Costs of respite care
Respite care is an important service for carers looking after older loved ones, but it can be difficult to know where to begin when arranging and paying for this type of temporary care. Often the amount of information on respite care, the funding options available and the potential costs can be overwhelming. For this reason, we're taking a closer look at how to choose a respite care service for an older person, the approximate cost of each type of respite service, who pays for respite care, plus how to arrange respite care with Consultus Care and Nursing.
For over 60 years, Consultus Care has been helping people remain where they feel happiest and most comfortable - at home. We believe life is better at home, especially when care is delivered with compassion, dignity, and respect. Whether you’re a full-time family carer in need of a well-earned break, or you’re planning ahead for future care needs, understanding the costs associated with respite care is an important first step in making informed decisions.
What is respite care?
Respite care provides temporary support for someone who needs regular assistance - often giving family carers the opportunity to rest, recharge, or attend to other responsibilities. It also ensures continuity of care for the person receiving support.
For more details on what respite care involves, our guide to What is Respite Care? offers an in-depth explanation of how this short-term arrangement can make a lasting impact.
How much does respite care cost?
Respite care is personalised and tailored to an individual’s specific needs. Some individuals may only require shorter visits for medication or personal support, while others may require continuous, live-in care. Other factors such as frequency, complexity of care, and location will impact the cost of respite care.
For many, staying in the comfort and familiarity of their own home is the preferred choice. The freedom, choice and comfort it provides is invaluable, especially in situations where continuity of care is important. At Consultus Care, we provide respite care across three services - introductory live-in care, managed live-in care and live-in nursing. Live-in care involves a professional carer residing in your home to assist with day-to-day activities, personal care, companionship, and standard medication management. However, where more complex needs exist - such as the requirement for injectable medications - a registered live-in nurse may be necessary.
Our managed live-in respite care service starts from £1,100 per week, subject to a comprehensive assessment of your needs.
Alternatively, you may choose to receive respite care in a care home, or through visiting care instead depending on your needs:
You can expect to pay between £949 and £1,267 per week for respite care in a care or nursing home based on Age UK’s latest figures. This type of care can be useful when home care is not feasible, or if family carers are unavailable for a longer period. However, it’s important to remember that care will be less personalised in a residential setting, with residents often receiving care at a ratio of 4:1.
Visiting care, also known as domiciliary care, involves a professional carer coming to the individual’s home at set times throughout the day to assist with specific tasks such as personal care and medication management. You can expect to pay between £25 - 38 per hour for visiting care in the UK, depending on your location and complexity of support required. This type of care is better suited to those with lower care needs.
Emergency respite care
Sometimes care is needed at short notice due to unexpected changes in circumstances. Emergency respite care can be arranged quickly, but it can often incur additional costs due to the urgency and availability of carers. As a family carer It’s important to plan as best you can for future events, including if you were suddenly unable to care for your loved one.
Dementia respite care
For those living with dementia or another cognitive conditions, specialist respite care is needed to provide the right level of support. Individuals living with dementia can require additional help with tasks involving medication, personal care, and maintaining consistent routines - especially as disruption or unfamiliar faces can sometimes cause confusion or distress. That’s why dementia respite care is typically delivered by more experienced carers who understand the different stages of the condition and are trained to manage common behaviours such as agitation, disorientation, and wandering. For over 60 years, Consultus Care has been providing live-in respite care to individuals, allowing them to remain in the comfort and familiarity of home.
Talk to us today
Give us a call to discuss your needs with one of our friendly, expert Care Advisors. They will guide you through your options to ensure you make the right choice for you and your family.
Who pays for respite care?
Respite care can be either privately funded or funded (fully or partially) by the local authority or NHS, depending on individual circumstances. You may also be eligible for certain grants. Here’s a breakdown of the most common funding routes:
Many families choose to fund respite care themselves. This allows for more flexibility and greater choice in selecting a care provider, duration, and type of care. While self-funding may seem daunting, many families find comfort in knowing they have control over the quality and consistency of care their loved one receives.
You may be eligible for financial support from your local authority following a carer’s assessment and a care needs assessment. If eligible, the council may contribute towards or cover the total cost of care, following a financial assessment. If your income and savings fall below a certain threshold, they may receive funding to cover some or all of the respite care costs. For example, if you live in England and Wales, you may need to pay for your own care if your savings and assets are above the means test threshold, which is £23,250 in England, or £24,000 in Wales.
In some situations, respite care may be funded by the NHS - particularly when care needs are primarily medical in nature. NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) is a fully funded package of ongoing care arranged and paid for by the NHS. This can include respite care at home for those with complex health conditions.
To determine eligibility, an initial CHC checklist assessment is carried out by your local integrated care board (ICB). This looks at a range of care needs, such as mobility, communication, medication, and cognition. If the initial checklist suggests a person may be eligible, a full assessment will follow to decide whether NHS-funded support is appropriate.
Respite care with Consultus Care
At Consultus Care, we understand just how vital respite care can be - not just for the carer, but for the overall wellbeing of the person receiving support. Whether it’s a few days to recharge or a longer stay to allow for a holiday, our live-in respite care services offer peace of mind, personalised care, and the comfort of remaining at home.
All our carers are carefully selected, trained, and matched to the specific needs of each client.
Respite care may be more affordable than you think. If you’d like to speak with our experienced Care Advisors about your options, costs, and availability, we’re here to guide you every step of the way. Call 01732 496715 or enquire online.
How to arrange respite care
Speak to a Care Advisor
Our friendly, expert Care Advisors are here to guide you through your options, answer your important questions, whilst providing support along the way.
Care assessment
If you would like our managed live-in care service, a Care Consultant local to you, will complete a free assessment of your needs in your home.
Care starts
A fully trained carer will be carefully matched to meet your needs, and will start to provide our high-quality service in your home.
Why choose Consultus Care and Nursing?
One of the longest-established and most trusted providers
Founded in 1962, we have always been innovators in live-in care and live-in nursing. With over 60 years’ experience, we are one of the country’s longest-established, most highly recommended and experienced providers.
Unrivalled choice and control over your care
We understand that every person’s needs are different and every family’s situation is unique. With our choice of fully managed live-in care and nursing, and our introductory service, we offer more flexibility and personalisation than any other provider.
Highly trained nurses and carers
We are nationally recognised for the quality of our nurses and carers. With market-leading training, delivered at our own, multi-award-winning training centre, they provide exemplary, compassionate care tailored to individual needs, offering total peace of mind for clients and their families.
Expert care and support, dedicated to you
Our Care Consultants oversee our nursing and managed care services supporting only a small number of families. This means our service is truly personal, with unrivalled support and continuity of care. Reassurance that we are there when you need us most.
Family-founded, family-owned
We continue to be a family-owned and family-managed business. The largest wholly family-owned live-in care provider in the UK, we focus on what our clients and their families need from a high-quality care service, not on meeting investors’ expectations.
Looking for care?
Please fill out the enquiry form below and we will aim to contact you within 24 hours. Looking to work for Consultus Care and Nursing? Please apply here.