Paying for Home Care: What Support Is Available and What Families Need to Know

Understanding and accepting that you, or someone you love, has reached a point in life where some level of home care is needed can be daunting in itself. When the next step becomes thinking about how that care will be paid for, it can feel overwhelming — and it’s certainly not a journey any of us ever expect or hope to be on.

That said, having someone come into your home to support you in a way that is personal, respectful, and focused on promoting independence can make an enormous difference to quality of life. Our aim is to provide that kind of support to every person who needs it.

We understand how emotive and difficult this topic can be. Many people save throughout their lives to create a sense of security for their later years, and the realisation that this money may now need to be used to pay for domiciliary care can be hard to accept. These feelings are completely natural, and you are certainly not alone in having them.

Because of this, we wanted to help guide you through the basics of home care funding. Having clear, reliable information can help ensure that your money is used effectively and that you understand what options are available to you — both now and in the future.

When it comes to paying for home care, there are two main routes: self-funded care and local authority funding.

If you have savings or assets above the current threshold (excluding the value of your main home), you will usually be expected to pay for your care yourself. This is often referred to as being self-funded. While this can feel daunting, it does mean you have the freedom to choose the care provider that feels right for you and to arrange care in a way that suits your individual needs.

If your savings fall below this threshold, you may be eligible for support from your local authority. In Wiltshire, this begins with a care needs assessment, followed by a financial assessment, to determine what level of support you may be entitled to.