There’s increasing demand for home care in London. It is a suitable alternative to care homes when elderly relatives live alone or need additional help to stay in their own home. Home care can help keep them safe and happy in their own familiar space.
There is a cost to hiring home care and the cost of home care in London is higher than it is in other parts of the UK. It is also dependent on the level of care required.
Types of home care services
A quick overview of the types of home care services we provide a Jothno Care & Support might help to show the different levels of care:
Domiciliary care – domiciliary care (also called home care) covers support with daily tasks. For example grocery shopping, meal preparation, light housekeeping, personal care (washing, dressing, toileting), medication management, assistance with moving, accompanying the person to activities, and companionship.
Live in care – with live in care a full time carer lives in the home and provides round the clock support to the person in need. This means they are on hand early in the morning, late at night and during the night if needed. Live in care is useful when an elderly relative is feeling insecure or is likely to wander.
Dementia care – with dementia care our team of trained carers will provide specialist care and 24/7 supervision to ensure the elderly relative is safe and secure at home. Dementia care can include managing challenging behaviours, monitoring mental health, encouraging activity and managing specialist medication.
The costs for each of these home care services is different. Domiciliary care can be provided for only a few hours a day or week, making it lower cost. While live in care and dementia care require round the clock support, and are higher cost.
The average cost of home care in London
The average cost of home care in London ranges from £15 to £30 per hour, depending on where you live (NHS). Home care in London will be higher than in other parts of the country and will likely fall into the higher half of that range.
The National Homecare Association (of which we are a member) recommend a minimum home care hourly rate to Local Authorities and the NHS of £32.14.
Private home care is priced according to the tailored package which we will prepare for you once we have spoken with you. Request a call back using our referral form, or speak with our team on 020 4548 9300.
Factors influencing home care costs
We’ve already mentioned that living in London will increase the cost of home care. The type of care and the complexity of the care that is required will also affect cost. Another factor influencing home care costs is the type of provider.
Individual independent carers typically charge between £15-£25 per hour, but there is less support available as there is no office to contact if you need to.
Digital or online carer platforms typically charge between £15-£25 per hour. The carer may be independent or part of an agency, which is worth checking when you book care through a platform.
Private care agencies like Jothno Care & Support typically charge between £20-£30 per hour. They provide comprehensive management and the assurance of trained carers and the back-up support of care teams.
Home care agencies based in your local area will have lower travel costs and will be able to arrange care quickly and easily. Jothno Care & Support arrange carers across London.
Who pays for home care?
Home care can be paid for in three ways:
Local authority / NHS funding – Funding is available to help pay for home care. It is means-tested and subject to a needs assessment. If you are above the upper capital limit (UCL), you will need to pay for home care. The UCL is currently £23,250. This will be rising in October 2025 to £100,000.
Benefits – Personal Independence Allowance (PIP) and Attendance Allowance can be used to pay for home care services.
Self-funding – Many Londoners pay privately for home care as they are above the upper capital limit (UCL). We can arrange a payment plan for your private home care when we discuss your home care package.
Home care vs Care homes
Elderly relatives often prefer to stay in their own home for as long as possible. With home care support they can remain in familiar surroundings with flexible support to assist them when they need it.
Moving into a care home is a major transition. It can become necessary when an elderly relative needs specialist care and support that cannot be provided at home.
Care homes cost on average between £700-£850 per week (NHS). Flexible home care can cost much less than this. In situations where home care can provide the support that is needed in a few hours a day, home care is more cost effective than a care home.
Talk to the home care provider and health professionals about what care is needed to keep your elderly relative safe and well cared for.
The cost of home care in London
Families across London are caring for elderly relatives. Home care can help to support them in their own home safely and happily. Depending on the level of care needed, home care can be more cost effective than a care home. And it has the advantage that there is no need to move away from familiar surroundings.
The cost of home care in London depends on the type of care required, the level of complexity of the care needed, and the type of home care provider. Typical costs range from £15-£30 per hour. This can be paid for privately (self-funded), by using benefits or through the local authority/NHS.
Jothno Care & Support can tailor home care packages to meet your family’s needs. We are on hand to support you with the transition into care and our carers are all trained and experienced in providing care. If you know someone who would benefit from home care, make a referral or call our care team on 020 4548 9300.