When considering 24/7 support for yourself or a loved one, understanding the financial aspects of live-in care is important for making a decision that works for you and your situation.
At Abney & Baker, we believe in complete transparency about costs and funding options, giving you clarity and confidence when planning for care.
Live-in care offers a compelling alternative to residential care homes, allowing your loved one to receive comprehensive support while remaining in the comfort and familiarity of their own home.
While the investment in live-in care reflects the dedicated, round-the-clock support provided, many families find it offers excellent value when compared to residential alternatives – particularly for couples.
What's Included in Live-in Care Costs?
Live-in care costs cover comprehensive support from a dedicated professional carer who lives in your loved one's home. This includes:
24/7 presence and availability for support
Personal care assistance throughout day and night
Medication management
Meal preparation and nutrition support
Household tasks and light domestic duties
Companionship and social engagement
Support with mobility and activities
Peace of mind for the whole family
Unlike hourly visiting care, which charges for specific time slots, live-in care provides constant support and companionship with a consistent carer who truly gets to know your loved one's preferences and routines.
Our Live-in Care Pricing
Because every situation is different, we provide a personalised quote rather than a standard price list. Get in touch and we'll talk through the options with you.
Your loved one's needs are unique, and the cost of live-in care will depend on their specific requirements and circumstances. The examples below provide a helpful guide based on common care scenarios.
Factors That May Affect Pricing
Level of care required: More complex care needs or specialist support, such as dementia care, may require carers with additional training and expertise.
Whether care is for an individual or a couple: Live-in care can be particularly cost-effective for couples who would otherwise pay for two places in a care home
Home environment: Live-in carers need their own bedroom and reasonable facilities to provide the best type of care possible.
Location can significantly impact the cost of care fees: We maintain consistent pricing across our service areas in
& North East Somerset and West Wiltshire
How Our Pricing is Calculated
We understand that arranging care often comes during challenging times, and we're committed to providing ethical, transparent pricing that reflects both fair compensation for our carers and good value for families.
When you pay for live-in care with Abney & Baker, you're investing in:
Fair wages for dedicated professionals: We're accredited by the Living Wage Foundation and believe in ethically rewarding the important work our carers do
Comprehensive training and ongoing development are crucial for providing high-quality care at home.
Careful matching and management are essential for delivering effective live-in care service tailored to individual needs.
Quality assurance and supervision: Regular reviews ensure care consistently meets our high standards
Emergency support and backup for home care services are available when needed.
In fact, 80% of everything you pay goes directly to supporting our dedicated team, ensuring they can provide the highest quality care for your loved one.
No-Hassle Costs
We make our live-in care costs as straightforward and fair as possible, for both carers and clients, ensuring transparency in our home care service pricing.
Ethical Pricing
You can trust that your loved one is in the hands of an ethical care provider. We place a strong emphasis on ensuring our staff are fairly paid for the important work they do, giving you peace of mind that your loved one is receiving compassionate, well-supported care.
No Long Contracts
You're never tied into anything, ensuring flexibility in your care and support options. Our care agreements are flexible, allowing you to adjust arrangements as your loved one's needs change. Whether live-in care is needed for a short recovery period or as a long-term solution, we work at your pace.
Consistency
You'll find that our live-in care prices are consistent across all areas we serve in Bath & North East Somerset and West Wiltshire, ensuring you have clear and fair pricing no matter where your loved one lives.
Funding Options for Live-in Care
Many families are unaware of the various funding sources that might be available to help with live-in care costs. These can significantly reduce the financial burden and make live-in care more accessible.
Local Authority Funding
Following a care needs assessment, your loved one may be eligible for financial support from their local authority to help pay for your care. This typically involves:
A needs assessment to determine care requirements
A financial assessment to evaluate eligibility for funding
Potential contribution toward care costs based on financial circumstances
Options for direct payments that provide greater control over care arrangements
Even if your loved one doesn't qualify for full funding, they may receive partial support, particularly if their needs are assessed as substantial or critical.
NHS Continuing Healthcare
For individuals with primary health needs, NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) provides fully-funded care.
Eligibility is based on the specific requirements for home care services and individual care needs, such as:
The nature, complexity, intensity, and unpredictability of care needs
A detailed assessment process conducted by healthcare professionals
Regular reviews to ensure continuing eligibility for help at home are essential for managing care fees.
If successful, CHC can cover the full cost of live-in care, making it an important option to explore for those with significant health-related needs, including nursing care.
