Really need some advise. My mum was diagnosed just about 8 months ago unfortunately my family seem to think that I do not need to be involved which I have slowly over the past months changed. However my brother has just engaged a lady to come in for 4 hours a week to help with some meals (mum doesn't eat) and do some odd jobs ie bit of washing, company for mum, but mainly company. Not sure what esle as my brother doesn't seem to want to tell me yet. Anyhow how much does anyone thing we should pay per hour for this sort of service. She has a cleaner at £10 ph who apparently spends a bit of time talking to mum (she lives in the country and gets lonely) and who I think is charging okay (maybe a little ott) I just feel my brother is paying over the odds for the other lady so any advice would be fab Many thanks
Cost of Carers
- Thread starter hotrod
- Start date
We pay £11 p.h. direct to AgeUK who supply a CRB vetted and dementia experienced cleaner for MIL. Although her primary job is to clean she will do other jobs, including escorted shopping, if we ask her to. She will also report, via her manager, any problems or concerns to OH who has POA for his mum, which is reassuring. She has a little folder at the house but this really just records her hours worked. It wouldn't really be suitable for any other notes as MIL might read them.
What a difficult one to answer. As long as the service is good, I consider the rate to be priceless. Whilst the minimum wage is £6.08/hour our local authority charge £13.52 per hour.
My hubby and I have given up work to live with and care for mum. As mum claims attendance allowance, I am permitted to claim carers allowance at £55.55 per week (or £7.94 per DAY).
Just thought I would give you these 3 figures for a bit of food for thought and let other members perhaps answer the question more directly.
Forgot to add, carers allowance claimers are like bankers........we get a bonus.......£10 extra at christmas !
If my reply sounds slightly bitter, it is NOT intended to sound that way.
If we were unable to care for mum, I would consider anything between £6 to £15 per hour reasonable.
Live in...
Dear Hotrod,
24 hours, 7 days per week, 21 days per month = Live-in, room and meals provided, NIC and tax paid...
net £2.520 per month for 24/7 carer
£2520 divided by 21 days = £120 days
£120 divided by 24 hours = £5 per hour - YES FIVE POUNDS PER HOUR...
obviously not everybody needs nights, not everybody needs someone 7 days a week...
and this is HOME care from high maintenance dementia through till the last breath...
Personal experience of this scenario - it worked for us
Good luck! Not an easy situation to work your way around.
Financial support is starting to become available - apply to your council for home care costs vs nursing home care - even a "small" contribution is helpful.
Martina
Dear Hotrod,
24 hours, 7 days per week, 21 days per month = Live-in, room and meals provided, NIC and tax paid...
net £2.520 per month for 24/7 carer
£2520 divided by 21 days = £120 days
£120 divided by 24 hours = £5 per hour - YES FIVE POUNDS PER HOUR...
obviously not everybody needs nights, not everybody needs someone 7 days a week...
and this is HOME care from high maintenance dementia through till the last breath...
Personal experience of this scenario - it worked for us
Good luck! Not an easy situation to work your way around.
Financial support is starting to become available - apply to your council for home care costs vs nursing home care - even a "small" contribution is helpful.
Martina
Financial assitance
Hi Hotrod,
The cost of providing assistance and care can be really daunting and yes they do dig into personal affairs, however each case is differant and with the right help from social services etc and asking the right questions can make a difference. Costs vary where you live and each local authority can do things slightly different. I moved my dad from the North West and meals on wheels cost £3.70 per day and the quality was pretty good, I have now moved my dad to Bedfordshire and meals on wheels cost £6.70 and are aweful to be honest. You may be entitled to assistance with care depending on financial circumstances if you want to ask anything else don't hestitate it has been a reaL fact finding exercise for me. My local government charge £17.00 per hour for care, but privately it costs £13.75, they actually use the same carers available privately! You can have carers for specific things and specific times throughout the day. Prior to my father going into hospital we had a carer 4 times a day 30 minutes in the morning breakfast and meds, 30 minutes for lunch as gave up on meals on wheels and got much healthier supermarket options plus meds, then 15 minutes light evening meal and meds then finally pm meds. Cleaning agencies generally charge £10.00 per hour. Hope this helps a little.
