Clear, honest pricing
No hidden fees, no hard sell — an honest guide to what home care costs with Otter, and the funding that may help towards it.
What home care costs
Final pricing depends on the support you need — you'll get a clear, personalised quote at your free assessment.
Flexible visits for help with daily life.
Round-the-clock, one-to-one care in your own home.
A no-obligation home visit and tailored care plan.
Visiting care — full rates
| Visit length | Mon–Fri | Weekend | Bank holiday |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour | £36.00 | £40.00 | £48.00 |
| 45 minutes | £31.75 | £34.75 | £41.75 |
| 30 minutes | £27.50 | £29.50 | £35.50 |
No travel or call-out fees · VAT-exempt · Mileage for client outings charged at 55p/mile.
As a rough guide, one hour every day comes to about £260 a week — five weekday visits at £36 and two weekend visits at £40, with one Care Professional and no bank holidays. Two hours a day is roughly double. Try our cost calculator for other patterns of care.
Live-in care
Round-the-clock, one-to-one care in your own home — a genuine alternative to a care home. The weekly rate depends on how much support is needed.
Which band applies depends on how much hands-on help is needed, and we agree it with you at the free assessment. A £50 weekly food allowance for your Care Professional sits on top of the weekly rate.
The weekly fee covers one Care Professional living in: on hand through the day, sleeping in your home overnight, with a daily break we arrange cover for. If someone needs hands-on help several times a night, we add waking-night support at the overnight rates below.
Overnight care
| Care type | Weekday | Weekend | Bank holiday |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleeping night (9 hrs) | £240 | £260 | £280 |
| Waking night (9 hrs) | £290 | £320 | £350 |
On a sleeping night the Care Professional sleeps in the home and can be woken once or twice; on a waking night they stay awake the whole night.
Help paying for care
Not sure whether you'll pay for care yourself or get help from the council? As a rough guide: with savings and assets over £23,250 you'll usually fund your own care; under £14,250 the council should cover most or all of it; in between, you contribute on a sliding scale. Either way, asking your council for an assessment is free — and always worth doing.
Local Authority funding
After a free needs and means assessment, your council may fund some or all of your care. We support clients funded by both Wiltshire and Somerset councils.
Wiltshire — request an assessment →Somerset — paying for your care →Attendance Allowance
A non-means-tested, tax-free benefit for those over State Pension age who need help with personal care — £76.70 or £114.60 a week depending on the level of help. Worth claiming even if you fund your own care.
Check eligibility →Self-funding
Many families pay privately for the flexibility and choice it brings. We keep pricing transparent, with no travel or call-out fees.
NHS Continuing Healthcare
If care is needed mainly for health reasons, the NHS may fully fund it, whoever provides the care.
Read the NHS guide →Benefit rates and capital thresholds are correct as of June 2026 and reviewed each April. This is general guidance, not financial advice — your council or an independent adviser can confirm what applies to you.
Costs & funding questions
Yes — completely. The home visit and your tailored care plan are free and no-obligation. You're never charged to find out whether we're the right fit for your family.
No. Our hourly rates include everything — there are no travel or call-out charges, and home care is VAT-exempt. The only extra is mileage at 55p a mile if we drive you out and about, always agreed with you first.
Yes. We support clients funded by Wiltshire and Somerset councils and accept Direct Payments, as well as private self-funding. We're happy to invoice the council directly where that's the arrangement.
Care is invoiced regularly and paid by Direct Debit, so there's nothing to remember. We'll talk you through the costs clearly before you commit — no surprises, ever.
Home care or a care home?
Local homes publish £1,795–£1,920 a week for residential dementia care. Live-in care with us is £1,550–£1,800 a week, plus £50 a week towards your Care Professional's food — £1,600–£1,850 all in. We've set the two side by side honestly — including where a care home is the better answer.
Let's find the right care, together
A friendly voice, not a call centre.