One carer, not a rota
The same person every day. They learn the routine, notice when something is off, and act before it becomes an emergency.
✧ Our services
Live-in Care Services and Live-in Carers at Home
Live-in care means a trained carer moves into your loved one's home and supports them one-to-one, day and night. It is the main alternative to a care home: the person stays in their own home, with their routine, their partner and their pets.
- From £1,200 a week One fixed weekly fee, including nights
- Start in 24–48 hours For emergencies and hospital discharges
- You choose the carer Matched profiles and a video call first
- 850+ towns covered Across the UK and the Republic of Ireland
What is live-in care?
Live-in care is a form of home care in which a professional carer lives in the home of the person they support. The carer has their own bedroom, provides help through the day, and is in the house overnight. It is one-to-one care: one carer for one person, or for a couple, rather than staff shared between many residents in a care home or a series of short visits from different visiting carers.
Families usually consider live-in care when someone can no longer manage safely on their own, and the choice seems to be between a care home and "carrying on as we are". Live-in care is the third option: the right amount of help, at home.
What does a live-in carer do?
A live-in carer's role is shaped around the person, but typically includes:
- personal care: washing, bathing, dressing, continence care and help with the toilet;
- medication prompts and support at the right times;
- cooking, shopping and keeping an eye on eating and drinking;
- housekeeping and laundry;
- help moving around safely and reducing the risk of falls;
- company, conversation, hobbies and outings;
- appointments, prescriptions and liaising with GPs and district nurses;
- reassurance at night, if the person wakes or needs help.
Live-in carers do not carry out clinical nursing tasks such as injections or complex wound care; district nurses continue to visit for those. See what a live-in carer does for more detail.
How live-in care works day to day
The carer works to a care plan agreed with you before they arrive. They need a private bedroom, access to a bathroom and, ideally, Wi-Fi. They take a two-hour break each day, when family or another carer can cover if needed, and get a proper night's sleep. Carers usually work for a period of weeks and then have time off, when a relief carer who knows the routine takes over. If the person needs help regularly through the night, two carers share the care so someone is always awake. Our guide to carer changeover day explains how handovers work.
Who is live-in care for?
Live-in care suits people who need more help than a few visits a day can give, or who should not be alone overnight, including people living with dementia, Parkinson's, after a stroke, with frailty and falls, or at the end of life. It is also a popular choice for couples, who can stay together with one carer supporting both, and for people coming home from hospital who need help for a few weeks.
Live-in care vs a care home
Both have their place. The main differences families weigh up are one-to-one care rather than shared staff; the same familiar carer rather than changing shifts; staying at home with a partner, pets and neighbours; and visitors any time. For one person, live-in care costs from £1,200 a week, comparable to many residential care homes; for a couple it is usually much less than two care home places. Read live-in care vs a care home for a full comparison.
How much does live-in care cost?
Our live-in care starts from £1,200 a week for standard support, £1,300 a week for specialist needs such as dementia or regular night-time help, and £2,600 a week when two carers are needed. It is one fixed weekly fee covering the agreed care plan, not an hourly rate, and the price is the same wherever you live in the UK. Help may be available through Attendance Allowance, the council, or NHS Continuing Healthcare. See pricing and funding.
Choosing a live-in care agency
There are two main models. A managed service employs carers and is registered with the regulator for the care it provides. An introductory agency, like Live-in Care Direct, finds, vets and introduces self-employed carers, and the family agrees the arrangement directly with the carer, usually at a lower cost and with more choice over who provides the care. Our page on introductory agency status explains exactly what that means for you. Whichever you choose, ask how carers are vetted, how cover works during breaks, and what happens if a carer is not the right fit.
The first week of live-in care
Families often ask what the first days actually look like. Broadly:
- Arrival — the carer arrives, ideally with a family member present, and is shown the house, the routine and anything that matters: which cup is favourite, how the heating works, where the spare keys live.
- Days one to three — the carer follows the care plan closely and watches more than they change. Both sides are getting used to each other, and some awkwardness is normal.
- By the end of the week — most households have settled into a rhythm. The carer knows the routine, the person knows the carer, and small adjustments are made to the plan.
We check in during the first week. If something is not working, the earlier we hear about it, the easier it is to put right.
Is live-in care right for your family? Five questions to ask
- Is there a spare bedroom? A live-in carer needs a private room. If there is not one, live-in care is not possible without changes at home.
- Is help needed at unpredictable times, or overnight? If so, live-in care usually suits better than visiting care.
- How many hours of visits would otherwise be needed? Once it is several hours a day, live-in care is often better value.
- Does the person want to stay at home? Live-in care works best when it is what they want.
- Are there clinical needs? Nursing tasks stay with district nurses; if nursing is needed around the clock, a nursing home may be safer.
Live-in care for couples
Live-in care is one of the few options that lets a couple stay together when one or both need support. One carer can often support both partners, even when their needs differ — for example one living with dementia and the other with limited mobility. Compared with two care home places, the saving can be considerable. Our guide to live-in care for couples explains how it works and when two carers are needed.
What families tell us they wish they had known sooner
The most common reflection from families is simply: "We should have done this earlier." Many wait until a fall, a hospital admission or a carer's breakdown forces a decision, and then have to arrange everything in days. Arranging live-in care while the person can still take part in choosing their carer and shaping their routine tends to make the transition smoother and the arrangement more successful. If you are unsure whether it is time, a no-obligation conversation costs nothing and often clarifies things.
