Care Home Fees

Choosing a care home is not simply a financial decision. It’s a decision about quality of life, dignity, safety and human connection.

Why our fees reflect our values

At Heartlands Care, we understand that choosing a care home involves many considerations, including the financial. We believe in transparent and fair pricing that reflects the exceptional quality of care we provide. Here’s what makes us different.

We focus on what matters – people, not profit margins

While our care homes aren’t new purpose-built facilities, the amenities and services we offer are comparable with newly built homes and, in many aspects, superior. You’ll enjoy staying in a homely environment rather than an ultra-modern, cavernous new build, enhanced by the serene beauty of our extensive gardens and outdoor spaces. This gives you space to breathe, relax, and engage with nature – an incomparable benefit you won’t find in many modern facilities.

Technology is integral to how we care for you. We’re committed to leveraging advanced technology to improve your safety and quality of life and to provide your family with minute-by-minute updates on your wellbeing.

But here’s what really matters: while our fees are competitive, we’re not the least expensive option. We stand by this.

Our pricing reflects our commitment to maintaining higher staffing ratios and better training standards than many care homes. We understand that a caring, attentive, well-trained team is fundamental to your wellbeing and happiness. A higher staff-to-resident ratio means you receive personalised attention from people who have the time and genuine interest to get to know you as an individual.

This isn’t about ticking boxes on a care plan. It’s about real conversations over morning tea. It’s about staff who remember how you like that tea, who know your grandchildren’s names and who understand what matters to you.

We invest in experiences that matter

Our chefs provide a much higher quality and more varied menu than you’ll find in many other care homes. Don’t like what’s on today’s menu? No problem – our chef will make you something more to your taste. That’s not an exception, it’s our standard. Want to invite visitors to join you for lunch or dinner? Just ask. They can join any meal or snack without extra charge.

We allocate significant resources to support all aspects of your wellbeing – physical, emotional, and social. This means organising a range of activities and events that help you remain engaged, active, and socially connected. But more importantly, it means having staff with the time to sit with you, to listen, to share a laugh, to simply be present.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out for any additional information on our fees or services. We’re here to help, never to pressure.

What do care home fees cover?

At Heartlands Care, we offer an enriching, family-focused environment. Unlike other providers driven by profits from minimising staff costs, we succeed by delivering exceptional care. Our commitment to continual improvement ensures you enjoy a quality of life built on genuine human connection and person-centred support.

We’re open and transparent about costs. As far as possible, our care home fees include all aspects of accommodation and care, including:

Accommodation:

• All furniture (though you’re welcome to bring your own favourite pieces)
• Bedding and towels
• Heat, light and power
• Cleaning of your room and communal areas
• Washing of clothes and bedding (excluding dry cleaning)
• Maintenance of gardens and property
• High bandwidth Wi-Fi enabling streaming TV and seamless communication with loved ones

Care:

• All personal care tailored to your needs and preferences
• Administration of medications
• All drinks and food including snacks
• Preparation, reviewing and updating of your records including your care plan
• Liaison with healthcare and Social Services professionals
• All in-house activities including visiting entertainers
• State-of-the-art technology that increases staff efficiency and care quality – giving our team more time to spend with you

What is excluded?

While we include as much as possible within our care home fees, some items and services vary according to your preferences and are charged separately:

• Hairdressing, chiropody, optician, beauticians
• Magazines and newspapers
• Personal toiletries and items such as cigarettes
• Clothing
• Dry cleaning
• Some external visits and trips
• For privately funded residents, some specialist items of furniture or equipment

How are fees calculated?

Our care home fees are calculated based on two factors: accommodation costs and the cost of care.

Accommodation Costs

These costs relate to the size and location of your room (for example, ground floor or upstairs) and the facilities within it (ensuite, wet room, etc.).

One of the unique things about Heartlands Care is our wide variety of rooms, which may include, dependent on the Home you choose:

• Single rooms with a washbasin, but without an ensuite
• Single rooms with an ensuite, washbasin and toilet
• Rooms with a large bathroom or private wet room
• Large-sized rooms ideal for married couples and/or being furnished as a bed-sitting room

All rooms are decorated and furnished to the same high standard. Room sizes may vary, which can affect what additional furniture you can bring.

Cost of Care

These costs relate to your specific personal needs and wishes. For instance, if you have low mobility or are bedbound, you’ll require more care than someone who is independently mobile. We can generally meet the need for one-to-one care, and we’ll cost that element separately.

