Familiar surroundings matter more with age
Adults with Down's syndrome have a higher risk of early-onset memory changes. Staying in a known home with a consistent carer reduces the confusion that a move can cause.
✧ Our services
Live-in Support for Adults with Down's Syndrome
Adults with Down's syndrome can live full, independent lives with the right support. A live-in carer helps with daily living, health and community life, keeps routines steady, and adapts as needs change with age.
- Independence first Building skills, not taking over
- From £1,200 a week Or £1,300 for more complex needs
- Consistent carers Familiar people and predictable routines
- Dementia-aware Experienced with changes in later life
What is Down's syndrome care?
Down's syndrome is a genetic condition caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21. People with Down's syndrome have some level of learning disability, and some have associated health conditions, such as heart problems, thyroid conditions, hearing and sight difficulties. There are around 47,000 people with Down's syndrome in the UK, according to the Down's Syndrome Association, and life expectancy has risen dramatically, so many now live into their sixties and beyond.
Down's syndrome care at home supports an adult to live as independently as possible, in their own home or the family home, with a carer who helps where needed and encourages them to do as much as they can.
How a live-in carer supports adults with Down's syndrome
- Daily living skills — cooking, cleaning, shopping, budgeting and managing a routine, learned and practised together.
- Personal care — prompting or help with washing, dressing and grooming, respecting privacy and dignity.
- Health — medication, annual health checks, hearing and eye tests, and noticing changes in health or behaviour.
- Community life — work, day services, clubs, sport, friendships and holidays.
- Communication — clear, simple language, visual timetables and Makaton where used.
- Emotional wellbeing — support through changes such as bereavement or a parent moving into care.
Down's syndrome and dementia
People with Down's syndrome have a much higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, and at a younger age than the general population, often in their fifties. Early signs can be subtle: changes in personality or behaviour, loss of skills, or new difficulties with familiar tasks, rather than obvious memory loss. A carer who knows the person well is often the first to notice. We match carers with experience of both learning disability and dementia, and care can adapt as needs change, so the person can stay at home in familiar surroundings. See our dementia care page.
When parents can no longer provide care
Many adults with Down's syndrome live with their parents well into adulthood. When parents become frail or unwell, families face difficult decisions. Live-in care can let the adult stay in the family home, sometimes supporting a parent at the same time, or help them move into their own home with continuity of support. We are happy to help families plan ahead before a crisis.
Paying for Down's syndrome care
Live-in care starts from £1,200 a week, or £1,300 for more complex needs. Funding usually comes from the council after a needs assessment, often as direct payments or a personal budget, together with PIP. NHS Continuing Healthcare may apply where health needs are complex. See our funding guide.
Health conditions to keep an eye on
People with Down's syndrome are more likely to have certain health conditions, some of which can be missed because symptoms are attributed to the syndrome itself. Carers help make sure the following are checked regularly:
- Thyroid function — an underactive thyroid is common and can cause tiredness, weight gain and low mood.
- Hearing and eyesight — changes can be gradual and easily mistaken for behaviour or memory problems.
- Heart conditions — some people have heart problems from birth that need ongoing review.
- Sleep apnoea — which can cause daytime sleepiness and affect mood and concentration.
- Weight and diet — supporting healthy eating and activity.
Adults with a learning disability are entitled to an annual health check from their GP, which is an ideal time to review all of these.
Recognising early signs of dementia
Because dementia often starts earlier in people with Down's syndrome, families and carers need to know what to look for. Early changes may include losing skills the person had, such as dressing or cooking; changes in personality or behaviour; withdrawal from activities they enjoyed; new difficulty with familiar routes; or, sometimes, new seizures in later life. Other causes, such as thyroid problems, hearing loss or depression, can look similar and are treatable, so a GP review is the first step. Keeping a record of the person's usual abilities, sometimes called a baseline assessment, makes changes easier to spot.
Building a good life at home
For adults with Down's syndrome, a good life looks much like anyone else's: a home, people who care about them, things to do, and a say in their own life. Carers support this by encouraging independence in daily tasks, supporting work, college or day activities, helping maintain friendships and relationships, and making sure the person is involved in decisions about their care. Clear communication, visual supports and patience help the person understand and take part.
Planning for the future as a family
Many families of adults with Down's syndrome worry about what will happen when parents can no longer provide care. Planning ahead helps: involving the person in conversations about where and how they want to live, arranging a needs assessment from adult social care, considering who will manage money and decisions if needed, and exploring options such as live-in care in the family home. Our team is happy to talk families through these options before any crisis arises.
Coping with change and bereavement
Change can be especially hard for people with Down's syndrome, who often rely on familiar routines, places and people. Moving house, a parent becoming ill or a bereavement can cause great distress, which may show as withdrawal, changes in behaviour or loss of skills. Support helps: preparing the person for changes in advance where possible, using simple language and pictures to explain what is happening, keeping as much of the routine as possible, and allowing them to grieve in their own way. Consistent carers who already know the person are a source of stability at these times.
