Before going into hospital, Barbara relied on help from her family to enable her to stay at home. A family member spent 7 hours per day with her, every day.

If the time given for informal care were costed, then the total cost of Barbara's care would change.

Informal care can be costed using different rates, as shown below. The figures show costs of care for 6 months prior to her hospital admissions with and without informal care, using 4 alternative rates for informal care.

Cost of Barbara's informal care for 6 months prior to her hospital admission, using 4 alternative rates

Cost of informal care, calculated at 7 hours/ day for 6 months (182 days)
PSSRU costs @ £32/ hour	£40,768.00
Direct payment @ £11.56/ hour	£14,727.44
Minimum wage @ £6.08/ hour	£7,745.92
Average carer’s wage @ £6. 20 / hour	£7,898.80

Total cost of Barbara's care for 6 months prior to hospital admission,

including informal care, using 4 alternative rates

 

Cost of care, calculated at 7 hours/ day for 6 months (182 days)
Care costs without informal care	£1,504.52
Care costs with informal care @ £32/ hr	£42,272.52
Care costs with informal care @ £11.56/ hr	£16,231.96
Care costs with informal care @ £6.08/ hr	£9,250.44
Care costs with informal care @ £6.20/ hr	£9,403.32