Do You Have To Pay For Care If You Have Parkinson's Disease?

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive condition that affects the nervous system, leading to symptoms like shaking and slower movements. People living with Parkinson’s often need care, and we’ve explained whether you’ll need to pay for this care.

Whether you’ll pay depends on the results of a financial assessment. In some cases, people living with Parkinson’s disease are eligible for NHS funding, such as NHS continuing healthcare.

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In this article:

1. Do people living with Parkinson’s have to pay for care?
2. NHS funding for people living with Parkinson’s disease
3. How much does Parkinson’s care cost?
4. When should someone with Parkinson’s disease start receiving care?
5. Find Parkinson’s support through Lottie

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Do People Living With Parkinson’s Have To Pay For Care?

People living with Parkinson’s disease don’t automatically receive free care. In most cases, people living with Parkinson’s do have to pay for their own care. Whether you’ll pay depends on the total value of your savings and income (and assets if care in a care home is needed).

This value will be worked out through a financial assessment (means test), which immediately follows a care needs assessment.

You’ll pay for your own Parkinson’s care if the total value of your savings and income (and assets if care in a care home is needed) is above your country’s upper threshold. Your local authority will partially fund your care if it's between the two thresholds. They’ll fully fund your care if it's below the lower threshold.

Our 2024 Care Seeker Survey found that the proportion of people who use personal savings to pay for their own care has significantly increased since 2021, from 41% to 65%. This was most apparent in England, where funding thresholds are the least generous to care seekers.

Here are the UK savings thresholds for 2024/2025:

If you need Parkinson’s care in a care home, your home and any other assets will be included during a financial assessment. However, there are a few exceptions, such as if you only need short-term care or someone is still living in your home.

If you need Parkinson’s care at home, assets like your home won’t be included during a financial assessment (assuming you plan to continue living in it while receiving care).

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NHS Funding For People Living With Parkinson’s Disease

Some people living with Parkinson’s disease are eligible for NHS funding, where the NHS will pay for some or all of your care. We’ve explained the funding support you could be eligible for below.

NHS continuing healthcare

If you’re eligible for NHS continuing healthcare, the NHS will entirely arrange and fund your care, whether that’s at home or in a care home. You need to have been assessed as having complex healthcare needs to be eligible, meaning your care needs are more significant than what your local authority can provide. You should speak to your GP or a similar healthcare professional if you think you may be eligible.

Having Parkinson’s disease doesn’t guarantee your eligibility for NHS continuing healthcare.

NHS-funded nursing care

Some people living with Parkinson’s receive nursing care in a nursing home, and they could be eligible for NHS-funded nursing care. Here, the NHS will contribute towards the cost of nursing care.

You could still get NHS-funded nursing care if you’re assessed for NHS continuing healthcare and deemed ineligible. You can’t get both of these types of NHS funding.

Nursing homes often provide specialist medical support for people living with greater Parkinson’s symptoms.

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How Much Does Parkinson’s Care Cost?

People living with Parkinson’s disease are often cared for in a residential care home. Our care home costs data shows that the average cost of a residential care home in the UK is £1,387 per week. What you’ll pay will vary, depending on whereabouts in the UK you receive care and the level of care required, with residential care costing less than 24/7 nursing care.

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When Should Someone With Parkinson’s Disease Start Receiving Care?

People usually start experiencing Parkinson’s symptoms when they’re 50 or older. These symptoms include involuntary shaking of certain body parts and slowed movements.

Often, people with Parkinson’s disease can continue living independently during its early stages, as the symptoms are still relatively mild at this point.

However, as these symptoms increase, care may become increasingly needed. Someone living with Parkinson’s should start receiving care when they’re no longer able to live independently and look after their personal care (including things like washing and bathing, getting dressed and getting in and out of bed) without support. Assistance may also be needed with household chores at this point.

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Find Parkinson’s Support Through Lottie

Many of the care homes we list offer mobility assistance and personal care for people living with Parkinson’s. To ease your search, you can request a free list of care homes from our care experts, who will send you suitable options matching your care needs and budget in your area.

When receiving Parkinson’s care in a care home, you’ll be asked how this condition is presenting itself and how you’re affected by it on a day-to-day basis. Many people living with Parkinson’s need support with their personal care and mobility (getting from one place to another).

We’re also partnered with the UK’s best home care agencies, many offering tailored Parkinson’s care. Each of our listings states which specialist care services are offered, including support for people living with Parkinson’s disease. Request a free list of home care agencies near you to find suitable options that match your requirements.

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Lottie matches care seekers with the best care homes for their needs. You can request a free list of care homes from our care experts, who will share homes that match your budget, location, and type of care needed. You can also search for a care home through our easy-to-use directory.