Home care costs in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Hourly and live-in rates for 2026, from the agencies that publish them. Updated as agencies confirm their prices.
There are 120 home care agencies registered with the CQC in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, South West, and agencies based in neighbouring areas cover it too. None has yet published a rate we can show, so the figures below come from the wider region.
What the rate includes
An agency’s hourly rate in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole pays the carer, the office that plans the rota, travel between visits, training, insurance and a margin. Weekends and bank holidays usually cost more, short visits cost more per hour, and some agencies add mileage for visits far from the office.
Ask for the full price list: weekday and weekend rates, the shortest visit they do, and the cancellation terms. Rates are reviewed once a year, usually in April.
Who pays in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
If you have more than £23,250 in savings you will normally pay yourself. Below that, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council assesses what you can contribute; your house does not count while you live in it. You can take the money as a direct payment and choose your own agency or carer.
People with very high health needs may qualify for NHS Continuing Healthcare, which covers the whole cost at home.
Full guides: who pays, and when the council helps, direct payments and Continuing Healthcare at home.
Agency or your own carer in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?
Self-employed carers on PrimeCarers charge £18 to £25 an hour and set their own rates. The same carer comes each time and you agree the hours between you. Live-in care is from about £1,120 a week.
How PrimeCarers worksCommon questions
How much does home care in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole cost an hour?
We do not yet have three published rates in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, so the best guide is the England figure of about £26 to £36 an hour an hour. Ask each agency for a written price list.
How much does home care in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole cost a week?
Across England two one-hour visits a day costs about £400 to £500 a week and live-in care about £1,200 to £1,750 a week.
What is the cheapest home care agency in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?
No agency in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole has published a rate we can show yet. The area listing marks any agency that adds one.
Will Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council pay for home care?
If your savings are below £23,250, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council will assess your needs and what you can afford, and may pay part or all of the cost. The value of your house does not count while you live in it. You can take the money as a direct payment and spend it with the agency or carer you choose; if they charge more than the council's rate you pay the difference. Ask the adult social care team for a needs assessment first.
Is a self-employed carer cheaper than an agency in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?
Usually. Carers on PrimeCarers charge £18 to £25 an hour, and live-in care from £1,120 a week. You choose the carer and the same person comes each time.
Rates last checked September 2026.