Facing the Reality: The True Cost of Care
In a recent visit to the Caring Conversation Studio, Adam Hutchison, CEO of Belmont Healthcare, addressed one of the sector’s most common challenges: the shock families experience when faced with the cost of care. Often sought during a crisis, residential care can come as a financial surprise, with families asking, “How much?” often at the worst possible time.
“Home First”: A Better Care Journey
Belmont Healthcare has taken a progressive stance with a “home first” approach, supporting individuals in their own homes through domiciliary care services before considering residential care. This model gives families more control and awareness, changing the psychology of the decision-making process and easing people into the idea of long-term care.
Local Authority Funding: Not Always a Compromise
Contrary to the perception that publicly funded care means low margins, Adam explains that high-acuity care allows providers like Belmont to command fees on par with private payers. With around 75% of Belmont’s revenue coming from local authorities and NHS contracts, Adam describes these partnerships as both financially viable and strategically sound.
Fewer Customers, Stronger Contracts
From a business management perspective, working closely with local authorities offers significant benefits. Instead of negotiating with hundreds of families, Belmont can work with a single customer like Kent County Council to secure placements for hundreds of residents. “It’s almost like a block booking,” Adam says, highlighting the operational efficiency this model offers.
Supporting Managers in Commercial Realities
While this model streamlines funding, it adds complexity to the role of care home managers. They’re not only responsible for care delivery but are increasingly expected to act as sales and marketing professionals. Belmont is addressing this by investing in training and support to help managers respond to leads and represent their services effectively.
The Hidden Value of Community in Care Homes
Beyond financials, Adam passionately spoke about the emotional and social value of care homes, particularly in combatting loneliness. Referencing a TED talk by Johann Hari, he stressed that community and relationships are more essential to wellbeing than even health or wealth. “People forget the social isolation piece,” he adds, emphasizing that care homes offer more than just physical care, they offer connection.
Localised Design That Feels Like Home
Belmont’s commitment to community extends to its physical environments. Partnering with local designers, the company creates familiar and comforting spaces tailored to each location. For example, one home in Kent features a beach hut-themed lounge that reflects its seafront setting making it feel more like home than an institution.
A Forward-Thinking Model for a Complex Sector
With seven care homes and more on the way, Belmont Healthcare is proving that thoughtful, adaptive leadership can create a sustainable and compassionate model for care. Adam Hutchison’s approach blends financial realism with human-centered care, offering a blueprint for how the sector can thrive despite ongoing challenges.
About Caring Conversations
Caring Conversations is a collaborative series created in partnership with The Care Show and produced by Five on a Bike. Designed to spotlight the voices shaping social care, the series features candid interviews and conversations with care providers, sector leaders, suppliers, and decision-makers across the industry.
Whether you’re a manager, innovator, front-line caregiver, or supplier, Caring Conversations offers a platform to share insights, spark ideas, and connect with the wider care community.
Interested in joining the conversation or sharing your perspective? We’d love to hear from you.
Presented by The Care Show | Produced by Five on a Bike
