The Financial Impact of Home Care: How Grants Can Help Families

As the UK population continues to age, more families are turning to home care services to support elderly relatives, individuals with chronic conditions, or those recovering from illness. While home care offers compassionate, tailored assistance at home, the associated costs can be significant—adding financial pressure to already stressful circumstances.

In this article, we break down the typical costs of home care in 2025, explore the growing demand for these services, and show how financial grants like the discretionary Help at Home Grant from Foresters Friendly Society can make all the difference.

Understanding the Cost of Home Care in the UK

Home care includes a wide range of services: personal care (e.g. bathing, dressing), domestic help (e.g. cooking, cleaning), and healthcare-related tasks (e.g. medication management, rehabilitation).

According to a report by the Care Quality Commission in 2021, the average hourly cost of home care services in the UK is approximately £18 an hour.

Weekly and Annual Expenditures:

Weekly Costs: If a family requires just 10 hours of care per week, that could amount to approximately £200, leading to over £1,000 per month.

Annual Expenditure: Unique Care reports that for extensive care needs, such as full-time live-in care, costs can range between £900 to £1,800 per week.

The Financial Burden on UK Families

A 2022 report by Age UK found that 1.6 million older people reduced or stopped using social care due to affordability issues. Families often step in as unpaid carers, sometimes cutting back on work or leaving jobs entirely to provide support.

This loss of income—combined with growing care expenses—places immense strain on household budgets. Many face difficult choices between necessary care and financial stability.

Grants That Lighten the Load

Grants like the discretionary Help at Home Grant from Foresters Friendly Society can offer a lifeline by reducing out-of-pocket expenses for members needing domiciliary care support.

Key benefits

Reduce Care Expenses

The discretionary Help at Home Grant can assist with various costs associated with home care, such as:

Personal care (e.g. washing, dressing, grooming)
Domestic tasks (e.g. cleaning, laundry, shopping)
Meal preparation or delivery
Essential medical equipment or mobility aids

By alleviating these expenses, grants can enable families to redirect financial resources toward other essential needs.

Support for Family Caregivers

Caring for a loved one often impacts mental and physical wellbeing. Grants can provide funding to bring in professional domiciliary support, offering family members much-needed respite.

Improve Quality of Care

With financial support, families can invest in higher-quality care services or more frequent visits—improving comfort and outcomes for those in need.

The Knowledge Gap: Not Everyone Knows Help Exists

According to Age UK, 42% of people surveyed were unaware that financial help for care was even available. This lack of awareness can prevent families from accessing critical support when they need it most.

Knowledge is power—and in this case, it could also mean peace of mind.

How the discretionary Help at Home Grant Works

Members can claim up to £730 in any two-year period
The Society is not responsible for arranging Help at Home care for the member
The grant is discretionary and designed to assist with the cost of Help at Home domiciliary care
It is open to Foresters members with at least six months of membership
You’ll need to complete an application and submit receipts or invoices for the services received

Learn more about membership and how to apply

Conclusion: Planning Ahead for Peace of Mind

Home care is a necessity for many families in the UK—but it shouldn’t come at the cost of financial security. Understanding the potential costs, exploring grants, and planning in advance can help ease the burden.

Whether you’re already navigating a care situation or planning for the future, support is out there. Grants like the discretionary Help at Home Grant empower families to make compassionate, sustainable choices for those they love.