Care Home Fees Mansfield: What’s Included and What Costs Extra

Understanding the True Cost of Care Home Living

When researching care homes in Mansfield, the weekly fee quoted might seem straightforward, but understanding exactly what’s included and more importantly, what isn’t, can save you from unexpected costs later. Many families are surprised to discover that the basic weekly fee is just the starting point, with numerous additional charges that can significantly impact your monthly budget.

This guide breaks down what you should expect to be included in standard care home fees in Mansfield, what typically costs extra, and how to budget effectively for the full cost of care home living.

What’s Typically Included in Your Weekly Care Home Fee

Accommodation and Basic Services

The weekly fee at most Mansfield care homes covers your essential accommodation needs:

Room and utilities:

• Your bedroom (single or shared depending on the home)
• All heating, lighting, and water costs
• Basic furnishing (bed, wardrobe, chair)
• Regular cleaning of your room
• Fresh bed linen and towels

Meals and refreshments:

• Three meals per day plus snacks
• Tea, coffee, and soft drinks throughout the day
• Special dietary requirements (diabetic, vegetarian, etc.)
• Assistance with eating if needed

Most care homes in Mansfield pride themselves on their catering, with many, like Newgate Lodge Care Home, offering fresh, home-cooked meals using local ingredients.

Personal Care Services

Your weekly fee should cover all essential personal care:

• Help with washing, bathing, and personal hygiene
• Assistance with dressing and undressing
• Support with toileting and incontinence care
• Help with mobility and transfers
• Medication management and administration
• Basic first aid and health monitoring

Social Activities and Entertainment

Reputable care homes include a structured activities programme in their fees:

• Daily activities like games, crafts, and exercise sessions
• Weekly entertainment such as musicians or visiting performers
• Seasonal celebrations and themed events
• Access to communal areas like lounges and gardens
• Community outings within the local area

Laundry Services

Most Mansfield care homes include:

• Washing and ironing of personal clothing
• Provision and laundering of bed linen
• Basic dry cleaning for suitable items

However, some homes charge extra for handling particularly delicate or expensive items.

What Typically Costs Extra

Personal Services

Hairdressing and beauty treatments:

• Haircuts: £10-£25 depending on complexity
• Perms and colouring: £30-£60
• Basic beauty treatments: £15-£40

Many care homes have regular visiting hairdressers, making this a convenient but optional extra.

Chiropody and foot care:

• Basic foot care: £25-£35 per session
• Treatment of corns, calluses: £30-£45
• Nail cutting for diabetic residents: £35-£50

Optician services:

• Eye tests: Usually covered by NHS
• New glasses: From £50-£300 depending on prescription and frames

Healthcare Extras

Dental care:

• Basic NHS dentistry: Standard NHS charges apply
• Private dental work: £50-£500+ depending on treatment
• Denture repairs: £50-£150

Physiotherapy and therapies:

• Private physiotherapy: £40-£60 per session
• Occupational therapy assessments: £80-£120
• Speech therapy: £50-£80 per session

Personal Items and Comfort Extras

Newspapers and magazines:

• Daily newspaper: £25-£35 per month
• Weekly magazines: £15-£25 per month

Television and entertainment:

• Personal TV in room: £15-£25 per month
• Premium TV channels: £10-£20 per month

Telephone services:

• Room telephone line: £15-£25 per month
• Call charges: Standard BT rates or mobile charges

Clothing and Personal Effects

Clothing replacement:

• Basic clothing items: At cost price
• Specialist clothing (e.g., easy-fastening garments): 20-50% extra
• Footwear: £30-£100+ depending on type

Personal care items:

• Toiletries and cosmetics: At cost or with small markup
• Specialised bedding or pillows: £25-£100

Transport and Outings

Medical appointments:

• Transport to GP appointments: £10-£25 per trip
• Hospital appointments: £20-£50 depending on distance
• Specialist appointments: £15-£40

Social outings:

• Day trips to local attractions: £15-£35 per person
• Shopping trips: £5-£15
• Theatre or cinema visits: Ticket price plus transport (£25-£60 total)

Events in the home:

• Care homes like Newgate Lodge provide a range of community events
• Quiz Nights, Community Cafes, summer and christmas fayres are on offer

