We’re often asked this question in two different situations. Sometimes clients are thinking ahead and wondering whether long-term care is something they should be planning for themselves. At other times, it comes up because a parent’s health is changing and the question suddenly feels more immediate.
What makes long-term care hard to plan for is the uncertainty. You don’t know if it will be needed, when it might start, what form it will take, or how long it will last. That uncertainty makes it difficult to know whether saving specifically for care is sensible – or whether planning should take a different shape.
This article looks at what long-term care typically costs, how it’s paid for in practice, and how to think about planning – both for your own future and when aging parents are involved.
Common misunderstandings to clear up first
Before getting into costs or planning, it helps to address a few assumptions we often see:
- ‘The NHS will cover long-term care.’
The NHS covers healthcare, but ongoing personal care is treated differently. - ‘Care is only relevant right at the end of life.’
Many people need lower-level support for years rather than short periods of intensive care. - ‘I need to save a specific pot just for care.’
In practice, planning is usually about flexibility and options, not a single ring-fenced fund. - ‘We’ll deal with it if and when it happens.’
Leaving everything until a crisis often reduces choice and increases pressure on families.
Clearing these up early makes it easier to think practically about what comes next.
What do we mean by long-term care?
Long-term care usually refers to ongoing support with daily living due to age, illness or disability, rather than short-term medical treatment.
This might include:
- Help at home with washing, dressing or meals
- Regular visits from carers
- Supported living or residential care
- Nursing care where medical needs are involved
Care needs often develop gradually and can change over time. Some people may need low-level support for many years, while others may require more intensive care later on.
How much does long-term care cost?
Care costs vary depending on location, type of care and level of need, but it’s helpful to understand the broad picture.
In general:
- Home care is usually charged hourly
- Residential care is typically charged weekly
- Nursing care costs more because of the medical support involved
Care home fees commonly run into thousands of pounds per month, and costs often increase as needs change. Home care can feel more manageable at first, but regular daily support can also add up quickly.
The key point isn’t the exact figure – it’s that care is an ongoing cost, not a one-off expense.
Official guidance on how care costs work is available here:
How long-term care is usually paid for
In many cases, long-term care is paid for privately – at least to begin with. Costs are typically met from a combination of:
- Income, such as pensions
- Savings and investments
- Property, in some circumstances
Local authorities are involved in assessing care needs and setting the framework within which care operates, but many people arrange and fund care themselves in order to retain choice over where and how care is provided.
Over time, circumstances can change. Care may last longer than expected, needs may increase, or family situations may evolve. Understanding how funding works helps avoid decisions being made under pressure later on.
So – should you be saving specifically for long-term care?
For most people, the answer isn’t to set aside a separate ‘care pot”.
Instead, planning usually focuses on three practical aims:
1. Making sure care costs would be manageable if needed
This means understanding how care would be paid for using your existing resources – income, savings, investments and property – rather than trying to predict a future bill decades in advance.
2. Preserving choice and flexibility
Having accessible assets alongside longer-term planning can make a real difference to:
- Where care is provided
- How quickly decisions can be made
- How much pressure falls on family members
3. Avoiding forced decisions later
- Good planning reduces the risk of rushed choices, such as selling property quickly or relying on family members to step in without clarity.
- In other words, long-term care planning is usually about overall resilience, not earmarking a specific amount for a single outcome.
When this question is really about ageing parents
Often, we find this question isn’t about a client’s own future at all – it’s about what’s happening right now with a parent.
In those situations, the most useful first steps are usually:
- Understanding what level of care is needed now, and how that might change
- Clarifying what income and assets are available
- Establishing who is responsible for decisions and payments
These situations are rarely just financial. They often involve emotional strain, family dynamics and time pressure. Having a clearer picture of how care works – and how it’s typically funded – can help families move forward with more confidence.
When property becomes part of the conversation (usually with aging parents)
Questions about property tend to arise when long-term care is being considered for a parent. A home is often the largest asset involved, and families understandably want to know how it affects care decisions.
In practice, how property is treated depends on the circumstances:
- If a parent is receiving care at home, the property is not taken into account
- If a parent moves into residential care, the property may be included in assessments
- If a spouse or certain family members continue living in the home, it can be disregarded
What matters most is understanding when property is relevant and when it isn’t, rather than assuming it must immediately be sold or used to fund care. For many families, clarity here removes a significant source of worry.
Porta’s take
Long-term care planning isn’t about predicting the future or saving for a worst-case scenario. It’s about understanding how care works, what it can cost, and how it would be funded if circumstances changed – whether for you or for a parent.
At Porta, we help clients think through long-term care as part of the wider picture: income, assets, family responsibilities and personal priorities. That clarity often makes the difference between feeling unprepared and feeling in control.
If this question is on your mind – whether as part of long-term planning or because a situation is becoming more immediate – we’re here to help you talk it through calmly and practically.
Important information
This article provides general information only and does not constitute personal financial advice. The information is based on our understanding of current regulations, which may change in future. Decisions about your finances should always be made based on your individual circumstances. If you’re unsure about the suitability of any course of action, you should seek regulated financial advice. The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate tax planning, estate planning, trusts or wills. The value of your investments can go down as well as up, so you could get back less than you invested.
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