Symponia offers the elderly a helping hand to stay at home

Article date: 06.01.09

Symponia claims that January brings a steep increase in enquiries from families concerned about elderly relatives who are not coping as well as they used to, following more time spent together over the festive season.

Live-In Care vs Care Home : The costs

Many people believe that Live-In Care is only for the wealthy; in reality, costs compare with those of living in a care home, which can cost anything from £400 up to £1,500 per week (the latter is in the South East), with average costs in the region of £750. Most people associate care at home with an hourly rate, and based on say, £20 per hour, costs can easily run into £1,000 per week.  If a person is funding 24 hours’ worth of care on an hourly basis, costs can run to a whopping £2,400 per week.

However, Live-In care is costed differently; Helping Hands Homecare charges between £650 and £800 per week, making it comparable with the average UK care home.  And although the elderly person still has to pay household bills, which vary from person to person, many people find staying at home is much more appealing as it provides an ongoing sense of independence and the continuity of living among friends and neighbours in familiar surroundings.

Live-In Care can be funded in the same way as care home fees and no one solution will fit all.  Symponia is urging families in Hampshire to seek specialist advice to make sure that all options have been explored.  A family may decide to use existing savings to purchase an Immediate Care Plan (ICP), funding the plan from liquid capital or possibly by arranging a lifetime mortgage. Non means-tested state benefits are available, for instance people living at home are still entitled to Attendance Allowance.  People needing Live-In Care often pay little or no Council Tax.  The Local Authority is obliged to provide care at home, but it is more usually means tested and sadly the service offered by the LA doesn’t always suit the needs of the elderly person.   

The government wants people to stay in their own homes and communities for as long as is practically possible (as outlined by Alistair Darling’s announcement in December 2007; Cash for Care).  Unfortunately not enough people realise that Live-In Care can provide a suitable and realistic option to moving into a care home.

Karen Rayner, a financial adviser and Symponia Member for
the Hampshire area says:
“I am very excited about working with Helping Hands Homecare, a company which Symponia regards very highly and which was awarded an ‘Excellent’ rating by the care industry’s regulator the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI).   Older people and their families are able to make a choice about where they receive their care.  Nobody likes the idea of being old or in poor health but psychologically, it is vital to our society as a whole,  that we continue to see elderly people as consumers and people with options, rather than as victims.  Care homes have a hugely important role to play but do not suit everyone and we want families to understand the whole spectrum of care available to elderly family members.” 

Lindsey Edgehill, Head of Marketing for Helping Hands Homecare agrees, saying:  “The number of people we support with live-in care has trebled over the last three years and the short term forecast is for similar rapid growth. This demand reflects the need for a service that enables people to remain in the comfort and familiarity of home without compromising the level and quality of care received.  However, there is still an educational job to be done and with the help and expertise of Symponia we aim to grow this market and make care at home accessible to thousands more elderly people across the UK.”

For further information please call Freephone number  0800 6528232.