In the UK, the cost of care is rising faster than ever. According to Carehome.co.uk, the
average price of a care home has reached around £1,500 per week, or nearly £80,000 per year, and the average stay lasts approximately 24 months. That means many families now
face total bills exceeding £160,000 for a two-year period of residential care — often at the
very moment when their loved one most wants to stay at home.

Against this backdrop, solutions that help people remain independent, supported, and safe
in their own homes are not just desirable — they’re essential. One such innovation, the
WashPod™ temporary disabled wetroom, is demonstrating that with the right kind of
adaptive modifications, people can continue living at home comfortably and safely, while
saving tens or even hundreds of thousands of pounds compared to institutional care.
A Better Way to Bridge the Gap.

Many people enter care homes not because they need 24-hour medical supervision,
but because their home environment is no longer practical for their physical needs. A
lack of accessible bathing and toileting facilities is one of the most common reasons
older adults or those recovering from illness or injury must leave home — even
temporarily.

WashPod’s™ temporary wetroom solution directly addresses this challenge. It
provides a fully accessible, self-contained, and rapid-installation bathroom that can
be set up either inside or adjacent to the home, typically in as little as a day or two. It
includes features such as a level-access shower, grab rails, non-slip flooring, a
comfort-height toilet, and wheelchair accessibility — all without the disruption or cost
of major home renovations.

This type of rapid, flexible adaptation allows individuals recovering from hospital
stays, operations, or illness to return home safely much sooner and free-up valuable
hospital beds. For those with longer-term conditions or disabilities, it enables
ongoing independence without having to move into residential care.

Counting the Cost — and the Savings

The costs involved are eye-watering, therefore the potential savings are significant:
Average care home: £1,500 per week = £78,000 per year.

•  Average length of stay: 24 months = £156,000 total.
• Rehabilitation facility: £8,000 per week = £416,000 per year.
• Hospital bed: the cost varies, but estimates from NHS England put the cost at
  £400–£600 per day, which is £2,800–£4,200 per week.

Against these staggering sums, a WashPod™ installation represents a fraction of the
cost. Even if a temporary disabled wetroom is rented for many months, it’s typically
less than the cost of just a few weeks in a care home or hospital. In other words, the moment a WashPod™ enables someone to come home even a few weeks earlier, it
has already paid for itself.

For example:

•  A patient discharged four weeks earlier from hospital (saving an average of
  £3,500 per week) could save £14,000.
• If that same person also avoids a care home stay of three months (costing an
  additional £18,000) thanks to the rapid installation of a washing solution and a
  few basic home adaptations, the savings become substantial — all while
  preserving personal dignity and comfort.

Critically, these figures don’t include the significant hidden costs — emotional, social,
and psychological — that come with not being able to be at home.

A recent client, whose wife has Early Onset Dementia, said of the WashPod™

‘it will keep her out of a care home for another year to 18 months. Not only do I get to keep
her safe at home where she’s familiar for as long as possible, but I save a lot of
money now that I can spend on her future care at the time it’s most needed’.

What Price Do You Put on Care?

The financial savings are compelling, but perhaps the more profound question is:
What price do you put on care? Or, more precisely, what is the value of care that
allows someone to remain in their own home — surrounded by familiarity, friends,
neighbours, and memories — rather than in an institutional setting?

Most people, given the choice, would pay a premium to stay at home so long as it’s
supportive and safe. A home is more than four walls; it’s part of one’s identity. It
holds memories, independence, comfort, and control — all critical to emotional well-
being. A WashPod™ accessible wetroom gives people that opportunity: to be cared
for without being uprooted.

Safety and Support at Home

Safety is often cited as the main reason families decide on residential care.
WashPod™ is designed with precisely that concern in mind. Its anti-slip flooring,
accessible layout, and sturdy handrails dramatically reduce the risk of falls — one of
the leading causes of hospital admission among older adults.

Moreover, the unique design of WashPod™ means that even the smaller models are
wheelchair-friendly so that if mobility declines or recovery takes longer than
expected, the system continues to provide a safe environment, unlike the typical
step-in options otherwise available. But there are times when the WashPod™ model
itself has been swopped out for one that is more appropriate as needs change.
And when no longer needed, the WashPod™ can be removed quickly and cleanly,
returning the property to its previous state — something permanent adaptations can’t
easily achieve.

A Smarter Approach to Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation following illness, injury, or surgery often requires intensive support for
a limited period. Traditionally, this has meant lengthy stays in hospital or specialist
rehab units — both of which are extremely costly. WashPod™ offers a middle
ground: a way to continue rehabilitation at home, supported by carers or visiting
therapists, without the expense or emotional toll of institutional care.

Consider again the comparison:

• A rehabilitation centre may cost £8,000 per week.
• A WashPod™ installation, used at home for several months during recovery,
  would easily pay for itself and then some.

Not only is this more economical, but research consistently shows that patients
recover faster and more effectively in familiar surroundings. Being at home reduces
stress, encourages mobility, and allows rehabilitation to be tailored to real-life
routines — from making tea to walking to the garden.

Supporting the NHS and Social Care System

The benefits extend beyond individual households. With the NHS under strain from
delayed discharges (the so-called “bed blocking” problem), every hospital bed that
can be freed sooner helps the entire system. WashPod™ makes earlier discharge
practical and safe, not just possible. Hospitals can confidently release patients
knowing they’ll have suitable facilities at home.

Similarly, local authorities and social care teams benefit. Providing home adaptations
instead of full-time residential care dramatically reduces social care expenditure
while aligning with the “home first” ethos of modern care policy.

Emotional and Social Value

Beyond economics, there’s immense social value in allowing people to remain part
of their community. Older adults living at home tend to maintain better mental health,
stronger social connections, and a greater sense of purpose. Families, too,
experience less guilt and financial pressure when they can provide care at home.
WashPod™ helps make this balance possible. It doesn’t just save money — it saves
lifestyles. It turns what might have been a disruptive, distressing transition into a
period of continuity, dignity, and control.

The Value Equation

So if a simple, elegant solution like WashPod™ can deliver both substantial cost
savings and a better quality of life, it represents exceptional value. It’s not just an
alternative to care homes; it’s an evolution in how we think about care.
A Future-Focused Solution

As the UK population ages, demand for flexible, cost-effective care solutions will only
increase. WashPod™ temporary disabled wetrooms embody a future-focused
approach: combining engineering innovation with compassion and practicality.
In short, every week that someone can remain at home rather than in a care facility
saves money, resources, and heartache. WashPod™ makes those weeks — and
often months or years — possible.