Funding Options

Funding Options for Home Care – How to Pay for Your Care

At Optima Care Group, we understand that funding home care can be a complex and sometimes overwhelming process. Whether you or your loved one require live-in care, respite care, dementia care, or specialist condition-led support, there are several ways to finance your care.

This page provides a detailed guide to home care funding options, helping you make an informed decision about the best way to pay for high-quality, personalised care in the comfort of your own home.

Local Authority Funding for Home Care

If you or your loved one require care at home, you may be eligible for financial support from your local council. The level of support depends on your care needs and financial circumstances.

How to Apply for Local Authority Care Funding:

1. Care Needs Assessment: Contact your local authority to request a care needs assessment. This will determine whether you qualify for support.

2.Financial Assessment (Means-Test): If care is required, the council will conduct a financial means test to assess your income, savings, and assets.

3.Funding Allocation: If you qualify, the council may either:

•Fully cover your care costs

•Provide partial funding (you contribute the remaining amount)

•Offer direct payments, allowing you to choose your own care provider (such as Optima Care Group)

Eligibility Tip: If you have savings above £23,250 (England), you may need to self-fund your care until your assets drop below this threshold.

NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) – Free Home Care for Complex Need

For individuals with severe or complex medical conditions, care may be fully funded by the NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) scheme. This means that care at home can be provided at no cost to you.

Who Qualifies for NHS Continuing Healthcare?

✔ Individuals with serious, long-term health conditions requiring ongoing medical supervision
✔ Those needing specialist nursing care due to conditions like advanced dementia, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, or post-stroke recovery

How to Apply for NHS CHC Funding:

1. Request an NHS CHC Assessment from your GP, social worker, or hospital discharge team.

2.A healthcare professional will conduct a decision support tool (DST) assessment to determine eligibility.

3.If approved, the NHS will cover your full home care costs, meaning you won’t need to pay privately.

🔹 Important: If you don’t qualify for full NHS CHC, you may still receive NHS-funded nursing care, which provides a weekly contribution towards your care costs.

Self-Funded Home Care (Private Care)

If you are not eligible for council or NHS funding, you will need to pay for your care privately. Self-funding offers maximum flexibility, allowing you to choose the best care provider and personalised care plan to suit your needs.

Ways to Pay for Private Home Care:

✔ Savings & Pensions – Many individuals use retirement funds or personal savings to cover home care expenses.
✔ Equity Release – Homeowners may unlock cash from their property to help finance long-term care.
✔ Care Annuities – A care funding plan that provides a regular income to cover care costs.
✔ Family Contributions – Relatives may contribute to care expenses to ensure the best quality of support.

🔹 Optima Care Group offers flexible payment options, including Stripe and direct bank transfers.

Direct Payments & Personal Budgets

If your local authority agrees to fund your care but you want more control over who provides it, you can request direct payments. This means the council will give you the money directly, allowing you to choose Optima Care Group as your preferred care provider.

Advantages of Direct Payments:

Freedom to choose your carer or agency
✔ More control over your care plan
✔ Ability to tailor services to your needs.

How to Apply

How to Apply: Contact your local authority and ask about personal budgets or direct payments during your care assessment.

Attendance Allowance & Other Benefits

If you are over 65 and require care, you may qualify for Attendance Allowance, a non-means-tested benefit to help with care costs.

Other benefits that may help fund home care include:

Get Help with Home Care Funding Today

Understanding care funding can be complicated, but we are here to help. At Optima Care Group, we offer free advice on your funding options, helping you navigate the best way to pay for quality domiciliary care.