Attendance Allowance and Other Benefits
Several non-means-tested benefits can help offset care costs:
Attendance Allowance: Available to those over 65 who need help with personal care due to physical or mental disability
Personal Independence Payment (PIP): For those under 65 with long-term health conditions or disabilities
Carer's Allowance: For family members who provide at least 35 hours of care weekly
These benefits aren't affected by savings or income and can provide valuable additional support.
Private Funding Options
Many families fund care through various private means:
Savings and investments: Using accessible funds to pay for care
Pension income can contribute to covering care fees for your loved one if they need help at home: Regular pension payments directed toward care costs
Equity release: Accessing property value while continuing to live at home
Immediate needs annuities: Insurance products specifically designed to cover care costs
Rental income: If moving in with family, renting out the home to generate income
Combined Funding Approaches
Often, the most effective approach involves combining multiple funding sources. We can help you understand how different options might work together to create a sustainable financial plan for care.
Our Simple Process for Understanding Costs
We've designed a straightforward, four-step process to give you complete clarity about live-in care costs before making any decisions.
1. Arrange a Friendly Phone Call
During this initial conversation, we'll discuss your loved one's situation, their care needs, and how live-in care might work for them. This helps us understand the level of support required and provides a foundation for more detailed planning of the care you need.
2. We'll Visit You and Your Loved One at Home
This no-strings, in-person visit allows us to:
Better understand specific care needs in your loved one's own environment
Assess the home to ensure it's suitable for live-in care
Discuss how our support would work in practice
Answer any questions face-to-face regarding the cost of care and care at home options.
3. Receive Your Bespoke Plan
Following our visit, we'll provide a detailed care proposal that includes:
A personalised care plan tailored to your loved one's specific care needs will outline the type of care they require and when.
Clear, transparent costs with no hidden charges
Information about potentially applicable funding options
Recommendations for making live-in care work effectively
This comprehensive proposal gives you all the information needed to make a fully informed decision.
4. Start Seeing the Benefits
Once care begins, you'll quickly appreciate the difference that consistent, high-quality live-in care makes to your loved one's wellbeing and quality of life, while enjoying the peace of mind that comes from knowing they're receiving excellent support in their own home.
Common Questions About Live-in Care Costs
Is live-in care more expensive than a care home?
While live-in care represents a significant investment, it can be comparable to or even more cost-effective than quality care homes, particularly for couples who would otherwise pay two care home fees. The value also extends beyond purely financial considerations to include benefits like one-to-one care, maintaining independence, and staying in familiar surroundings.
Are there additional costs beyond the weekly fee?
The live-in carer will need food provided, which represents an additional cost on top of care fees.
Household bills may increase slightly with another person in the home, especially when considering additional care and support needs.
We're completely transparent about these additional considerations during our assessment and planning process.
Can funding be arranged quickly in urgent situations?
While comprehensive funding assessments take time, we can often help arrange interim solutions for urgent care needs while longer-term funding is explored. Our team can advise on the fastest routes to accessing home care support in time-sensitive situations.
What happens if care needs change?
Our live-in care packages are flexible and can adapt as needs evolve. Costs may adjust if the level of care required increases or decreases significantly, but we always discuss any potential changes transparently before they're implemented.
Why Choose Abney & Baker for Live-in Care?
When arranging
live-in care
, working with a trusted, ethical provider ensures both quality care and fair, transparent costs.
Award-Winning Team
We're proud of our achievements in both employee wellbeing and quality of care, with recognition including:
Great Place to Work certified
Best Workplaces in Healthcare
Living Wage Foundation accreditation
CQC registered with good ratings
These accolades reflect our commitment to ethical employment practices and excellent care standards.
Transparent, Person-Centred Approach
Our approach focuses on:
Complete clarity about the cost of care from the outset is essential for informed decision-making.
Collaborative care planning that involves you and your loved one
Regular reviews to ensure care remains appropriate and effective
Adaptability as needs and circumstances change
Local Understanding and Support
As a local company serving Bath & North East Somerset and West Wiltshire, we understand the communities we work in and maintain strong connections with local health and social care services, ensuring coordinated, effective support.
Taking the Next Step
Understanding the financial aspects of live-in care is an important part of planning for your loved one's future. We're here to provide the information, guidance, and support you need to make confident decisions.
Contact us today for a friendly, no-obligation conversation about how live-in care could work for your loved one and what funding options might be available for all live-in care services including respite care.
Together, we'll explore solutions that provide both excellent care and sustainable financing.
Call us today or
at a time that suits you, and begin your journey toward arranging high-quality, 24/7 support that enables your loved one to continue living happily, safely, and independently at home.
We’re always here if you want to chat about your care options
Speak to a real person about how care at home can help you or your loved one.
