Home care supports people to continue living independently in their own homes for as long as possible. As with any care, funding it can be a worry.

Here is a quick overview of how home care funding works in Wales.

How much does home care cost in Wales?

If a person is paying for their own home care, they can expect to pay on average £26-38 per hour.

This can vary according to your needs. For example, more specialist care may cost more, and some calls require two carers.

While visits are usually charged by the hour, you can opt for half-hour visits or even 15-minute visits, depending on the home care provider.

That said, there is a cap in Wales. So you will never have to pay more than £100 a week from your own pocket for your home care. The local authority will pay for the rest.

How much does live-in care cost in Wales?

A live-in carer, which is when a carer comes to live in your home, costs around £900-£1400 per week on average.

Costs can be higher than this depending on the type of care you need, with more specialist live-in care costing as much as £2000 per week.

If you qualify for local authority funding, you may be able to have some of your fees paid for by the council, if they agree it is the best care option for you.

Having a live-in carer generally costs more than moving into a care home, but this depends on your needs, choice of care home and financial circumstances.

For further information visit homecare.co.uk

The National Office for Care and Support in Wales has published its first annual report. The report outlines the key work the office has undertaken over the last year with the aim to:

1. Support the Chief Social Care Officer for Wales.

2. Develop, implement and deliver the National Care and Support Service for Wales.

3. Implement and manage the National Commissioning Framework for Care and Support in Wales.

You can read the full report here