Hi Hotrod,
The cost of providing assistance and care can be really daunting and yes they do dig into personal affairs, however each case is differant and with the right help from social services etc and asking the right questions can make a difference. Costs vary where you live and each local authority can do things slightly different. I moved my dad from the North West and meals on wheels cost £3.70 per day and the quality was pretty good, I have now moved my dad to Bedfordshire and meals on wheels cost £6.70 and are aweful to be honest. You may be entitled to assistance with care depending on financial circumstances if you want to ask anything else don't hestitate it has been a reaL fact finding exercise for me. My local government charge £17.00 per hour for care, but privately it costs £13.75, they actually use the same carers available privately! You can have carers for specific things and specific times throughout the day. Prior to my father going into hospital we had a carer 4 times a day 30 minutes in the morning breakfast and meds, 30 minutes for lunch as gave up on meals on wheels and got much healthier supermarket options plus meds, then 15 minutes light evening meal and meds then finally pm meds. Cleaning agencies generally charge £10.00 per hour. Hope this helps a little.
4 hours a week to help with meals i truly do not mean to be rude but what does she do the rest of the time.
why not invest in making sure that she has 24 hour help wether it is at home or in a residential unit where she can get 24 hour a day help...
Its a hard route to follow and i am in the process of it but he is safe
sue
xx
i truly do not mean to be rude but what does she do the rest of the time. why not invest in making sure that she has 24 hour help wether it is at home or in a residential unit where she can get 24 hour a day help...
Its a hard route to follow and i am in the process of it but he is safe
sue
xx
We use the SW diirect payment system and I'm told what to pay our P.A.s - £9.80 an hour. They get paid leave and there are special leave arrangements if we are away for an appointment. If for any reason I need to use an agency then the cost is around £13 to me but I know the agency carer's are only paid around £7 an hour.
Another pair of eyes
We employ a cleaner privately for mum at £15 per hour a couple of times a week. However, if she spends the whole hour just talking to mum over a cup of tea that is fine by us. It's all about quality of life for our dear mum and if having someone kind to chat to makes her happy then job done. It's also another pair of eyes to see any problems that me or my brother may miss, we do visit mum every day, and it gives us extra peace of mind.
Good luck and I hope this helps.
We employ a cleaner privately for mum at £15 per hour a couple of times a week. However, if she spends the whole hour just talking to mum over a cup of tea that is fine by us. It's all about quality of life for our dear mum and if having someone kind to chat to makes her happy then job done. It's also another pair of eyes to see any problems that me or my brother may miss, we do visit mum every day, and it gives us extra peace of mind.
Good luck and I hope this helps.
Thanks
OMG what a minefield. Unfortunately due to the communication issue with brother I don't always get the full picture. Must admit the cleaner at £10 hr is fine with me and as somebody says is she spends time talking to mum I don't care it is about her quality of life. Mum isn't at that stage to go into a home and I have already been told that Social Services will do what they can to keep her in her own home even if 24/7 care is needed. Sadly my brother has done this all on his own without consulting the local adult social care team, as I would have done. Think the next step is to try and find out exactly what he has employed this carer to do and take it from there. Unfortunately mum has too much money for much financial help, however I have concerns as money she is receiving from an outside investment is not completely reaching her bank account. She is only getting a portion and brother is getting the rest.Hence my concerns about how much he is paying people. Sorry to vent guys but just wantto make sure we do what is best for mum.
OMG what a minefield. Unfortunately due to the communication issue with brother I don't always get the full picture. Must admit the cleaner at £10 hr is fine with me and as somebody says is she spends time talking to mum I don't care it is about her quality of life. Mum isn't at that stage to go into a home and I have already been told that Social Services will do what they can to keep her in her own home even if 24/7 care is needed. Sadly my brother has done this all on his own without consulting the local adult social care team, as I would have done. Think the next step is to try and find out exactly what he has employed this carer to do and take it from there. Unfortunately mum has too much money for much financial help, however I have concerns as money she is receiving from an outside investment is not completely reaching her bank account
. She is only getting a portion and brother is getting the rest.Hence my concerns about how much he is paying people. Sorry to vent guys but just wantto make sure we do what is best for mum.
I doubt that very much. If you're self-funding, it's not a SS decision anyway.
however I have concerns as money she is receiving from an outside investment is not completely reaching her bank account
H'mm, I'd be wary about that too. Surely it should all be paid in to your mum's account and then expenses paid out of that, so there's transparency. Does he have POA?
No He doesn't or at least not a registered one checked with Office of public guardian. Bit of a minefield all round and am getting it all looked into but is taking time and don't want to rock the boat anymore than I have to at the moment but know it will come.
Hi Hotrod, How is your brother getting money without POA? I think you need to speak to him, he needs to keep all receipts and records. Your mum should get attendance allowance it's not means tested.
My mum has just 6 hours of care a week at £15 per hour, they are dementia specialists and worth every penny, she won't accept any more hours, so just has to muddle through the rest of the time.
My mum has just 6 hours of care a week at £15 per hour, they are dementia specialists and worth every penny, she won't accept any more hours, so just has to muddle through the rest of the time.
