New report estimates real cost of providing nursing care for older people

Care home associations have welcomed a report that estimates the
cost of providing nursing care for older people at £459 per
week and residential care at £353.

The figures are significantly more than the average fee
currently paid by local authorities which is £385 for nursing
care and £268 for residential care, a difference of £74
and £85 respectively.

The study recognises that councils cannot afford an immediate
increase in baseline fees and proposes a phased approach. Funding
could be made available to local authorities through a ‘care home
modernisation grant”, with the government paying social services
departments according to the degree of compliance with national
minimum standards achieved by the homes with which they hold
contracts.

The report ‘Calculating a Fair Price for Care’ is available from
01235 465500.