority assessments are not permanent. If your care and support needs to change, or your financial circumstances alter (for instance, if you start to use up your savings), you can ask to be reassessed.