A familiar face reduces isolation
Loneliness is one of the biggest drivers of low mood in later life. A live-in carer provides daily company and conversation, not just a wellbeing check ticked off a visit sheet.
✧ Our services
Mental Health Support at Home for Older People
Depression, anxiety and loneliness are common in later life, and they make every other part of life harder. A live-in carer brings steady company, routine and practical help, and works alongside your GP and mental health team.
- Steady company Someone there every day and night
- From £1,200 a week One fixed weekly fee for live-in care
- Alongside your team GP, community mental health team and therapists
- Routine and purpose Meals, activity, sleep and getting out
What is mental health support at home?
Mental health support at home is practical and emotional help for someone living with a mental health condition, such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, so they can stay well and independent in their own home. In later life, depression and anxiety are especially common and often go unrecognised, mistaken for "just getting older" or overlapping with physical illness, bereavement, loneliness or the early stages of dementia.
A live-in carer is not a therapist. What they provide is often just as important: a steady, caring presence every day, a routine that supports recovery, and someone who notices when things are getting worse.
Company, routine and getting out: support for wellbeing
- Company and conversation — loneliness is both a cause and a consequence of poor mental health; daily company helps.
- Routine — regular meals, sleep and activity give structure to the day.
- Getting out — walks, shopping, social groups and appointments, with encouragement and support.
- Medication — making sure prescribed medicines are taken correctly and side effects are reported.
- Eating well — low mood often affects appetite; regular, appealing meals help physical and mental health.
- Noticing changes — spotting early warning signs and following the person's crisis or relapse plan.
- Practical help — housework, post and bills, which can become overwhelming when someone is unwell.
Working with health professionals
Carers work alongside the GP, the community mental health team, psychiatrists, psychologists and talking therapies services. They support appointments, encourage the person to follow their treatment plan, and share observations (with consent) that help professionals adjust care. If there are concerns about someone's safety, the carer follows the crisis plan and contacts the right service straight away. In a mental health crisis, NHS 111 (selecting the mental health option) and 999 in an emergency are always available.
Mental health, dementia and physical illness
For older people, mental health rarely stands alone. Depression can follow a stroke, a diagnosis of Parkinson's or the loss of a partner; anxiety often comes with breathlessness or falls; and changes in mood or behaviour can be an early sign of dementia. Because live-in care supports the whole person, the carer can help with all of these together.
Paying for mental health support
Live-in support starts from £1,200 a week. Attendance Allowance or PIP, council support after a needs assessment, and aftercare under section 117 of the Mental Health Act for people who have been detained under certain sections, may help with the cost. See our funding guide.
Recognising depression in older people
Depression in later life is common but often missed, partly because older people may not talk about feelings and partly because symptoms can be mistaken for "just ageing". Signs to look out for include:
- loss of interest in things they used to enjoy;
- withdrawal from friends and family;
- changes in sleep and appetite;
- unexplained aches and pains, or physical complaints without a clear cause;
- irritability, anxiety or restlessness;
- neglecting personal care or the home;
- talking about being a burden or not wanting to go on.
Depression is treatable at any age. If you notice these signs, encourage the person to see their GP. Anyone expressing thoughts of suicide should be supported to get help urgently.
Anxiety and building confidence
Anxiety often grows after a fall, an illness, a bereavement or a period of isolation, and it can quietly shrink someone's world until they no longer leave the house. A carer can help rebuild confidence gradually, with small, manageable steps: a short walk, a visit to a familiar shop, a coffee with a friend. Alongside support from the GP or talking therapies, practical encouragement from someone they trust often makes the difference.
Living with a long-term mental health condition
People with long-term conditions such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia often live well with the right treatment and support. Consistency is important: regular routines, medication taken as prescribed, and a relationship with people who know them and can recognise early warning signs. A live-in carer can provide that consistency, support the person to stay connected with their mental health team, and help put the relapse prevention plan into action if warning signs appear.
Grief and bereavement in later life
Losing a husband, wife or close friend is one of the commonest triggers of depression and loneliness in later life. Grief is a natural process, not an illness, but some people need extra support through it. A carer offers company, routine and practical help during a very difficult time, and can gently encourage the person to seek bereavement support, such as Cruse Bereavement Support, if they are struggling. Our guide to supporting the elderly through grief explains more.
Sleep, routine and mood
Sleep and mental health are closely connected. Poor sleep can worsen low mood and anxiety, and low mood and anxiety disturb sleep. A regular routine helps: getting up and going to bed at similar times, daylight and activity during the day, a calm evening, and avoiding caffeine and alcohol late in the day. A carer can help build and keep this routine, which often makes a noticeable difference to mood over a few weeks, alongside any treatment from the GP.
When to seek urgent help
Most mental health difficulties are managed through the GP and community services, but some situations need urgent help. If someone talks about wanting to end their life, has made plans to harm themselves, is experiencing severe confusion, or seems at immediate risk, get help straight away: call NHS 111 and choose the mental health option, contact the crisis team if the person has one, or call 999 in an emergency. Carers are briefed on each person's crisis plan and never leave someone at risk alone.
Support for family members
Supporting a relative with mental health difficulties can be exhausting and worrying. Family carers are entitled to a carer's assessment from the council, and organisations such as Mind, Rethink Mental Illness and local carers' centres offer information and support for families as well as for the person themselves.
Further reading and sources
Why families choose it
What live-in mental health support gives your family
Structure without institution
A steady daily routine — meals, activities, a regular bedtime — genuinely helps mood and anxiety, and it happens at home rather than in a facility with someone else's timetable.
Someone who notices the early signs
A withdrawn mood, a skipped meal, stopped hobbies — a carer who is there every day spots these changes far sooner than a family member visiting weekly.
