You can get some adult social care for free. This includes information and advice and some equipment and adaptations. Other forms of adult social care are not free for most people. How much you will pay for care will depend on several factors like:
- your personal financial circumstances
- the type of care you need
- how many hours of care you need
- which provider you choose
This page explains the average cost of care in Surrey. To understand how much you might need to pay, you can do an online financial assessment. It's important the care arrangements you choose are affordable and you know What to do if your money is running low.
You can get some adult social care for free. This includes:
- information, advice and signposting to local support
- social care needs assessments
- carers services
- reablement (up to a maximum of 6 weeks and depending on eligibility)
- aftercare services provided under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act
- daily living equipment and adaptations costing less than £1000
- services for people with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD)
Residential care in a care home can be expensive. This is particularly true if you or a love one is planning on staying in residential care long-term.
In 2024, the average cost of residential care per week was:
- £1,255 - for a residential care home
- £1,292 - residential home for people living with dementia or complex needs
- £1,388 - nursing care home
- £1,389 - enhanced nursing home (complex conditions)
See also Paying for residential care.
The Homecare Association has set a minimum cost of £28.53 per hour for the cost of care. Unsocial hours, for example in the evening and at weekends, may be charged at a higher rate.
In 2024, the average cost of care in your home per week was:
- average cost of domiciliary (hourly) care - £28 per hour *
- average cost of live-in care - £1,200 to £1,600 per week
- average cost of overnight waking care - £244 per night
- average cost of overnight sleeping care - £187 per night
* You will need to work out costs if you are getting several visits each day.
There are a wide range of providers in Surrey. We recommend you contact a few to compare prices.
See also Paying for care in your home.
