How much does home care cost with Horizons?
Our visits start from £23 per visit.
Is home care cheaper than a care home?
Some people think the only option is a Care Home and from our research it can cost from £1,012 to £1,470 per week (North West averages, CareAdvocate 2026, carehome.co.uk 2025) and can also mean you may be required to sell your own home to pay for care costs. Care at Home (Homecare) can be a much cheaper alternative with the added benefits of getting to stay in your own home.
Will the council pay for any of it?
The council looks at savings. Over £23,250 and you pay for your own care. Under £14,250 and you pay only what your income allows. In between, you pay part. The house is not counted when the care is at home. Asking the council for an assessment is free. If you are a Horizons Homecare client, we can also signpost, advise or support you.
Which council do I contact, and how?
Contact your local authority using https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council. If you are a Horizons Homecare client, we can also signpost, advise or support you.
Will the NHS pay? NHS Continuing Healthcare
Some people with long-term, complex health needs have all their care paid for by the NHS. This is called NHS Continuing Healthcare, and it can pay for care at home. It depends on the care the person needs, not on their diagnosis. The NHS usually decides within 28 days, or within 48 hours on the fast track for someone near the end of life. If the answer is no, you can challenge it. Beacon gives free advice on 0345 548 0300. Horizons is a recommended provider for NHS Continuing Healthcare at all our branches. If you are a Horizons Homecare client, we can also signpost, advise or support you.
What help is free?
Some help is free, whatever your savings. After a hospital stay, care at home to help someone recover may be free for up to 6 weeks. If the council's assessment finds a need, it must provide equipment under £1,000, such as grab rails or a walking frame, free of charge. A carer's assessment is free for anyone over 18. Our care assessment is free, with no obligation. If you are a Horizons Homecare client, we can also signpost, advise or support you.
Which benefits help pay for care?
Two benefits can help. Attendance Allowance is for people at State Pension age or over who need help looking after themselves. It pays £76.70 or £114.60 a week, and savings do not affect it. Carer's Allowance pays £86.45 a week to someone who cares for at least 35 hours a week for a person on Attendance Allowance or a similar benefit. The carer must earn £204 or less a week after tax and expenses. You can claim both on GOV.UK. If you are a Horizons Homecare client, we can also signpost, advise or support you.
Can we use direct payments with Horizons?
If the council assesses you as needing care, it can give you the money as a direct payment, so you can choose your own care provider. It cannot be spent on household bills or food. Horizons takes direct payments at all our branches. Before choosing any provider, check the price, CQC registration, insurance, DBS checks and whether the carers are their own employees. Our carers are employed by us and DBS checked, we hold public liability insurance, and we are CQC registered. If you are a Horizons Homecare client, we can also signpost, advise or support you.
What happens when savings run low?
If you pay for your own care, contact your council about 3 months before your savings are likely to fall below £23,250. The council only pays from the date you contact it, and it will not pay back costs from before then. There is no cap on what you pay for care: the planned £86,000 cap is not going ahead. Free advice is available from Age UK on 0800 678 1602 and Independent Age on 0800 319 6789. If you are a Horizons Homecare client, we can also signpost, advise or support you.
The next step: talk to your branch
To talk it through, call your nearest branch. Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre: 01253 202 922. Lancaster and Morecambe: 01524 881 211. Our office is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, and our on-call line is free, 24 hours a day, every day. We can arrange a free care assessment, with no obligation.
Questions families ask
How much is a half-hour visit with Horizons?
Just £23.
Do you charge extra for evenings, weekends or travel?
There is no extra charge for evenings, weekends, travel or complex care.
Is home care cheaper than a care home?
Home care is generally much cheaper than a care home. It can cost more when 24/7 or live-in care is needed.
Does the council count Mum's house if she has care at home?
No. The value of the home is not counted when the care is at home.
Which council do I contact?
Your local council. You can check which council covers you at https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council.
Is care after a hospital stay free?
It can be. Care at home to help someone recover after a hospital stay may be free for up to 6 weeks, depending on what is available in your area.
Can Attendance Allowance pay towards home care?
Yes. Attendance Allowance is paid to the person, and they can use it towards the cost of their care. If the council is working out what you pay, it counts Attendance Allowance as income.
Can we pay Horizons with a direct payment?
Yes. Horizons takes direct payments at all our branches.
If you are a Horizons Homecare client, we can also signpost, advise or support you.