Visiting care: What is a typical home care package and how much does it cost?

Before arranging care at home, you should know about home care packages for your needs and this guide explains personal care packages, visiting care for early-stage dementia, moderate dementia, complex care packages, what they typically include and the average costs in the UK.

At a glance

• A typical home care package is personalised to individual needs and has flexible home care visit times or live-in support.
• Home care in the UK costs on average between £26-£38 per hour, according to data from homecare.co.uk and depends on location and level of care required.
• More advanced dementia or complex care may require multiple daily visits or live-in care. Live-in care costs £1,303 a week on average in UK according to homecare.co.uk data.
• Home care packages may be supported by local authority funding or NHS and benefit-based assistance. 

What is a home care package?

A home care package is a personalised plan of care and support created to help you to live safely and independently in your own home.

A home care package covers:

• The type of care required.
• How often a professional home care worker visits.
• The length of each home care visit.
• Any specialist support needed.

The cost of a typical care at home package varies but care packages are flexible and can be adjusted as needs change.

Understanding both what’s included in home care packages and how much it costs helps families make informed decisions.

How much does home care cost in the UK?

Home care costs vary depending and the level of care and type of care you need, the care provider and your location in the UK.  

How much does home care cost per hour?

• Home care in the UK costs on average between £26-£38 per hour, according to data from homecare.co.uk.

For example, if you need home care for two hours a day at a rate of £30 per hour, you will pay:

• £420 per week.
• £1,680 per month.
• £20,160 a year.

What’s a typical home care package for my care needs?

Typical home care packages for your care needs depend on whether you require:

• Occasional help: 2-5 hours per week. 
• Light but regular support: 5-10 hours per week.
• Daily care visits:10-20 hours per week.
• Intensive care: 20-35+ hours per week.
• Continuous support: Live-in or 24-hour care.

Care hours can be adjusted as your needs change.

What is a personal care package?

A personal care package is suitable if you are mostly independent but need help with daily personal tasks.

What does a typical personal care package include?

Personal care packages can include:

• Washing, bathing or showering.
• Dressing and grooming.
• Toileting and continence care.
• Medication reminders or administration.
• Help getting in and out of bed.

Typical home care visit for personal care:

• 1-4 home care visits per day.
• 30-60 minutes per home care visit.

How much is a personal care package?

Average cost of personal care package:

• £26-£38 per hour for home care in the UK, according to homecare.co.uk data.
• £182-£266 per week for a one hour home care visit a day.
• £364-£538 per week for two home care visits a day.

Home care package costs can vary depending on your home care provider.

For example, Home Instead St Albans to date (10 February 2026), offers a basic needs package of 3 one hour home care visits a week for £114 a week. 

These home care staff can support you with showering, bathing, assist with eating and drinking and carrying out basic housework.

What is a care package for early-stage dementia and how much does it cost?

Early-stage dementia care focuses on maintaining independence while providing reassurance and structure.

What does a care package for early-stage dementia include?

A typical care package for someone in the early stages dementia can include: 

• Personal care support.
• Medication management.
• Meal preparation and hydration.
• Light housekeeping.
• Companionship and emotional support.
• Help with routines and orientation.

Typical home care visit:

• 1-3 home care visits per day.

Average cost of home care for early-stage dementia:

• £26-£38 per hour for home care in the UK, according to homecare.co.uk data.
• £182-£800 per week, depending on frequency of care at home visits.

Costs vary depending on home care provider. For example, early-stage dementia care at home is typically around £20-£22 per hour, according to Helping Hands Home Care’s Cost of Dementia Care (2023).

What is a home care package for moderate dementia and what’s the cost?

As dementia progresses, individuals may require more frequent care and supervision.

What does a home care package for moderate dementia include?

A home care package for moderate dementia includes: 

• Full personal care.
• Continence support.
• Medication administration.
• Meal preparation and feeding support.
• Safety monitoring.
• Behavioural support.

Typical home care visits for mid-stage dementia:

• Multiple daily visits.
• Extended visits.
• Live-in care.

Average cost of mid-stage/moderate dementia care at home:

• Home care visits: £800-£1,500 per week.
• Live-in care: On average £1,303 a week in the UK, according to data from homecare.co.uk (to date 10 February 2026).

Different care providers have different home care costs.

For example, mid-stage dementia support ranges from £24-£27 per hour, according to Helping Hands Home Care, Cost of Dementia Care (2023).

What is a home care package for late stages of dementia and what’s the cost?  

Late stages of dementia care can involve advanced care costs.

According to Helping Hands Home Care’s Cost of Dementia Care (2023), advanced care costs are typically £28-£30 per hour.  

What does late-stage dementia care typically include:

• Specialist-trained carers.
• Medical administration.

Typical care for late stages of dementia

• Waking or sleeping night care.
• Live-in care.  

What is a live-in care package?

• Live-in care provides 24-hour support from a carer who lives in the home. It is often comparable in cost to the cost of a residential care home.

What does a live-in care package include?

A live-in care package typically includes:

• Personal care.
• Help maintaining daily routines.
• Meal preparation.
• Medication support.
• Night-time reassurance.
• Companionship.

How much does live-in care cost in the UK?

• Live-in care costs on average £1,303 a week in the UK, according to data from homecare.co.uk (to date 10 February 2026).
• This is on average £1,301 in England, £1,379 in Scotland, £1,237 in Wales and £2,130 a week in Northern Ireland. 
• Your individual care needs will influence your visiting care costs. 

What is a typical care package for complex care?

Complex care is given to people with ongoing medical or specialist needs such as stroke recovery, MS, Parkinson’s or brain injury.

What a complex care package include?

A home care package for complex care reflects the level of training required and includes:

• Specialist-trained carers.
• Support with conditions such as Parkinson’s, MS, stroke recovery, or brain injury.
• PEG feeding, catheter or stoma care.
• Moving and handling support.
• Medication administration.

Typical home care options for complex care:

• Several long daily visits.
• Waking or sleeping night care.
• Live-in care.

What factors affect the cost of a care package?

Home care costs are influenced by:

• Your location in the UK.
• Frequency and length of visits.
• Level of care required.
• Specialist training needed.
• Time of day (evenings, weekends, nights).

Can I get financial help with home care costs?

Eligibility for financial help with home care costs depends on the care needs and financial circumstances.

You may be eligible for financial support, including:

• Local authority funding following a care assessment.
• NHS Continuing Healthcare (for complex medical needs).
• Attendance Allowance or Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

How is the right care package decided?

You should contact your local council (or Trust in Northern Ireland) to ask for a care needs assessment which will identify what your care and support needs are and what help you can get.

A care assessment considers:

• Physical and medical needs.
• Cognitive and emotional wellbeing.
• Daily routines and preferences.
• Safety and mobility risks.

Care packages are reviewed regularly and can be adapted as needs change.

Now that you have read about home care packages, you may want to use this website to look for home care providers in your local area.

FAQs