At Wisteria Care we provide fully managed home care delivered by an experienced team of healthcare professionals. We specialise in compassionate domiciliary and live-in care, placing the wellbeing, dignity, and independence of our clients at the heart of everything we do.
Our flexible in-home care packages are available for both short and long-term support, adapting as needs change over time. We are committed to helping clients maintain and build their physical and mental strength, empowering them to live meaningful lives with choice and control over how their care is provided.
Our team receives specialist care training to support a wide range of health conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
As a trusted home care provider based in Devon, we understand how important it is to feel confident and well informed about the process of finding in-home care, what care costs look like, and how funding works. This guide to in-home care looks at the cost of care at home whether you are funding your own home care costs or you are looking for local authority funding for care.
In-home care (also known as domiciliary care or visiting care) is tailored support delivered in a person’s own home. This support might include help with personal care (like washing or dressing), medication support, meal preparation, companionship, or specialist care for conditions such as dementia. The purpose of in-home care is to help people continue living independently in the familiar comfort of their own home.
How much does home care cost in the UK?
Understanding home care costs is often one of the first concerns for families. Home care costs can vary depending on the level of support needed and whether care is privately funded or supported by the local council.
Typical costs when paying privately
If you are able to pay for private in-home care, care providers can set their own prices, which reflect care staff wages, training and travel costs, as well as the delivery of high-quality care.
According to Care Sourcer, self-funders can expect to pay between £26 to £38 per hour for domiciliary care, but it’s important to remember that prices vary by region and complexity of care needs. For example, if someone receives ten hours of care per week at £30 per hour, that’s £300 per week.
Local authority funding for care
When a local council funds care, the rates paid to care providers are typically lower than private rates, which can affect availability and choice.
Devon County Council’s hourly rates for 2025/2026 are as follows:
- Band 1 (primarily more populated areas) paid at £27 per hour
- Band 2 (primarily more rural areas) paid at £29.96 per hour
- Waking night support rate is £21.72 per hour
- Night sleep rate band 1 is £13.52 per hour
- Night sleep rate band 2 is £15 per hour
One of the most common questions we get is about local authority funding for care and how to start the process.
First, you or your loved one must have a needs assessment arranged by your local council. This looks at your health and social care needs to see if support is required.
Even if you think you will be able to self-fund, it’s worth having an assessment because it lays out exactly what care is appropriate for the person in question, therefore providing a more accurate financial picture of home care costs.
Financial assessment and means-tested care support
If the council feels the person is eligible for in-home care based on need, they will then do a financial assessment or means test to understand how much you can afford to contribute.
The UK government’s official charging guidance for 2025/2026 is:
- A person with assets above the upper capital limit of £23,250 is expected to pay the full cost of their care themselves.
- The lower capital limit is £14,250 and below, meaning a person’s capital is fully disregarded and they would only contribute from income.
- If someone’s capital is between £14,250 and £23,250 the council will help fund care, but the individual must also contribute from their income (whilst still having enough money to cover basic living costs).
It’s important to note that home care costs do not take into account the value of your own home if you live there, which is a major advantage of home care over residential care.
Planning ahead
Care needs can grow over time, and early planning can spread home care costs and reduce stress. Here are some practical tips when thinking about funding and paying for in-home care:
- Get a needs assessment regardless of funding status. It clarifies care needs and prevents under-support.
- Ask for a financial assessment early. This determines eligibility for council support and helps with budgeting.
- Compare private care rates. Prices will vary from one care provider to another, so it’s important to remember the quality-of-care matters too. Do your research and look at the care provider’s testimonials, accreditations, care philosophy and ongoing training.
At Wisteria Care, we’re happy to support families in Devon with compassionate guidance and high standards of care. If you’d like help understanding your individual situation, please contact us for an initial conversation.