Staying active and healthy
Regular activity and a balanced diet are important for everyone, and adults with Down's syndrome can be at higher risk of weight gain and related health problems. Carers encourage activities the person enjoys, such as walking, swimming, dancing or sport, and support healthy eating through shopping and cooking together, in a way that involves the person rather than imposing rules. Being active also supports mood, sleep and social contact.
Further reading and sources
Why families choose it
What live-in care gives adults with Down's syndrome
One carer who knows their health picture
Thyroid function, hearing, heart conditions and mobility can all need watching. The same carer every day notices changes early and flags them to the GP.
Parents get support without stepping back completely
Many parent carers are older themselves. Live-in care shares the load without removing their loved one from the home and routine they know.
Structure without institutional rules
A predictable daily rhythm — meals, activities, rest — kept exactly as the person prefers it, not to a facility timetable.
One-to-one attention
Rather than shared staffing in a residential or supported living setting, a live-in carer is there for one person, all day.
Is it right for us?
When families arrange Down's syndrome care at home
If one of these sounds familiar, Down's syndrome care at home is worth a conversation.
An ageing parent carer can no longer manage alone
The most common reason families reach out. Live-in care lets their son or daughter stay at home rather than move into residential care.
Early signs of memory or mood change
Adults with Down's syndrome are at higher risk of Alzheimer's-type changes from their 40s onward. A consistent carer notices small shifts sooner than intermittent visitors would.
Discharge after cardiac or other surgery
Congenital heart conditions are common in Down's syndrome. Recovery at home, with support, is often preferable to a longer hospital stay or a care home.
Planning ahead, before a crisis
Parents often want to arrange care while they are still able to be involved in choosing who provides it, rather than leaving decisions to a sudden emergency.
A change in mobility or daily needs
As physical needs increase, occasional support from family or visiting carers can stop being enough for a safe daily routine.
What a carer does
How a live-in carer helps
Every care plan is built from these, weighted to whatever matters most in your household.
Daily living and routine
A predictable day — washing, dressing, meals and activities — kept consistent by the same carer.
Health condition management
Support with thyroid, cardiac and memory-related changes commonly associated with Down's syndrome, working alongside the GP.
Companionship and social engagement
Someone to talk to, do activities with, and accompany to family visits, clubs or community groups.
Household support
Light housework, laundry and meal preparation, so daily life at home carries on as it always has.
Related services
Other types of live-in care we arrange
Live-in care is not one fixed thing. These are the variations families most often need — and we will tell you which one actually fits.
24 hour live-in care
For people who need attention repeatedly through the night. Covers waking nights and, where nights are consistently broken, two carers in rotation.
Respite care
A professional steps in so a family carer can rest, from a few days to several weeks. Also the easiest way to try live-in care before committing.
Emergency home care
For a hospital discharge, a fall, or a carer suddenly unable to continue. We can often have someone in place within 24 to 48 hours.
Overnight care
Cover through the night only, where days are manageable but nights are not. Useful after a hospital stay or while a diagnosis settles.
Dementia care
Carers experienced in memory loss, sundowning and changes in behaviour. Familiar rooms and one consistent face matter more here than anywhere.
Palliative care
Comfort-focused support at home, working alongside district nurses and the GP so symptom control and dignity come first.
End of life care
Support for the final months, weeks or days at home, for the person and for the family around them.
Companionship care
Where the need is company and daily structure rather than personal care. Often the first step, before anything more is required.
What you get
What Down's syndrome care includes, and what it doesn't
Being straight about the boundaries saves everyone a difficult conversation later.
Included in the weekly fee
- Personal care — washing, dressing, continence support
- Medication prompting, including thyroid or heart medication
- Meal preparation suited to dietary and health needs
- Mobility support and falls prevention
- Liaison with GP and specialist consultants
- A structured daily routine and activities
- Transport to appointments and day services
- Companionship and social engagement
- Light housework and laundry
Not included
- Nursing tasks requiring a registered nurse (district nurses continue to visit)
- The carer's own 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)
Compared honestly
Care at home, supported living, or a care home?
The three realistic options, side by side. We will tell you if one of the others suits you better.
| Live-in care | Residential care home | Visiting care | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical weekly cost, one person | From £1,200 | £1,100 – £1,600 | £300 – £900 |
| Typical weekly cost, a couple | From £1,200 (one carer) | £2,200 – £3,200 (two places) | Varies by hours |
| Staff-to-person ratio | One-to-one | Shared across residents | One-to-one, but only during visits |
| Same carer each day | Yes | No — shift rota | Rarely |
| Stay in your own home | Yes | No | Yes |
| Overnight cover | Yes | Yes | No — unless booked separately |
| Couples stay together | Yes | Often not possible | Yes |
| Pets can stay | Yes | Almost never | Yes |
| Visitors any time | Yes | Visiting hours | Yes |
Care home figures are typical UK ranges for 2026 and vary considerably by region and by whether nursing care is included. We quote our own prices exactly; always confirm a care home's fees directly with them.