How Are Fees Levied and Paid?

Fees are levied and paid monthly in advance (preferably by standing order).

When you move in, we request fees be paid up to the end of the month of admission. If admission is after the 15th of the month, we request that the next calendar month’s fees are paid at the same time.

Any additional charges (those fees not included as stated above) will be invoiced monthly in arrears.

Financial Support

Navigating care home financing can be daunting, but you’re not alone.

At Heartlands Care, we bring our wealth of experience to support you during what is very often a challenging time. Whether you’re looking for general care home finance options or specific funding for dementia care, we can help you navigate your options.

We know that care home financing involves more than just cost. It’s about ensuring a comfortable, secure, and nurturing environment for you or your loved one.

We aim always to inform, never to pressure. That’s our commitment to you.

Care Home Funding

Local Authorities and the NHS are the main sources of care home funding assistance. Local Authorities base the support they offer citizens on an individual’s overall capital – including savings and property – through a process known as a means test, paired with a care needs assessment.

The NHS could also be a crucial source of support if you have significant healthcare needs. Their contributions can supplement or, in some cases, fully cover care home costs.

In instances where care is suddenly required, leaving little time to arrange funding, Heartlands Care offers a Property & Asset Disregard service. This service defers fees for an agreed period, providing breathing space to arrange your finances.

Those who have more than £23,251 of capital

• If you have capital exceeding £23,251, you’ll need to self-fund your stay until your capital decreases to £23,250
• Your house factors into your capital, except in certain circumstances such as where a spouse, qualifying relative or dependent child remains living there, during the first 12 weeks of permanent care, or where care is temporary

Those who have under £23,250 of capital

• When your capital falls below £23,250, the local authority can assist with care home funding
• The first step is contacting Adult Social Services for a care needs assessment
• Family and friends can sometimes “top up” fees to fund the difference between local authority support and the care home’s rate

Those close to £23,250 who will soon be eligible for funding

• If your capital is likely to fall to the threshold within around 6 months, it’s advisable to contact your local authority in advance so funding can be prepared when needed

Deprivation of Assets

• Care should be exercised with how financial affairs are handled before requiring care home accommodation
• Giving away savings, income or property can be treated as deprivation of assets

Do you need independent financial advice?
If you need assistance or advice in managing your finances, we recommend seeking independent financial advice. Additional support and information can also be sought from organisations such as Age UK.

What is Property and Asset Disregard?

Care home funding can be a significant financial commitment. For most people, this may require selling their property, accessing investments, or releasing funds from long-term deposit accounts.

In some instances, this process can take weeks or even months, leaving those in need of care without the support they require when they need it most. This is where the concept of property disregard becomes incredibly valuable.

More detail on Property and Asset Disregard

If you have to move permanently into a care home the Local Authority will carry out a financial assessment. If this assessment decides that you have to fund your care, but you do not have enough cash immediately available, the Local Authority may pay your fees for a 12-week period – a process known as Property Disregard. When your property is sold, those fees have to be repaid to the Local Authority.

Unfortunately, Local Authorities can sometimes be slow to conduct such assessments. In such circumstances, we will consider offering our own Asset & Property Disregard arrangement which allows you to move into care immediately, without needing to wait for access to savings, investments or the sale of property.

How can Property & Asset Disregard help me?

Property Disregard provides you and your family with time to organise the sale of your property and gain access to funds. This enables your care to begin when needed.

If agreed with the Local Authority for the initial 12 weeks, all care fees are paid by the local authority and repaid to them subject to their terms. If agreed with us, then fees are simply not levied until the end of the period and no interest is charged on those deferred payments.

What happens after the Initial Agreement Period?

Local Authorities may offer a 12-week property disregard period. At Heartlands Care, we aim to at least match that timeframe, and in certain circumstances can extend this period.

What makes Heartlands Care different?

As a family-run business, we offer an Asset & Property Disregard scheme if local authority care funding takes too long or isn’t available.

We work closely as a team to ensure that decisions regarding emergency funding are made quickly and efficiently – generally within 24 hours. We don’t charge any interest on deferred fees and offer simple, fair terms and conditions.

To find out more about how to fund care home fees, please feel free to contact us directly. We’re here to help, not to add to your stress, and we’ll aim to be as clear and compassionate as possible.