Mental Health Care Costs Overview
Understanding Mental Health Expenses
When you’re living with a mental health condition the days can be challenging, but at Helping Hands we will support you to retain your independence and remain in control of your own life. Your needs will be personal to you but that doesn’t mean we won’t understand how best to help, as we’ve been supporting people living with complex mental health for decades. By having one of our dedicated carers in your life you’ll always feel there’s someone on your side, championing for you when the days feel particularly tough. We’ll support you to remain living in your own home, keeping your dignity and independence at the centre of everything we do for you, while ensuring you get to enjoy the activities in and out of your home that make your days manageable. In addition to existing daily challenges, you don’t want to feel as if the costs of mental health care are complicated and will be difficult to decipher. At Helping Hands, we keep our pricing structure simple and transparent so that you and your supporters will be able to understand a straightforward cost for the care you require. We will also design you a bespoke package of care with a personalised support plan, so that you can be confident you’re getting the care you need at a price you can afford. And because all of our mental health care services are fully regulated by the Care Quality Commission and Care Inspectorate Wales, you and your loved ones can be confident in what we deliver.
Factors Influencing Costs
Remaining living somewhere comfortable and familiar can be highly beneficial when you’re struggling with your mental health, as it can help you to feel safe in your surroundings. This is especially important when you’re feeling vulnerable. Your carer will work at a pace to suit you, encouraging you to undertake hobbies you’ve always enjoyed and accompanying you out of the house if you wish. Together, you’ll regain confidence and begin to feel you can face the world again, managing your daily routine as you always did.
Many factors can affect the cost of your care; how many visits per day you require for instance, or whether you want someone to live in your home with you. The complexity of your care will also have a bearing on the cost, such as whether you require personal care and medication management, or just companionship, or the severity of your condition. You shouldn’t let this concern you though as the most important thing is that you get to live as independently as possible in the home you love, and that your carer supports you to lead an active life again.
Types of Mental Health Services and Costs
At Helping Hands we offer two types of mental health service – visiting care and live-in care.
Visiting Care
Visiting care involves our amazing carers coming to you on a prearranged appointment basis, for as little or as often as you need them. This could be once a week, three times a day or anywhere in-between. While most people choose support in hour-long blocks, we can also give you options for 30- and 45-minute calls. Our starting price for visiting care is £25.27 per hour, although prices will depend on your location and complexity of your care needs. We will also charge a call-out fee of £4.25 per visit to cover our carers’ travel costs. We can also offer overnight care as well as during weekends and bank holidays. You’ll also have ongoing support from your local care specialist, so you never feel alone with your support.
Live-in Care
Live-in care sees one or more of our dedicated carers living in your home with you, meaning that you’re never alone at home and without companionship. This doesn’t mean that you’ll feel as if your home has been taken over though, as they’ll always know when to give you space and respect your privacy. This could be because you need some quiet time alone or because you have family, friends, or other medical professionals visiting you. Live-in care means that you get around the clock support, so if you aren’t comfortable being alone at home you and your loved ones will have the reassurance that you never are. Prices for live-in care begin at £1,650 per week for a single person, and £1,650 per week for a couple.
Strategies for Managing Mental Health Care Costs
If you are concerned about how you will pay for your care, there may be different options open to you. Even though the majority of our customers pay for their care privately, there may be funding you can access to help cover the cost. It’s important that you, your advocate, or loved ones request a Financial Assessment from your local authority, so that you can discover what’s available to you. Our customer care team may also be able to advise you further on your options, while our website contains information about funding care that you may find useful.
Seeking the advice of an independent financial expert who can advise on funding possibilities and your potential eligibility is an important step when making sense of the funding available. They will also be able to help you plan for the future when your needs may change or loved ones may no longer be able to support you. Having a plan in place to pay for potential care means you can put it out of your mind until it’s needed, and your loved ones can have a worry lifted from their shoulders. The advisor will let you know the best way to pay for care, whether now or in the future, so that you can focus on your daily life and begin to find things you enjoy again. This is the key to helping you live well with your mental health, and your visiting or live-in carer is perfectly placed to help you do so.