Support alongside the GP or mental health team, not instead of it
Carers encourage attendance at appointments and support the plan set by clinicians; they work with the person's care team rather than replacing it.
Family relationships get to be family relationships again
When a carer handles the daily support, visits from relatives can go back to being about company rather than caregiving duties.
Is it right for us?
When families arrange mental health support at home
If one of these sounds familiar, mental health support at home is worth a conversation.
Withdrawal, low mood or loss of interest in things they used to enjoy
Often the first sign a family notices. Company and gentle structure at home can make a real difference alongside professional treatment.
Living alone since bereavement or a partner moving into care
Sudden isolation after decades with someone else in the house is a common trigger for anxiety and depression in later life.
Anxiety about managing at home alone
Worry about falls, forgetting things, or simply coping day to day can become constant and exhausting without someone present.
A mental health condition alongside a physical one
Depression and anxiety are common alongside conditions like Parkinson's, stroke recovery or chronic pain, and can be missed when physical needs take priority.
Family are worried but live too far away to check in daily
A carer on the ground, plus a named care manager, closes the gap that phone calls cannot.
What a carer does
How a live-in carer supports mental wellbeing
Every care plan is built from these, weighted to whatever matters most in your household.
Daily companionship
Regular conversation and shared time that directly reduces the isolation behind so much low mood in later life.
Routine and structure
Consistent mealtimes, activity and sleep patterns, built around what actually helps this person feel steady.
Working alongside the care team
Support to attend appointments and follow the plan set by the GP or mental health service, never a replacement for it.
A settled home environment
Meals, housework and everyday admin taken care of, so there is less to feel overwhelmed by.
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 mental health support includes, and what it doesn't
Being straight about the boundaries saves everyone a difficult conversation later.
Included in the weekly fee
- Daily companionship and conversation
- Encouragement and support to attend GP or mental health appointments
- Medication prompting, including for prescribed mental health medication
- Help re-engaging with hobbies, hobbies and social activities
- A steady daily routine — meals, sleep and activity at consistent times
- Meal preparation and light housework
- Support for family communication and video calls
- A named care manager for ongoing oversight
Not included
- Clinical therapy, diagnosis or treatment — this stays with the GP or mental health team
- Nursing tasks requiring a registered nurse
- The carer's own food — the household provides everyday meals
- Household bills or financial management on the carer's behalf
Compared honestly
Support at home, 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 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 mental health support
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
-
Brenda
Live-in carer
-
Gladys
Live-in carer
-
Refiloe
Live-in carer
-
Patience
Live-in carer
-
Monica
Live-in carer
-
Vistorine
Live-in carer
How it works
Arranging mental health support 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 mental health support
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 questionsCan a live-in carer help with depression in an elderly parent?
Yes. Company, routine, regular meals, getting out and making sure treatment is followed all support recovery. The carer works alongside the GP and mental health team.
Are carers qualified to give therapy?
No. Carers provide practical and emotional support, not therapy. They support people to attend talking therapies and follow their treatment plan.
What happens in a mental health crisis?
The carer follows the person's crisis plan and contacts the right service, such as the crisis team, NHS 111 (mental health option), or 999 in an emergency.
How much does live-in mental health support cost?
Live-in support starts from £1,200 a week, or £1,300 a week for more complex needs.
Can you support someone with anxiety who won't leave the house?
Yes. A patient carer builds trust and confidence gradually, with small, manageable steps outside, alongside any therapy the person is receiving.
Is section 117 aftercare available for live-in care?
People who have been detained under certain sections of the Mental Health Act are entitled to free aftercare under section 117, which can include care at home.
What are the signs of depression in an elderly parent?
Loss of interest, withdrawal, changes in sleep and appetite, unexplained aches, irritability, neglecting self-care, or talking about being a burden. Depression is treatable at any age; encourage a GP visit.
Can a carer help someone with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia?
Yes. Carers provide routine and consistency, support medication and appointments, and help put the person's relapse prevention plan into action if early warning signs appear, alongside the mental health team.
How can we help a parent whose anxiety keeps them indoors?
Gradual, small steps outside with someone they trust, such as a short walk or a visit to a familiar shop, alongside support from the GP or talking therapies. A patient carer can rebuild confidence over time without pushing too fast.
Where can someone get bereavement support?
Cruse Bereavement Support, local hospices and GP surgeries can help. A carer can offer company and routine, and gently encourage the person to seek support if grief becomes overwhelming.
Transparent pricing
How much mental health support costs
One weekly fee covering the agreed care plan. No hidden charges for everyday care.
Read next
Guides for families arranging mental health support
How Live-in Care Can Help Combat Loneliness
Read guide →
Supporting the Elderly Through Grief: The Role of a Companion
Read guide →
Effective Communication in Care: Building Strong Relationships and Ensuring Quality Care
Read guide →Related care
Care often arranged alongside mental health support
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.
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.
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.
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.
Brain Injury Care
Brain injuries can be acquired brain injuries or traumatic brain injuries. Acquired brain injuries (ABIs) are caused by stroke or brain tumor, while a traumatic brain injury (TBI) results from physical trauma. Either way, the patient needs live-in care that specializes in brain injury, especially if the disability is life-long. The worst form of body damage that could happen is an injury to the brain. Head injuries are the leading cause of disability and death in adults. Brain injuries acquired or traumatic result in brain tissue damage and hence swelling of the tissue. Since the skull cannot accommodate by increasing in size, there is a buildup of pressure in the brain.
Near you
Mental health support in your area
Local pages cover how care is regulated and funded where your relative lives.
Where we work
Mental Health Support 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.