Why is the cost of care so high?

109 replies

Truetoself · 20/03/2025 08:51

I think the average household income in UK is around £33K? I believe the cost of a care home is upwards of £5K a month and that of a live in carer us around £10k. I am trying ro work out how this makes sense because it is not proportionate to the income of an average household in the country.

OP posts:

Kittkats · 20/03/2025 09:06

Household income covers food, housing, insurance, gas, electric, water, TV etc.
Care home fees cover the above plus carers, chefs, cleaners. The outgoings are more than typical household outgoings so obviously fees need to be higher.

SmallGoddess · 20/03/2025 09:06

And on top of the actual costs there's . another issue

Predatory financial tactics are putting the very survival of the UK care system at risk | Christine Corlet Walker

Investor returns have become more important than quality care and worker pay in the UK, says researcher Christine Corlet Walker

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/aug/10/predatory-financial-tactics-survival-uk-care-system-at-risk

P00hsticks · 20/03/2025 09:03

Most care homes have very small profit margins - as others have pointed out, they need many staff (most on low wages) to provide round-the-clock care cover, plus cooks to provide meals, to cover the food, laundry and utility bills. and maintain and repair the buildings.

For comparison, think how much a room in a hotel and eating out three times a day would cost, and that's without any of the additional care costs that a care home has to offer.

Makebettermen · 20/03/2025 09:00

How much would you want to be paid to be a live in carer? To cover 24 hours 7 days pw you'd need at least 4 people.

NoBinturongsHereMate · 20/03/2025 08:58

Why would there be any relation between care home cost and household income?

DenholmElliot11 · 20/03/2025 08:57

Truetoself · 20/03/2025 08:51

Because all the overheads are expensive.

The average household income isn't really relevant, most people pay for long term care from investments, not income.

TartanMammy · 20/03/2025 08:56

Because the carers and staff need to be paid (around the clock not just 9-5). Heat, light, equipment, cleaning, insurance, food. It all addss up

TeenToTwenties · 20/03/2025 08:54

(Though my limited research has cost of care home approx equal to live in care.)

TeenToTwenties · 20/03/2025 08:53

Because care homes have to have staff round the clock, and cover all bills, so residents don't pay hearing, food, laundry, cleaners, (council tax?), insurance etc.

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