10/07/2026
The single biggest misconception I encounter about care funding is this:
"The NHS will pay for it."
In most cases, it will not.
In England, if you have more than £23,250 in assets - including savings, investments, and sometimes property - you are expected to fund the full cost of your care yourself. Most families discover this at the point of crisis, not before.
Here is what many families also do not know:
If you are receiving care at home (not in a care home), your property is not included in the means test. This is a significant distinction that changes the financial picture for many people.
There are four main routes to funding care at home:
1. Local authority funded care (means-tested)
2. Direct payments (funded by the council but you choose the provider)
3. NHS Continuing Healthcare (not means-tested - for people whose primary need is health-based)
4. Private / self-funded
NHS Continuing Healthcare is the most underused funding route in England. Many people who qualify never apply because nobody tells them it exists.
We have produced a plain-English guide to care funding that covers all four routes, the threshold figures, and the key contacts you need. It is free. No sign-up required if you message me directly - I will send it to you.
What aspect of care funding do you find most confusing or most often misunderstood? Genuinely curious.
To read more, link is in the comments.
