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About
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Become a Carer
James Bowdler
30 March, 2023
2 min read
Private care costs between £16-£20ph, with longer shifts coming in at £14-17.50ph. Overnight care costs from £10-£18ph dependent on whether the carer is sleeping or awake and live-in care costs from £120-£175 per day, dependent on the level of complexity.
Understanding the cost of private care is crucial for anyone looking to provide high-quality care for their loved one. While finding the right professional carer is essential, ensuring you’re getting value for money is equally important. With a limited budget, it’s essential to know the costs associated with private care and what is a fair rate of pay that delivers the best outcome for everyone involved. Here, we lay out the cost of carers and how to find the best person for the job while staying within your budget.
It’s important to approach negotiations with potential carers with care and respect. Squeezing them for a minimum price is a false economy as it may lead to negativity, resentment and, for most humans, an attitude of “I am not paid enough to make X my problem”. Therefore, it’s essential to be mindful and respectful during negotiations and ensure that the carer is paid a fair rate for their services. They need to feel that they are getting paid enough to honestly care.
To better understand the costs of carers at home, it is important to consider the different types of care that are available. There are four primary types of care that you should be aware of: live-in care, hourly care, day care, and overnight care.
Based on care complexity, live-in carers cost £125-£250 daily. Most work for around £135 a day. Add £5 daily for food and £50 weekly for travel. With PrimeCarers, pay 10%-20% extra for finding and handling carers. Agencies charge 30%-60% more for live-in carers.
Private home care costs £15-£18 per hour. This includes travel time and mileage. Actual cost depends on things like work needed, location, experience, and care type. With PrimeCarers, you may pay 10%-20% more, whilst agencies may add 40%-60%.
Day care involves shifts that last six hours or longer, usually starting around 9am and ending around 5pm or 6pm. Shifts cost 5%-10% less than regular hourly work, as travel time is minimised. You should expect to pay around £12.50-£15 per hour for day care. When using a platform like PrimeCarers, you should expect to pay an additional 15%, while agencies may add 30%-60%.
There are two types of overnight care: waking and sleeping nights. Waking nights usually cost 5%-20% less than day care. They help with bedtime, sundowning issues, and morning tasks. Nights are calmer, and shifts are 10-12 hours long, so travel time matters less. Expect to pay £10-£12 per hour for sleeping nights and £12.50-£15 for waking nights. Using PrimeCarers adds 15% more, while agencies may add 30%-60%.
There are various factors that can impact the cost of private care, including:
Care platforms like PrimeCarers add 10%-20% to labour costs. They find suitable carers and handle many tasks. They also support carers in fixing problems early. This is worth the cost. Other platforms may take 30%-50%, so check if carers are paid fairly. Agencies like Bluebird, Helping Hands, and Nightingales cost more. They take 40%-60% for office work and may charge extra. Their contracts can lock you in for weeks or months.
If you can manage it, private care is certainly the best and most cost-effective way to go, whether you go it entirely alone, or with the help of a platform.
Knowing what affects private care cost will help you find the best carer for your loved one. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you through the process:
By following this step-by-step guide, you’ll be on your way to finding the best carer for your loved one within your budget. The price depends on several factors, so being informed and prepared to negotiate is essential. The most important thing is to provide your loved one with the. Care and support they need, and finding the right carer is the first step in making that happen.
James Bowdler
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