Home Help in Horden: Costs, Funding and 19 Local Agencies (Oct 2026)

What home help includes

Typical tasks are cleaning and tidying, laundry and ironing, changing beds, food shopping and collecting prescriptions, preparing meals, help with post and bills, and getting out to appointments or the shops. Many people also value the company. Home help does not include personal care such as washing, dressing or help with medication: for that you need a home care agency registered with the Care Quality Commission.

Paying for home help

Home help is usually charged by the hour, at or just below the rate for visiting care. County Durham council may include practical help in a care plan if a care needs assessment finds eligible needs, though help with housework alone often does not qualify. Attendance Allowance, which is not means-tested, is often used to pay for it. See home help for the elderly and home help vs home care.

Agency, cleaner or council?

Many home care agencies in Horden provide home help as well as personal care, which is useful if needs grow. A cleaner or a local "home help" service can be cheaper for housework alone, but is not regulated by CQC. Some councils and charities run low-cost help-at-home or shopping services. Requesting an assessment from County Durham council.

Agencies covering Horden: the data

16 of the 19 agencies (84%) list dementia as a specialism, against 72% across County Durham. The oldest current rating dates from October 2018 (Housing 21 - Bramble Hollow). The newest registration is Vestra Homecare Durham, registered with CQC in August 2026. By specialism, 16 of 19 list physical disabilities, 9 of 19 list learning disabilities and 17 of 19 list mental health conditions. Compare Horden's 100% Good or Outstanding with 97% for the rated agencies among the 189 we list in County Durham. 21% of agencies covering Horden have a CQC rating from the last two years, against 15% across County Durham. No Outstanding ratings covering Horden yet, against 3 across County Durham. Counting all listed agencies, not only rated ones, Horden (68% Good or Outstanding) is 5th out of 7 local towns, led by Seaham (79%).

How much home help costs in Horden

Usual 2026 prices across England
Visiting care	around £32–£34 an hour
Live-in care	around £1,540–£1,610 a week

Durham County Council's own rates: £22.83 an hour for home care (2025/26 average paid to agencies); £857 a week for residential care (2025/26 average, over-65s); £890 a week for nursing care (2025/26 average, over-65s) (source).

Ask every agency for a full list of charges, with weekend and bank holiday rates: hourly rates vary more between agencies than between regions. According to the Homecare Association, councils across England should pay no less than £34.42 an hour for home care in 2026/27 if it is to be sustainable. Source: Lottie Care Index, Q3 2026. Tools: weekly cost calculator and what would we pay?

Home help in Horden: common questions

Where can I find home help in Horden?

Ask each agency: CQC keeps no record of who provides home help. Of the 19 registered agencies that have an office within 7 miles of Horden, 13 are rated Good or Outstanding.

What does home help cost in Horden?

Expect an hourly charge close to the local visiting care rate, sometimes slightly less for housework only. Check the minimum visit length and weekend rates before you book.

Does the council pay for home help?

Only as part of meeting eligible needs after an assessment by County Durham council; housework on its own rarely qualifies. Attendance Allowance, which ignores savings, is often used to pay for home help.

Is home help the same as home care?

No. Home help is practical help with housework, shopping and errands. Home care, or personal care, includes help with washing, dressing, eating and medication, and must be provided by an agency registered with the Care Quality Commission.

Are home care agencies in Horden well rated?

13 of the 13 rated agencies (100%) are Good or Outstanding; 16 list dementia as a specialism and 4 were inspected or rated in the last two years.

Need home help in Horden?

One short form: featured partners and a maximum of three rated agencies working with us will contact you directly by email.

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Data: CQC register, Oct 2026, used under the Open Government Licence v3.0. We are an independent directory and do not provide care.

Home help in Horden