How to plan the care you need and avoid hidden costs

Understanding the cost of home care can be overwhelming. If you need help making sense of the differences between care packages or the costs you may need to consider, here’s what we’ve learned over 27 years of providing private care and support to families and professionals across London and the South East.

What to consider when you’re researching care packages:

Costs will vary depending on individual needs. Here’s what to consider.

1. The level of care required
2. Are there any complex needs?
3. How often is support needed?
4. Where are you based? Being in London or the South East can influence costs.

Common hidden costs:

At Draycott, we’re upfront and transparent about all potential costs. Here are some common hidden charges that are often poorly communicated by other providers when planning private care:

• Cancellation charges
• Weekend rate increases
• Travel costs
• Live-in care limited to five days, yet advertised as 24/7

What makes us different?

How do you know that you or your loved one is cared for? This is why we do what we do. At Draycott, we guarantee that every care package is overseen by a registered nurse, ensuring a standard of care that many competitors cannot match.

• Nurse-Led Clinical Oversight: Registered clinicians design and oversee all care packages. Care can be tailored to unique clinical, social, and environmental factors. Expertly managed care ensures support is responsive, effective, and adaptable to changing needs.
• Fair Terms of Service: We can provide genuine 24/7 live-in care, unlike many providers that only cover five days a week. Live-in carers support up to 10 hours per day, with a two-hour daily break. If cover is needed for these breaks, or for more than the 10 hours, additional support can be arranged.
• 24/7 On-call administrative and clinical support: Our team is available to support carers, clients, families, and healthcare professionals around the clock
• Cost Efficiency for Couples: We provide discounted care for two people, enabling couples to stay together in the comfort of their homes.
• Highly Trained, Client-Matched Carers: Our carers are carefully selected to match your needs, preferences, and values, ensuring comfort and familiarity.
• Travel Costs are covered: The costs for our nurses and carers to travel to you are covered within zones 1-3. If you live in zone 4 or beyond, an additional fee will be agreed with you.

Full 24/7 Live-In Care—Transparent Pricing That Includes the hidden costs other providers add on, like weekend support

Many providers advertise live-in care as a 24/7 service, but in reality, this often means five days a week. Families are left to arrange and fund additional weekend care themselves or rely on friends, relatives, or their own time. At Draycott, we’re transparent about the care options available. For those who prefer this arrangement, we offer a cost-effective, low-acuity live-in care service, which includes daily breaks not covered by our team.

Draycott can provide consistent, fully supported, 24/7 live-in care if required. Our transparent pricing structure includes this level of care as standard. So when we say round-the-clock professional support, we mean seven days a week. No hidden gaps, no need for last-minute arrangements—just dedicated care whenever you need it.

What is transparent costing really all about, and what do we do at Draycott?

Unlike many providers, we can provide clear pricing as soon as you enquire. We are happy to share our prices and provide complete transparency about our costs, as we often find that clients return to us from competitors, having initially been offered what appears to be a more competitive rate but sadly been faced with hidden fees and additional costs.

We are not the cheapest, nor the most expensive. We offer a fair price for an expert service led by registered nurses and highly trained carers, carefully matched to each client.

Here’s how our costs work:

• Flexible Nursing & Care Options: We offer a range of care services, from hourly visits to overnight support and live-in care.
• Hourly Care: Sessions start from one hour, with premium rates applied for shorter visits to account for travel time and fair carer compensation. Longer sessions (four or more hours) are more cost-effective.
• Live-In Care: A cost-effective alternative for those needing regular support, covering seven days and nights. Live-in carers provide care for up to 10 hours per day and are on hand overnight if needed. If support is required more than twice per night, additional night care service (sleeping or waking night) may be appropriate.
• Night Care: We offer both waking nights (where the carer remains awake throughout) and sleeping nights (where the carer rests unless assistance is required).
• Weekend Rates: Weekend care rates vary slightly across Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights due to standard industry uplifts, with rates adjusting at midnight.
• Couples Discount: We offer a discounted rate for couples to support those who wish to remain at home together.
• Tiered Pricing: Our live-in pricing is structured to the care needs of each individual and can be bespoke to you
  • Low Acuity: Essential support with a starting price.
  • Medium Acuity: Includes breaks covered for the carer with a Draycott carer you are also familiar with.
  • High Acuity: Breaks covered plus bespoke additional services, such as nursing, waking nights or double-up care.

Tailored care packages to suit your needs and budget

At Draycott, we work closely with you from the start, offering expert guidance and assessments to create a care package that fits both your support needs and budget.

Our process begins with an initial enquiry, followed by a home visit from one of our expert team. During this visit, we assess your care requirements and personal preferences, providing a clear overview of the options available (the cost of this initial assessment is £100 and will be added to your first invoice). We also discuss cost efficiencies, such as how longer sessions or live-in care may provide better value.

We believe in the Value of Staying at Home.

Choosing at home care provides more than financial value—it offers continuity, comfort, and dignity. Staying in a familiar environment allows clients to maintain independence, stay close to loved ones, and receive personalised, one-on-one attention often unavailable in residential care settings.

At Draycott Nursing & Care, we’re committed to helping clients remain comfortable and well in their own homes. Our nurse-led, client-matched approach ensures that every detail is designed to meet your needs, making your home the best place to be.

If you’re exploring care options for yourself or a loved one and would like to understand the costs, we’re here for a no-obligation chat—over the phone or in person, whichever you prefer. Please do call us on (0) 20 7351 7171, or make an enquiry.