Arranging care in Bedford Borough
Bedford Borough Council is the unitary authority covering the town of Bedford, neighbouring Kempston and the surrounding villages in the East of England. Because it is a unitary authority, one organisation handles adult social care across the whole area, which makes the first steps a little simpler for families who are unsure where to turn.
If you or a relative living in Bedford or Kempston needs support, the starting point is Bedford Borough Council's adult social care team. They arrange a free needs assessment to look at daily life, mobility, memory and safety at home, and to identify what kind of help would make the biggest difference. Where care is likely to be chargeable, a separate financial assessment then looks at income, savings and property against the national capital thresholds to work out what Bedford Borough Council will contribute and what the person may need to pay themselves.
Local choice and care market
Families in the Bedford area have a genuinely wide choice, with around 157 CQC registered care homes across the borough and nearby. That includes residential care homes for people who mainly need help with personal care and daily living, and nursing homes for those with more complex health needs that require a registered nurse on site. Home care is also well represented for anyone who would prefer to stay in their own house in Bedford or Kempston for as long as possible.
Paying for care
Funding usually comes from a mix of sources: council funded support after a financial assessment, NHS Continuing Healthcare for those with a primary health need, Attendance Allowance, and self funding from savings, pensions or property. As a rough guide in the Bedford area, home care tends to average around £22 to £30 per hour, residential care homes typically fall between £900 and £1,200 per week, and nursing homes usually sit between £1,100 and £1,500 per week depending on the level of need.
Contacting Bedford Borough Council early, even if you think you will be self funding, is worthwhile because their assessment can open doors to reablement, equipment and advice that make later decisions less daunting.