Our carers
Who will your carer be?
The single biggest worry families raise, and rightly. You choose the carer from matched profiles, and you can speak to them by video call before deciding anything.
Enhanced DBS
On every single carer, checked before introduction
In person
Every carer is interviewed, not just screened on paper
You choose
Profiles sent to you — including a video call first
24–48 hrs
How fast we can move in an emergency
Our carers
The carers who provide Down's syndrome care
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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Refiloe
Live-in carer
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Brenda
Live-in carer
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Vistorine
Live-in carer
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Monica
Live-in carer
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Patience
Live-in carer
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Gladys
Live-in carer
How it works
Arranging Down's syndrome care in three steps
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.
Choose your carer
We send profiles of available carers matched to your needs. You can speak to them on a video call before deciding.
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.
Free callback
Prefer we call you?
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
Questions about down's syndrome care
What families ask us before arranging care.
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 much does live-in care for an adult with Down's syndrome cost?
Live-in care starts from £1,200 a week, or £1,300 a week for more complex needs such as Down's syndrome with dementia.
Is there a link between Down's syndrome and dementia?
Yes. People with Down's syndrome have a much higher risk of Alzheimer's disease, often from their fifties. Early signs are often changes in behaviour or skills rather than memory.
Can a carer help an adult with Down's syndrome live independently?
Yes. Carers support daily living skills such as cooking, shopping and budgeting, encouraging independence rather than doing everything for the person.
What happens when parents can no longer care?
Live-in care can let the adult stay in the family home or move into their own home with continuity of support. We help families plan ahead.
Can we use direct payments?
Often, yes. Direct payments or a personal budget from the council can be used to arrange live-in care. Ask your social worker.
Do carers know Makaton?
We can match carers who use Makaton or visual communication, and brief every carer on how the person communicates.
What health checks do adults with Down's syndrome need?
Regular thyroid, hearing, eyesight and heart checks, plus attention to sleep and weight. Adults with a learning disability are entitled to an annual GP health check, which is a good time to review these.
What are early signs of dementia in Down's syndrome?
Loss of skills, changes in personality or behaviour, withdrawal from activities, difficulty with familiar routes, or new seizures in later life. Treatable causes such as thyroid problems should be checked first.
What is a baseline assessment for Down's syndrome?
A record of the person's usual abilities and behaviour, made while they are well. It makes later changes, such as early signs of dementia, easier to recognise.
Can live-in care support an adult with Down's syndrome to work?
Yes. Carers can support travel, routines and preparation for work, college or day activities, helping the person take part in community life as independently as possible.
Transparent pricing
How much Down's syndrome care costs
One weekly fee covering the agreed care plan. No hidden charges for everyday care.
Read next
Guides for families arranging Down's syndrome care
Dementia: Recognising the Early Signs
Read guide →
A Comprehensive Guide to Creating a Care Plan
Read guide →
Can live-in care be funded?
Read guide →Related care
Care often arranged alongside Down's syndrome care
Learning Disability Care
Learning disabilities are neurological disorders that affect one or more parts of the brain. They can make it difficult for someone to process information and learn new skills. And, sometimes you will need to consider professional care at home for this person.
Dementia Care
Our dementia care at home service provides one-to-one support at home from a trained, DBS-checked carer — matched to your family's needs, routine and personality.
Disability Home Care
Disability care is specialised home care designed to support individuals with physical, learning, sensory, or complex disabilities. This type of care focuses on assisting with daily activities, mobility, personal care, and emotional well-being while promoting independence and quality of life.
Cerebral Palsy Care
cerebral palsy private care is a condition that impacts muscle control and movement. It is a lifelong disability that can be challenging for the person who has it, their care providers, live in care, and their family members.
Companionship Care
Our companionship care at home service provides one-to-one support at home from a trained, DBS-checked carer — matched to your family's needs, routine and personality.
Near you
Down's syndrome care in your area
Local pages cover how care is regulated and funded where your relative lives.
Where we work
Down's Syndrome Care across the UK and Ireland
We arrange care in 850+ towns and cities. Choose your area for local pricing, funding and how care is regulated where you live.
- Carers travel to you — they move into the home rather than driving from a local branch, so rural and coastal areas are covered too.
- The same weekly price everywhere — care is priced on the support needed, never on your postcode.
- Care can start in 24–48 hours in most areas, and often the same day after a hospital discharge.
Search 850+ towns and cities →
Can’t see your area? Call 0800 368 8558 — we almost certainly still cover it.