Mansfield-Specific Considerations

Local Market Pricing

Care homes in Mansfield typically structure their additional charges competitively:

• Hairdressing services are generally 10-15% lower than Nottingham city centre prices
• Transport costs benefit from Mansfield’s central location, with reasonable distances to most medical facilities
• Local service providers often offer better rates than in larger cities

Popular Local Services

Many Mansfield care homes have established relationships with local service providers:

• Footcare services: Several experienced chiropodists serve the local care home circuit
• Mobile hairdressing: Competitive market keeps prices reasonable
• Entertainment: Local musicians and performers often offer package deals to multiple homes

Budgeting for the Full Cost

Creating a Realistic Monthly Budget

To budget accurately for care home costs in Mansfield:

Start with the basic weekly fee:

• Multiply by 52 weeks, then divide by 12 for monthly cost
• Example: £1260 per week

Add estimated extras:

• Hairdressing: £20 monthly
• Chiropody: £30 monthly (every 6 weeks)
• Personal items: £40 monthly
• Outings and entertainment: £25 monthly
• Miscellaneous: £35 monthly

Managing Unexpected Expenses

Build a contingency fund of 10-15% of your monthly care costs to handle:

• Unexpected medical needs
• Equipment replacement
• Emergency transport costs
• Seasonal clothing needs

Questions to Ask Prospective Care Homes

Before committing to any care home, ask specific questions about additional charges:

About Services and Pricing

1. “Can you provide a written list of all additional charges?”
2. “How often do you review and increase these charges?”
3. “Do you provide monthly billing statements showing all charges?”
4. “What services require 24-hour notice, and do you charge cancellation fees?”
5. “Are there any services that appear optional but are actually essential for my needs?”

About Payment and Billing

1. “How are additional charges billed—weekly, monthly, or as incurred?”
2. “Do you require deposits for services like outings or treatments?”
3. “What happens if I can’t afford certain additional services—are there alternatives?”
4. “Do you offer package deals that might reduce individual service costs?”

Tips for Managing Care Home Costs

Before Moving In

• Understand the fee structure: Get written confirmation of what’s included and what costs extra
• Plan for inflation: Care homes may change their fees annually—factor this into long-term budgets

After Moving In

• Monitor bills carefully: Check monthly statements for accuracy and query unexpected charges
• Communicate with family: Share costs among family members if possible
• Review services regularly: Cancel services that are no longer needed or wanted

Understanding Fee Increases

When Fees Typically Rise

Most care homes in Mansfield review fees annually, usually in:

• April (aligned with local authority rate increases)
• September (aligned with new financial planning cycles)

Typical Increase Rates

Based on recent trends in Mansfield:

• Basic weekly fees: 3-7% annually
• Additional services: 2-5% annually
• Specialist services: 5-10% annually

Your Rights Regarding Increases

• Advance notice: Homes must provide at least 4 weeks’ notice of fee increases
• Transparency: You’re entitled to understand the reasoning behind increases
• Documentation: Fee changes should be confirmed in writing

Getting Help with Costs

Financial Advice Services

If you’re struggling with care home costs:

• Citizens Advice: Free guidance on benefits and funding options
• Age UK: Specialist advice for older adults and their families
• Independent financial advisors: Professional guidance on funding strategies

Local Authority Support

Even if you’re self-funding, Nottinghamshire County Council can provide:

• Information about financial entitlements
• Guidance on deferred payment agreements
• Support with complaints about unreasonable charges

Planning for the Full Picture

Understanding the complete cost structure of care homes in Mansfield is essential for making informed decisions and avoiding financial surprises. While the weekly fee covers essential services, the additional costs can add significantly to your monthly budget.

By asking detailed questions, budgeting realistically and staying informed about your rights, you can ensure that care home living provides good value for money while meeting your loved one’s needs.

Remember that the cheapest care home isn’t always the best value, consider the quality of basic services included in the fee alongside the cost and quality of additional services when making your decision.

At Lidder Care, we pride ourselves on transparent pricing and clear communication about all costs involved in care home living. We’re happy to provide detailed breakdowns of our fees and discuss payment options that work for your family’s circumstances.

For more information about care home costs and what’s included in our fees, please contact us on 01623 622 322 or visit Newgate Lodge Care Home to see the quality of service your fees provide.