Care hours calculator
“How many hours of care does Mom need?” is the first question when planning home care, splitting tasks in the family or asking for a quote. Rate how much help each everyday activity needs to get a rough estimate in hours.
This is a rough estimate to start a conversation, not a care needs assessment. Needs change, and a professional assessment (from a doctor, nurse or social services) decides what care and funding are available.
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Estimated care time
Rate at least half of the activities to see an estimate (0 of 14 so far).
Next steps
- Write down who in the family can cover which hours, and what is left over.
- Put the hours into the home care cost calculator to see what paid help would cost.
- Ask for a care needs assessment; it is often the route to funding or support.
- Re-check every few months, or after a fall or a hospital stay.
How it works: personal-care activities count 10–45 minutes a day each depending on the help needed, household tasks 0.5–7 hours a week, supervision 2 hours a day and night help 3.5–10.5 hours a week. These are rules of thumb, not standards.
How many hours of care does an elderly person need?
It depends on which everyday activities they can still manage. Someone who only needs help with shopping and cleaning may need 3–6 hours a week; someone who needs help washing, dressing and using the toilet often needs several hours every day.
What are ADLs and IADLs?
Activities of daily living (ADLs) are basic personal care such as washing, dressing and eating (the Katz index). Instrumental activities (IADLs) are the tasks needed to live independently, such as shopping, cooking and managing money (the Lawton scale).
Is this the same as an official assessment?
No. Official assessments look at health, safety, the home and the caregiver as well. Use this estimate to prepare: it helps you describe needs clearly when you ask for an assessment or a quote.
Share these hours fairly
Turn the estimate into a weekly rota: who covers which visit, with reminders, a shared calendar and a view of who does what.