Government’s Adult Social Care Overhaul UK: What Homeowners Need to Know

The government recently announced a major Adult Social Care Overhaul UK, describing it as one of the biggest shake-ups in decades. While the changes are designed to improve standards and delivery of care, one crucial issue remains unchanged: the way care is funded. For homeowners, that means the risk of losing property or savings to cover care fees is still very real.

What the Adult Social Care Overhaul UK Means

The new proposals focus on how care is provided and monitored, but they do not change the funding rules. At present:

Residential care can cost £1,000–£1,500 per week.
Nursing care costs can exceed £80,000 per year.
Local councils continue to means-test homeowners, requiring people to use their property value to pay for care before help is provided.

This means that even with an overhaul, families could still be forced to sell a home to cover long-term care costs.

Why Estate Planning Still Matters

Many people assume that new reforms will cap or limit what they pay, but that is not the case. Unless you take steps to protect your assets, your home could still be at risk.

Estate planning tools such as:

Tenants in Common arrangements (ensuring part of the property is automatically passed on).
Property Protection Trusts (ring-fencing part of your home for loved ones).
Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) (ensuring someone you trust makes decisions if you can’t).

These can help families avoid losing everything to care fees.

Protecting Your Home From Care Fees

The Adult Social Care Overhaul UK shows that the government is focusing on improving how care is delivered, not on protecting family wealth. For many, the only way to reduce the risk of losing their home is to plan ahead.

By arranging a free estate planning review, you can understand: