✧ Regional coverage
Live-in Care in Scotland
Borders to the Highlands and islands, where distance makes daily visiting care unreliable and a carer who lives in simply works better.
- 24–48 hours Typical time to start care in Scotland
- From £1,200 a week The same rate nationwide, not by postcode
- Care Inspectorate Regulates home care in Scotland
- 72 areas Covered across Scotland
Scotland is one of our coverage areas, with carers available across 66 towns and cities. Whether you need round-the-clock live-in support or a more flexible arrangement, our local care managers can help.
How much does live-in care cost in Scotland?
Live-in care in Scotland starts from £1,200 a week for one person. Because it's charged as a single weekly fee rather than by the hour, it's far easier to budget for than visiting care.
As a live-in care agency covering Scotland, we introduce carers rather than assign them — you see profiles, and you choose. See our full pricing or help with funding.
What you get
What a live-in carer in Scotland does
Being straight about the boundaries saves everyone a difficult conversation later.
Included in the weekly fee
- Personal care — washing, dressing, continence support
- Medication prompting and administration
- Cooking, meal preparation and special diets
- Light housework, laundry and changing beds
- Shopping, errands and prescription collection
- Getting to appointments and social visits
- Companionship, conversation and daily routine
- Mobility support, transfers and falls prevention
- Pet care — walks, feeding, vet trips
- A named care manager and 24/7 office support
Not included
- Nursing tasks requiring a registered nurse (district nurses continue to visit)
- The carer's food — the household provides everyday meals
- Household bills, rent or council tax on the carer's behalf
- Two-person handling where a hoist requires two carers (that is our Advanced plan)
Weighing the options
Live-in care, visiting care or a care home?
The three choices most families in Scotland are deciding between.
| Feature | Live-in care | Visiting care | Care home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stays in their own home | Yes | Yes | No |
| Support through the night | Yes | Rarely | Yes |
| The same carer each day | Yes | Rota of staff | Rota of staff |
| Keeps pets and belongings | Yes | Yes | Usually not |
| Couples stay together | Yes | Yes | Often separated |
| Typical cost | £1,200 a week | Varies with hours | Varies by home |
Visiting care and care home costs vary widely by area and provider, so we don’t quote figures we can’t stand behind. See our pricing in full →
How it works
Arranging care in Scotland
Three steps, and the first one is just a conversation.
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1
Tell us what you need
A friendly, no-obligation call to understand the situation, explain how the care works and give you an estimated weekly cost.
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2
Choose your carer
We send profiles of available carers matched to your needs. You can speak to them on a video call before deciding.
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3
Care begins at home
Your carer moves in and support starts, with a named care manager checking in regularly to make sure it's working.
Funding & regulation
Paying for care in Scotland
Home care is regulated and funded differently in each nation, so the route is not the same everywhere. Here is how it works where you live.
Read our full funding guide →Who regulates care here
Home care in Scotland is regulated by the Care Inspectorate. They inspect and register home care services to make sure standards are met.
Where funding comes from
Apply through your local council's social work department. Scotland provides free personal and nursing care to those who are assessed as needing it, regardless of income — a different system from means-tested funding in England.
How we fit in
Live-in Care Direct is an introductory agency. We introduce self-employed carers to families rather than employing them, so you contract directly with your carer and keep the choice of who provides your care.
Our carers
The carers who could support you in Scotland
Our carers are spread across the UK, supported by regional care managers. Every one is interviewed in person, enhanced DBS checked and reference-checked before they are ever introduced to a family — and you choose who moves in.
- Interviewed face to face, never hired on paperwork alone
- Enhanced DBS checked, with references verified
- You meet and approve your carer before they start
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Monica
Live-in carer
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Refiloe
Live-in carer
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Vistorine
Live-in carer
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Gladys
Live-in carer
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Patience
Live-in carer
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Brenda
Live-in carer
Coverage
Towns and cities we cover in Scotland
We arrange live-in care in 72 areas across Scotland.
Our services
Care services available in Scotland
Free callback
Speak to someone about care in Scotland
Leave your number and a care manager will call you back — usually within an hour, and always free.
- No obligation. A conversation, not a sales call — and never a call centre.
- A real care manager. Someone who arranges care every day, who can answer properly.
- Just two details. Your name and number — we don’t need an email address.
Or call us now on 0800 368 8558 Lines open 8am–10pm, seven days a week
Common questions
Live-in care in Scotland
Local answers on timing, regulation and funding.
Not seeing your question?
Our care managers answer these every day. A no-obligation call takes about ten minutes.
0800 368 8558Lines open 8am–10pm, seven days a week See all questionsHow quickly can live-in care start in Scotland?
We can normally arrange a carer typically within a few days to a week. Where the situation is urgent — a hospital discharge or a sudden change at home — cover in Scotland can often be in place within 24 to 48 hours.
Who regulates care in Scotland?
Home care providers in Scotland are regulated by the Care Inspectorate. Live-in Care Direct works as an introductory agency, which means we introduce experienced self-employed carers rather than employing them, so we sit outside Care Inspectorate registration. It is the model most live-in care specialists use, and it is what lets you choose your own carer.
Is there help with the cost in Scotland?
Funding is arranged through your local council's social work department. Scotland provides free personal and nursing care to those who are assessed as needing it, regardless of income — a different system from means-tested funding in England. Our care managers can talk you through what to apply for, and in what order, before you commit to anything.