FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION
Client FAQ’s
Here, you’ll find helpful information about using our platform, updating your account, connecting with carers, and getting the support you need through We Care 4 You.
Types of care and payment structures.
Hourly care
Sometimes called domiciliary care and is a visiting service where the carer comes to your home to help with tasks that have become too difficult to do alone. It is generally the highest cost per hour of care due to the factoring in of travel costs to and from each visit. Visits are booked in as little as 1 hour and the cost starts as little as £15ph to as much as £35ph, which is mainly dependent on where you find your carers.
Live in care
This is when a trained carer lives in with you in your own home to provide care and support. This is generally cheaper per hour of care provided than hourly care but will cost at least £770/week at a minimum to £1,750/week. Variations in live-in care costs are generally driven by how challenging the patient is as well as how you source the carer.
Overnight care
This is when a trained care professional stays with an elderly person I their own home overnight to help with their care needs. Night care is typically charged per night, expected to last between 8 to 12 hours. Costs vary significantly; an 8-hour Sleeping Night may cost around £120, while a 12-hour Waking Night could be as much as £240.
Respite Care
Respite care can be arranged on an hourly, daily, or weekly basis, depending on the duration of the primary caregiver’s break. The cost will vary based on the length and type of care provided. Please make a request for our pricing arrangements when making your enquiries on admin@wecare4you.co.uk
Payment Methods
Direct Debit
We offer the convenience of setting up a direct debit for regular payments, ensuring that care services are paid for automatically each month.
Bank Transfer
Clients can also choose to pay via bank transfer. We provide clear instructions and account details for easy and secure payments.
Invoicing
We provide detailed invoices for all services rendered, which can be paid through any of the above methods. Invoices are typically issued every 2 weeks, however we can accommodate different billing cycles if needed, case by case.
Funding Care
Use information on financial support for long-term care, in the UK.
As people live longer, they are more likely to experience age related health issues and disabilities and therefore will require greater medical and social support in their later years. Chronic conditions such as Dementia will amplify those care needs making funding essential to help sustain adequate support.
The world of funding can feel like a step into a labyrinth with no wonder people feeling overwhelmed when trying to figure out ways of funding care.
At We Care 4 You we have broken down care funding to help make sense of how it all works. The following will help you understand what you could be entitled to and how you can access it.
Privately funded care
This option has more flexibility and personalisation in care choices such as selecting a preferred care home and a choice of dedicated caregivers. It suits those who wish to retain greater control over their care arrangements. Here you rely on your personal assets.
- Your savings can cover immediate costs
- Property equity release will offer long term solutions – providing lump sum or regular payments
Non-means tested funding
Attendance allowance and carers allowance is non-means tested and assists individuals 65 and over who require support with personal care. You can receive up to £101.75 weekly on your assessed care needs. Carers allowance is currently £76.75 weekly.
– Supplementing private funding with benefits
You can combine personal resources with non-means tested benefits which reduces care costs and preserves your savings.
Publicly funded care
This is means tested and requires care and financial needs to be assessed. It is mainly for those who are facing financial constraints and are also eligible for support surrounding both their financial and health conditions.
Council funded care – Your local authority will conduct an assessment to see if you are eligible, factoring assets below £23,250 as of 2023. This figure differs for Wales (£24,000 for care at home, £30,000 for care in a home) and Scotland (£26,500)
The threshold of £23,250 does not include your house if you reside in it. However, the moment you move into a care home, it will count and you will have to use the value of that asset before receiving any additional council funding.
- Direct care provided by the council – The council will directly manage and provide care services like personal care, meal preparations and mobility aids and the budget is managed by your council. They will continue to check and see that you are happy with the care they are arranging for you.
- Direct Payments also known as a personal budget – here the care recipient takes charge to arrange care or the council pays another go above and beyond organisation, such as a care provider. This gives individuals the freedom to personalise their care experience while still receiving council funded financial assistance. You can hire private carers of your choice to meet specific preferences and circumstances. This is a more person-centred option which addresses an individual’s unique care needs. The amount of money you get in your personal budget is decided after a needs assessment is completed.
- Choose a combination of these options. For example, the council could arrange some of your care but send you the rest of the money. This is often called a mixed package.
NHS funded care
This is a package of ongoing care that is arranged and fully funded solely by the NHS. It covers the cost of the persons care and residential accommodation and is not means tested. When assessed the individual has to to present a primary health care need. This essentially means that the individual has significant physical and/or mental health needs and most of the care they require is focussed on managing these needs and preventing any further health needs from developing. Eligibility is also based on the extent and nature of your care needs and not your diagnosis.
There are specific programmes known as the NHS Continuing healthcare (CHC) and Personal health budgets (PHB’s). To be eligible most people are assessed over a two-stage process.
- Checklist – It is a basic screening tool to allow those who may be eligible for CHC funding to pass onto a formal assessment by a Multi-Disciplinary Team. Those that not eligible are screened out at this preliminary stage.
- Full assessment – If the checklist indicates potential eligibility, a full assessment will be conducted by an MDT. It will include a detailed review of medical records, care needs and a clinical evaluation. During the assessment the MDT will use a ‘Decision Support Tool’ to score the individuals needs across various domains like mobility, communication, and cognition.
Following the full assessment The MDT submits their recommendation to the Integrated Care Board (ICB) who then make the final decision regarding the CHC funding.