The fees that the frail elderly pay for help in their own homes can vary by up to €500 a year, depending on where people live, according to new research on behalf of five organisations representing pensioners.

The organisations compared the cost of home care across 12 local authority areas as well as water rates, car tax and other council taxes. They found that despite the wide differences in council fees, the elderly are still paying less towards their care costs in 2017 than they did in 2016, due to changes in government policy.

The maximum contribution for wealthy pensioners fell 40% to €2,500 a year while the poorest paid no more than €600, a drop of 17% on a year ago.

Local authorities have been responsible for organising home care since 2015 and charge pensioners a contribution for home helps, meals services, walking aids and improvements designed to help them live at home longer.

The lowest charge recorded by the researchers was in Amsterdam at just over €2,000 for wealthy pensioners and €466 for those with the lowest incomes.