Understanding your options
Paying for care can sometimes feel confusing, particularly if you’re arranging support for the first time. We’re happy to help make things a little clearer.
There are different ways home care can be funded. Some people arrange and pay for their care privately, while others may receive financial support towards their care following an assessment by their local authority.
You may also receive a Direct Payment, giving you more choice and control over how your assessed care and support needs are met.
At Combe Home Care, we support people with different funding arrangements. You don’t need to understand everything before contacting us. If you’re unsure where to start, we’re happy to talk through your circumstances and point you towards the appropriate information and organisations where needed.
How can care be funded?
Private Care
You can arrange and pay for care directly with Combe Home Care. We’ll talk to you about the support you need, how often you’d like us to visit and the costs involved before your care begins.
Local Authority Funded Care
If you have eligible care and support needs, your local authority may arrange or contribute towards the cost of your care. This will normally involve an assessment of your care needs and, where appropriate, a financial assessment.
Direct Payments
If you’re eligible for support from your local authority, you may be offered a Direct Payment. This can give you more choice and control by allowing you to arrange care and support to meet your assessed needs.
Not sure which applies to you? That’s absolutely fine. Talk to us and we’ll help you understand how Combe Home Care can work with your particular funding arrangement and, where necessary, point you towards the right place for further advice.
Help with the cost of care
If you think you or a family member may need help with the cost of care, the first step is usually to contact your local authority for a care needs assessment.
For people living in our area, this will normally be Devon County Council. They can assess your care and support needs and, where appropriate, carry out a financial assessment to determine whether you may be entitled to help towards the cost of your care.
The amount someone may need to contribute depends on their individual financial circumstances, so we recommend checking the latest information directly with Devon County Council rather than relying on figures that may change over time.
You can still talk to us while this is being arranged. We’re happy to discuss the type of care you may need and explain how Combe Home Care works alongside local-authority funded care.
What are Direct Payments?
Direct Payments can give you more choice and control over the care and support you receive.
If Devon County Council has assessed you as having eligible care and support needs, you may be able to receive some or all of your personal budget as a Direct Payment. This allows you to arrange care and support yourself rather than having all of your services arranged by the council.
This can give you greater choice over who provides your care and how that care is provided, while still using the funding to meet the eligible needs agreed in your care and support plan.
You may be able to use a Direct Payment to arrange care with Combe Home Care. We’ll be happy to discuss your care requirements with you, although Devon County Council will determine your eligibility, the amount of funding available and what your Direct Payment can be used for.
Not sure where to start?
You don’t need to have everything worked out before you contact us.
Whether you’re paying privately, receiving support from Devon County Council, using a Direct Payment or are simply unsure what help may be available, we’re happy to have an informal conversation about your situation.
We’ll listen to what you or your family member needs, explain how Combe Home Care may be able to help and, where appropriate, point you towards other sources of information and support.
Sometimes the easiest place to start is simply having a conversation.
