They’re Paying £476 More a Week: Cornwall Families Struggle With Soaring Elderly Care Costs

Families across Cornwall are being pushed to the brink as elderly care fees continue to rise sharply—leaving those who fund care themselves paying significantly more than local authorities.

According to data from online care comparison site Lottie, self-funding residents in Cornwall now pay an average of £1,478 per week for care, while Cornwall Council contributes just £1,002 for those whose care is funded by the local authority. This creates a weekly funding gap of £476, disproportionately impacting individuals and families who don’t qualify for council support.

Families face impossible choices

This gap in funding has forced many families into difficult decisions—some are selling their homes, others are dipping into personal savings, or relocating their elderly relatives to more affordable care homes, according to Lottie.

The pressure is compounded by a rising demand for elderly care, making it harder to find suitable spaces at a reasonable cost. Lottie reports that 65% of people searching for care are struggling to access the support they need.

Care homes also under pressure

At the same time, care providers are facing increasing costs of their own. Lottie states that the average annual cost of running a care home is now expected to reach £158,323.96, even before accounting for rising energy prices, staff wages, and the cost of day-to-day essentials.

“Every year, care homes raise fees to cope with operational costs, but recent increases have been steeper than ever,” explained Karim from Lottie. “Many providers have had to cut back services or raise prices in order to continue operating, with one in seven care providers reducing the level of care they offered last year.”

Funding still falling short

While some councils have increased their contribution rates, these changes have not kept pace with the actual cost of care, leaving self-funding families especially exposed to growing bills.

“Every day, we hear stories from individuals struggling with the challenges of funding care for their elderly loved ones. Many are forced to make difficult decisions, often looking to sell their homes or dipping into personal savings, just to afford essential support,” added Karim. “More recently we have found a growing number of families having to move their loved ones to different care homes due to rising fees.”

A call for urgent support

Karim concluded:

“It is becoming harder than ever to sustain the rising costs of elderly care and families are being left with difficult choices. With an ageing population the government must act sooner to support families in accessing care to ensure affordable and sustainable care options remain available for all.”