An affordable alternative to a Care Homes
Live In Care enables anyone with a care need to continue living in their own home and provides the
opportunity to receive a bespoke tailor made service designed to meet your specific personal needs.
Live In Care is a realistic and affordable alternative care solution to moving into a Care Home and is
becoming an increasingly popular option.
The Benefits
Live In Care offers complete flexibility and provides continuity and choice of lifestyle without the
need to move to a new environment.
Clients receive individual personal attention from one carer, instead of shared care from several
carers. Most care homes operate on a ratio of 5 clients to 1 carer. In a care home time is a valuable
commodity and most tasks are organised around fixed routines and timetables. With Live in Care
you have one- to- one care. A single carer is present in the house day and night providing
consistency, security and a more personal form of care
Quality
The carer will work around your specific routines and lifestyle. You make the choice regarding your
menu, your mealtimes, when you go to bed, what you watch on TV and how and when you receive
your personal care. You do not have to fit in with fixed timed routines or wait until care staff are
available to attend to your needs.
The flexibility and individual care improves your quality of life. Importantly the carer has the time
available simply to talk to you, to provide encouragement when required and the time to
concentrate on the interests of the client. Support always includes meal preparation, simple
housekeeping and household management tasks.
Costs and Funding
Many people presume this form of care is financially beyond their means and assume it must be
more expensive than a care Home.
Good Companions standard prices for a Live In Introductory Care Service range from £483 to £693
per week.
The cost of Residential or Nursing Home Care may be affected by where you live in the country.
Prices in the South are generally higher than in the north of the country. Typically you may expect to
pay between £470 to £540 for a Residential Care Home and up to £900 per week if Nursing Care is
required. Live In care costs are not affected by your geographical area and in fact it is often easier to
provide Live In Care in remote or rural areas.
www.gchc.co.uk
Head Office - 01228 594 153
Value
It is simply impossible for a care home to provide the same personal bespoke service you are able to
receive from a Live In carer. The cost of Live In care can actually work out cheaper than some Care
Homes.
Couples - If a couple or two members in a household both require care then the value of Live In care
is increased substantially as the price cannot be matched by Care Homes. In this case the cost of Live
In Care is considerably cheaper than the cost of two people living in a care home. It is also
significantly cheaper than the cost of receiving continuous care for two people from a domiciliary
care Agency. The couple share the carer and therefore the costs.
Increased value is not simply about cost. Simple things, such as familiarity of surroundings, routines,
continuity, retaining choice and independence must all be considered as these are very important to
retaining your individuality and independence. This is particularly true and more important for
people with dementia and conditions such as acquired brain injury.
Whilst the cost of Live in Care and a Care Home may be generally similar the level of personal
individual care received is not.
Types of Funding available
Funding for care can be a complex and confusing subject. You may be eligible to receive help with
funding your care from the Government.
Public Funding: Each person has the right to request a free care assessment from your local Social
Services department; this will include a care assessment and a means-tested financial assessment. If
you are deemed eligible to receive support with the cost of your care Social Services may contribute
towards the cost of your care or they may commission and pay for a service on your behalf.
Direct Payments: If you have been assessed as requiring care services and are eligible for financial
support, you may be offered direct payments. Payments will be made by your local council directly
to you so that you are able to organise and pay for your care service. These payments are designed
to support you to remain living at home and also to encourage independence and social inclusion in
areas such as employment, education and leisure activities.
Government policy aims to increase the number of people receiving Direct Payments. If you are
considered eligible for support with funding, your local council are required to consider direct
payments as an option, instead of just providing a service for you. .
NHS Continuing Health Care: If you have an ongoing health need you may qualify to receive funding
from the NHS. The service is free and is not means tested. In addition this is a complete package of
care and the NHS will pay for the Social element of care in addition to the healthcare component.
This is ideally suited to Live In Care as a proportion or the full cost of the service may be funded by
the NHS and the service will be provided in your own home.
www.gchc.co.uk
Head Office - 01228 594 153
To be eligible for NHS continuing healthcare you must be over 18 and have a complex medical
condition and substantial and ongoing care needs. You must have a 'primary health need', which
means that your main or primary need for care must relate to your health.
Eligibility for NHS continuing healthcare does not depend on: a specific health condition, illness or
diagnosis, who provides the care, or where the care is provided.
Not everyone who has ongoing health needs will qualify for CHC but there are times when a person’s
eligibility should be considered:
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If you have a deteriorating condition
A condition that may be may be terminal
When you are about to be discharged from hospital, particularly if you need permanent full
time care
If you require specialist care or Nursing Care
If your physical or mental health deteriorate and your current care package becomes
inadequate and requires reviewed.
Independent Living Fund: the Independent Living Fund supports people with disabilities to live
independently in their own homes and is funded by Central Government.
Payments are made to people with disabilities to assist with the employment costs, or associated
employment costs, of a personal assistant or carer to provide support to enable the person to
remain living at home.
Private Funding; Some people are not be eligible for public funding, or would simply prefer to fund
and source their care privately. If you require support with financial planning to fund your future
care, we recommend that you contact an impartial Financial Advisor specialising in Care Fees. They
can discuss options such as:
Equity Release
Lifetime Mortgages
Care Fee Payment Plans
Home Reversion Release
Insurance Options
Wealth Preservation
TRIAL LIVE IN CARE: Most people are naturally anxious about having a strange person living in your
own home. In our experience the anxiety quickly subsides and people come to realise there are very
positive benefits in comparison to the changes they will experience when entering a care home.
Why not TRIAL Live in Care just for a few weeks:
Easy to set up and establish the service
No commitment or long term agreements
Special TRIAL rates with Good Companions
Simple to stop the service if not suitable
www.gchc.co.uk
Head Office - 01228 594 153