The Questions Every Family Asks Us About Care (3-Minute Read)

Here at AtHome Care Group, we hear the same handful of questions from almost every family who gets in touch — and if you're just starting to look into care for someone you love, chances are you're wondering about them too. Here's our honest, no-jargon rundown.

"How much does it actually cost?"

This is, by far, the question we're asked first.

As a rough guide: private hourly home care in the UK typically runs around £25–£40 per hour, it can be more if it is via traditional and fully managed providers

Hourly Care through AtHome care rarely exceeds £27.50 per hour (carer sets their rates)

Full-time live-in care averages somewhere around £1,500–£1,800 a week with traditional and fully managed providers, with specialist or continuous two-carer support potentially costing £2,000 to £2,500 or more

Live-in care through AtHome care is in the region of £1000 -1400 per week depending on client needs (carer sets their rates)

Care homes are usually priced weekly rather than hourly. Residential care usually starts around £1,300 -£1500 per week, although it varies a lot by region (Age UK: how much does care cost).

‍ "What type of care does my loved one actually need?"

Before anything else, we always encourage families to work out what kind of support is genuinely needed. A care needs assessment from your local council is a good, free starting point, and it often reveals needs (or preferences) that aren't obvious from the outside.

"Will we have to sell the house?"

This fear stops a lot of families from even picking up the phone. The reassuring news: if care is arranged at home rather than in a care home, the value of the property is usually not included in the financial means test. This is something we find isn't widely known, and worth checking directly with your local authority since the detail can vary slightly by nation.

"Home care, live-in care, or a care home — which is right for us?

Broadly: hourly visits suit people who are mostly independent; live-in care suits those needing substantial mobility or daily support with everyday tasks, while staying in familiar surroundings. A care home becomes worth considering when medical needs reach a level where management at home is difficult. We usually start by understanding what a typical day and night currently look like, and where the gaps are,way.

"What about dementia specifically?

Cognitive decline in general comes up in almost every conversation we have. How to get an assessment, how to talk to a parent who's resistant to help, and what kind of care actually suits someone living with dementia are all regular concerns. In our experience, routine and a familiar, consistent face matter here more than almost anywhere else in care.

Our role

Every family we speak to arrives at these questions from a different starting point, and we never assume one answer fits all. If you're stuck on any of this, get in touch; we're happy to talk it through, with no pressure and no jargon.