Can ‘at-home’ care be cheaper than a care home? Even 24 Hour live in care?

Home care and live in care in Romford – cheaper than a residential home?

Britain’s creaking residential care home industry is facing a number of financial challenges, forcing homes to increase fees for those who pay them.

Residential care homes face the same costs as every household in terms of fuel and food bills and the costs of cleaning and maintenance. But they have additional difficulties in the form of rising wage bills and rents.

Some groups also have high borrowings.

However, one of the biggest factors driving up care home fees is the fact that those who pay their own way – because they failed the means-test – end up subsidising those who are paid for by local councils.

Care homes say that local authorities don’t pay them enough to fund the places, which forces them to squeeze the cash out of “self-funders”.

A care home is ‘a last resort for dad’ – it would also cost considerably more

Nick Kounoupias, 54, a lawyer, has found that 24-hour, seven-day a week care for his father Mikis, 93, is significantly cheaper than finding a good-quality care home.

The family found a carer through one of a growing number of agencies that do not employ carers directly but instead put them in touch with suitable clients via an app.

Two carers live with Mr Kounoupias for a fortnight at a time, looking after him for 24 hours a day, before taking the following fortnight off.

He is in generally sound health, but is growing more frail. His sight and hearing is also deteriorating.

The family wanted him to remain independent for as long as possible, and say he has benefited from being in familiar surroundings and eating home-cooked food.

Mr Kounoupias said: “If I did put him in a care home, I’d only do as a last resort. I wouldn’t want to put him into some of the places I’ve seen.

“The only one that we liked cost £5,500 a month. Using the carers comes out at £2,200 a month.”

For more on this story visit the Telegraph website.

If you would like to find out more about home care and 24 hour live in care as an alternative to a residential home call us today.