“How much is this going to cost?” is usually the second question families ask us, right after “can you help?” It is a fair question, and it deserves a straight answer rather than a form to fill in. This guide explains what home care costs in Dartford and across Kent, what makes one quote higher than another, and the help available towards the bill.
The short answer: what home care costs in Dartford and Kent
Home care in England is usually charged by the hour, and Age UK puts the typical cost at around £25 an hour nationally, with the South East towards the higher end. Shorter visits often cost more per hour than longer ones, and evenings, weekends and bank holidays usually carry a higher rate.
Live-in care works differently. It is charged as a weekly fee rather than by the hour, which often makes it better value than many hours of visits — and for a couple, one live-in carer can support both people for a single fee.
Those are national figures. The only number that matters to you is the one on your own quote, which depends on the support you actually need. We give a clear written quote after a free home assessment, with no obligation and no hidden charges.
What you are actually paying for
An hourly rate is not just the carer’s wage. A properly run service has to cover:
- the carer’s pay, including their travel time between visits and mileage
- National Insurance, pension contributions and holiday pay
- recruitment, enhanced DBS checks and references
- training, shadowing and ongoing supervision
- care planning, risk assessments and regular reviews
- an office team you can reach, and on-call cover outside office hours
- insurance and the cost of being registered and inspected by the Care Quality Commission
This is why very cheap quotes should make you pause. The Homecare Association calculated that a provider in England needed to charge at least £32.14 an hour in 2025/26 simply to pay carers legally and cover the costs above. A price far below that usually means someone is being squeezed — most often the carer, through unpaid travel time or rushed visits, and that shows up in the care you receive.
What changes the price
How long each visit is
A 30-minute call costs less than an hour, but not half as much, because the carer still has to travel to you. If you only need a medication prompt, a short visit makes sense. If you need help to wash, dress and have breakfast without being rushed, an hour is usually money better spent.
When the visits happen
Early mornings, evenings, weekends and bank holidays are more expensive to staff, so most providers charge more for them. If your timings are flexible, say so — it can bring the cost down.
How many carers you need
Some people need two carers at each visit, usually for safe moving and handling with a hoist. That doubles the cost of those visits, so it is worth asking an occupational therapist whether equipment could make a single-carer visit safe.
Visits or live-in care
As the number of hours climbs, live-in care often becomes the more economical option as well as the more settled one. As a rough guide, once you are looking at four or more hours of home care visits a day, it is worth comparing the two properly.
Help with the cost in Kent
Many families assume they will have to pay for everything themselves. Often that is not the case, and the help is not always means-tested.
Start with a free care needs assessment
Anyone can ask Kent County Council for a care needs assessment, free of charge, whatever their income. It establishes what support you need. If you are found eligible, a separate financial assessment works out what, if anything, you contribute.
The financial assessment
For care in your own home, the value of your property is not counted. The thresholds in England are:
- Capital over £23,250 — you pay for your own care (you are a “self-funder”).
- Capital between £14,250 and £23,250 — the council contributes, and you pay from your income plus a “tariff income” of £1 a week for every £250 of savings in that band.
- Capital below £14,250 — the council contributes and only your income is considered.
The council must also leave you with a minimum weekly income to live on, known as the Minimum Income Guarantee.
Direct payments
If the council agrees to fund some or all of your care, you can take the money as a direct payment and choose your own provider, rather than being allocated one. It is the route many of our clients use, and Kent runs a helpline to support people who take it.
Attendance Allowance and PIP
Attendance Allowance is for people over State Pension age who need help with personal care or supervision. It is not means-tested, is not affected by savings, and does not depend on having a carer. For 2026/27 it is worth £76.70 or £114.60 a week depending on how much help you need. Under State Pension age, the equivalent is Personal Independence Payment. A family member who cares for you for 35 hours a week or more may also be able to claim Carer’s Allowance, currently £86.45 a week.
NHS continuing healthcare
If someone’s needs are primarily health needs rather than social care needs, they may be eligible for NHS continuing healthcare, which is fully funded by the NHS with nothing to pay. It depends on assessed need, not on a diagnosis. Where someone is nearing the end of life and their condition is deteriorating quickly, a fast-track assessment can put care in place within about 48 hours.
Equipment and adaptations
Small pieces of equipment such as grab rails and raised toilet seats are often provided free by the council after an assessment, and a Disabled Facilities Grant can help with larger changes such as a level-access shower or a stairlift. The right equipment sometimes reduces the amount of paid care needed.
Questions to ask any provider before you agree
- Is the rate different at weekends, evenings or on bank holidays?
- Do you charge for travel time or mileage on top of the hourly rate?
- What is your minimum visit length?
- What notice do I need to give to change or cancel a visit, and will I be charged?
- What happens if my regular carer is ill — will someone else come, and at what cost?
- Is the price fixed for a period, and how much notice do I get of an increase?
- What exactly is included in a live-in care fee, and what is extra?
- Are you registered with the Care Quality Commission, and what did your last inspection say?
A provider who answers these clearly and in writing is telling you something useful about how they run the rest of their service.
How we quote
At Mission Healthcare we visit you at home, free of charge and with no obligation, to understand what you need — and we will tell you honestly if you need less care than you thought. You then get a written quote setting out the visits, the times and the cost, with nothing hidden. If your needs change, we review it with you rather than adjusting it quietly.
We provide home care, elderly care, live-in care and respite care across Dartford, Greenhithe, Wilmington, Longfield, Swanley, Crayford, Bexley, Bexleyheath, Erith, Sidcup, Gravesend and Northfleet. Our service is led by a UK-qualified doctor and a registered nurse.
To talk it through, call us on +44 7470 367 720 or send us a message. Even if you are only at the stage of working out what things might cost, we are happy to help you think it through.
Figures correct at September 2026. Benefit rates and capital thresholds change, so please check the linked pages for the current position. This article is general information, not financial advice.