Further reading and sources
Why families choose it
What live-in care gives your family
Home stays home
No packing up a life into one room. Own bed, own kitchen, own garden, own chair by the window — and the pet stays too.
Couples are not separated
One carer can support two people under a single weekly fee. Care homes charge for two places and often cannot take couples at all.
One-to-one, not one-to-twelve
A residential home shares staff across a floor. A live-in carer is there for one household, which is a different quality of attention entirely.
Visitors whenever you like
No visiting hours, no signing in. Family and friends come and go as they always did.
Fewer falls, fewer admissions
Familiar surroundings plus someone present around the clock is the combination that keeps people out of hospital.
Is it right for us?
When families arrange live-in care
If one of these sounds familiar, live-in care at home is worth a conversation.
A care home has been suggested — and it does not feel right
The most common reason families call us. Live-in care delivers the same round-the-clock cover without the move.
Visiting carers are no longer enough
When 30-minute visits stop covering the need, or a different face turns up each day, live-in care is usually the next step.
Coming out of hospital
Discharge often comes at short notice. We can frequently have a carer in place within 24 to 48 hours.
A dementia diagnosis
Familiar rooms and a consistent carer matter enormously when memory is failing. Moving somewhere new rarely helps.
The family carer is exhausted
Whether for a fortnight or permanently, handing over to a professional is not giving up. It is usually overdue.
Family live far away
Distance makes daily oversight impossible. A named care manager and one consistent carer close that gap.
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 support
Washing, bathing, dressing and grooming — help given with dignity, at the pace the person sets.
Health condition management
Specialist support for dementia, Parkinson’s, MS, stroke recovery and other medical needs, alongside district nurses.
Companionship and wellbeing
Conversation, company at mealtimes and activities that actually interest them — the part that prevents decline.
Household assistance
Light cleaning, laundry, meal preparation and the weekly shop, so the home runs as it always did.
Related services
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.
A typical day
What it actually looks like
There is no fixed schedule — that is rather the point. This is the shape most days take.
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Morning
Up at whatever time suits — not a fixed institutional schedule. Help with washing and dressing, medication, and breakfast made the way it has always been made.
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Late morning
Out to the shops, a coffee, the hairdresser or a hospital appointment. Or the garden, the crossword and the radio if that is the preference.
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Afternoon
Lunch, a rest, visitors, a walk with the dog. The carer handles laundry and housework around whatever else is happening.
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Evening
Dinner together, television, a phone call to family. Evening medication and help getting ready for bed.
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Overnight
The carer sleeps in their own room and is there if needed. Where nights are regularly broken we would recommend waking-night cover or a second carer.
What you get
What live-in 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 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)
Compared honestly
Live-in care, a care home, or visiting carers?
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 actually be in the house?
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 live-in 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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Gladys
Live-in carer
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Refiloe
Live-in carer
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Patience
Live-in carer
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Brenda
Live-in carer
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Monica
Live-in carer
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Vistorine
Live-in carer
How it works
Arranging live-in 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 live-in 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 cost in the UK?
Our live-in care starts from £1,200 a week, £1,300 for specialist needs such as dementia, and £2,600 when two carers are needed. It is one fixed weekly fee for the agreed care plan, the same anywhere in the UK.
What is the difference between live-in care and 24 hour care?
With live-in care, one carer lives in and sleeps at night. With 24 hour waking care, two carers share the care so someone is always awake. Both mean the person is never alone.
Does a live-in carer need their own room?
Yes. A live-in carer needs a private bedroom with a bed and storage, access to a bathroom and ideally Wi-Fi. They also need a two-hour break each day.
Is live-in care cheaper than a care home?
For one person it is often comparable to a residential care home and usually less than nursing care. For a couple it is typically much cheaper, because one carer can support both.
How quickly can live-in care start?
Most arrangements are in place within a week. In an emergency, such as a hospital discharge, we can usually have a carer in the home within 24 to 48 hours.
Can we choose our live-in carer?
Yes. We send profiles of matched, available carers and you choose, with a video call first if you would like. Every carer is interviewed in person and enhanced DBS checked.
What happens if we do not get on with our live-in carer?
Tell us. It is normal for the first match not to be perfect, and there is no need to put up with an arrangement that is not working. We will talk it through and introduce a better-suited carer.
Do we have to provide food for a live-in carer?
Usually the household provides everyday meals for the carer, as they live in and share the kitchen. Some families agree a food allowance instead. We explain the arrangement clearly before care starts.
Can a live-in carer drive?
Many can. They may use the family car if insured to drive it, or help with taxis and public transport. Tell us if driving is important so we can match accordingly.
Is there a minimum contract for live-in care?
There is no long-term contract. Short-term care usually starts from two weeks, and ongoing care can be adjusted or ended with notice as your needs change.
Transparent pricing
How much live-in care costs
One weekly fee covering the agreed care plan. No hidden charges for everyday care.
Read next
Guides for families arranging live-in care
A Comprehensive Guide to Live-in Care for Relatives
Read guide →
Live-in Care vs a Care Home: Beyond the Cost
Read guide →
What does a live-in carer do?
Read guide →Related care
Care often arranged alongside live-in care
24 Hour Live-in Care
24 hour live-in care means someone is in the home around the clock — including through the night, when help is most often needed and least often available.
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.
Elderly Care
Our elderly 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.
Respite Care
Our respite 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.
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
Live-in care in your area
Local pages cover how care is regulated and funded where your relative lives.
Where we work
Live-in 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.