Someone there when visiting hours don't stretch far enough
Wards have restricted visiting times. A carer can sit with someone through the long stretches of the day when family simply can't be there.
✧ Our services
Care Support During a Hospital Stay and Coming Home
A hospital stay can be frightening and disorientating, especially for someone with dementia. We can arrange for a familiar carer to spend time at the bedside, help at mealtimes and with communication, and then support a safe return home.
- A familiar face Bedside company from someone they know
- Home again safely Care in place for the day of discharge
- From £1,200 a week For live-in care that continues at home
- Dementia-aware Reassurance when surroundings are confusing
What is care support during a hospital stay?
When an older person goes into hospital, ward staff look after their medical care, but busy wards cannot provide one-to-one company. Many people, especially those with dementia, hearing or sight loss, or anxiety, struggle with unfamiliar surroundings, eating and drinking enough, and understanding what is happening. Some become more confused in hospital, which can lengthen their stay.
Care support during a hospital stay means a carer who knows the person spends time with them at the bedside, as agreed with the ward, and helps make the stay less frightening. It works especially well for people who already have a live-in carer, who can continue to visit while their client is in hospital.
How a carer helps in hospital
- Company and reassurance — a familiar face to reduce anxiety and confusion.
- Eating and drinking — encouragement and help at mealtimes, which staff may not always have time for.
- Communication — helping the person hear, understand and express themselves, and sharing information about their normal routine, preferences and behaviour with staff.
- Personal items — bringing glasses, hearing aids, dentures, clothes and familiar things from home.
- Keeping family informed — updates for relatives who live far away or cannot visit often.
Visiting arrangements are always agreed with the ward. Many hospitals welcome familiar carers, particularly under schemes such as John's Campaign, which supports the right of people with dementia to have their carers with them in hospital.
From hospital to home
The most important part of hospital support is often the return home. Delays in discharge are frequently caused by waiting for care to be arranged. If a live-in carer is ready, your relative can often go home sooner. The carer can meet them from the ward, collect medication, make sure the home is warm and ready, and support them through the first days, which are when falls and readmissions are most likely. See emergency home care for urgent discharges.
Short-term recovery care after hospital
Many people need extra support for a few weeks after a hospital stay while they regain strength. Short-term live-in care helps with personal care, mobility, meals and medication, and works alongside any reablement, district nursing or therapy support arranged by the hospital. Care can then reduce or end as independence returns.
Paying for hospital and recovery support
Live-in care at home starts from £1,200 a week. After a hospital stay, the council may provide a short period of free reablement, and people with complex health needs may be assessed for NHS Continuing Healthcare. See our funding guide.
Why hospital can be so hard for older people
A hospital stay can have effects beyond the illness that caused it. Older people, and especially people with dementia, may experience:
- Delirium — a sudden onset of confusion, often caused by illness, infection, medication or the unfamiliar environment.
- Loss of strength — days spent in bed can lead to rapid muscle loss.
- Poor eating and drinking — unfamiliar food, busy mealtimes and difficulty reaching trays.
- Disrupted sleep — noise, lights and interruptions through the night.
- Loss of confidence — making the return home more daunting.
A familiar face at the bedside can help with each of these, and ward staff often welcome the extra support.
Delirium: what families should know
Delirium is common in older people in hospital and can be frightening for families. It usually comes on over hours or days, with confusion that may come and go, agitation or drowsiness, and sometimes seeing things that are not there. It is different from dementia, although people with dementia are more likely to develop it. Delirium usually improves as the underlying cause is treated. Familiar people, glasses and hearing aids, clocks and calendars, good hydration and a calm environment all help. If you notice a sudden change in your relative's confusion, tell the ward staff straight away.
Preparing for a planned hospital stay
For planned admissions, some preparation helps: a bag with glasses, hearing aids, dentures, comfortable clothes and familiar items; a written summary of routines, medication, allergies and how the person communicates; a "This is me" document or hospital passport for people with dementia or learning disabilities; and a plan for care at home afterwards. Arranging live-in care for the return home before the admission avoids delays in discharge.
Coming home well
The first days after leaving hospital are often the riskiest. People may be weaker than before, taking new medication, and less confident on their feet. Having a live-in carer ready for discharge day means medication is collected and understood, meals and fluids are managed, and help is there at night. It also means problems, such as new confusion or pain, are noticed early and reported, which can help avoid a return to hospital.
Keeping in touch with the ward
When a relative is in hospital, getting clear information can be difficult, especially for families who live far away. It helps to agree one family contact for the ward, ask when the best time to call is, and keep a notebook of what staff say, including the names of doctors and nurses and any plans for tests or discharge. Asking early, "What needs to happen before Mum can go home?", often speeds things up. A carer who visits regularly can also relay information, with the patient's consent, and make sure the ward knows about the person's usual routine, communication and needs.
Understanding medication changes after discharge
Hospital stays often lead to changes in medication: new medicines started, doses changed, or long-standing tablets stopped. Confusion about these changes is a common reason for problems after discharge. Before leaving, ask for a written list of all medicines and what has changed. At home, the carer checks the discharge letter against what is in the house, removes stopped medicines to avoid mix-ups, and contacts the GP or community pharmacist if anything is unclear. Many pharmacies also offer a free New Medicine Service or discharge medicines review.
Reablement and recovery at home
After a hospital stay, some people are offered a short period of reablement: support, usually free for up to six weeks, to help them regain skills and confidence at home. Live-in care can work alongside reablement, providing support around the clock while the reablement team works on specific goals, and can continue once reablement ends if more help is still needed.
Further reading and sources
Why families choose it
What hospital support gives your family
A familiar voice for hospital staff to talk to
A carer who knows the person well can help pass on preferences, concerns and history to busy ward staff, and flag anything family should know.
Less confusion and distress
Unfamiliar surroundings can be disorientating, particularly for someone older or living with dementia. A familiar carer nearby helps keep them calmer.
Continuity straight into discharge
The same carer who supported the hospital stay can go home with the person on discharge day, rather than a new face starting from scratch.
Peace of mind for family who can't be there
For relatives who live far away or can't take time off work, knowing someone trusted is with their family member matters enormously.
Is it right for us?
When families arrange support during a hospital stay
If one of these sounds familiar, hospital support at home is worth a conversation.
An elderly relative is admitted and family can't be there daily
Work, distance or their own health can make it impossible for family to visit as often as they'd like.
Confusion or distress on an unfamiliar ward
A change of environment can unsettle someone who is already unwell, particularly if they live with dementia.
A discharge is coming up and support needs to start immediately
Hospitals often move quickly once someone is fit for discharge. Having care arranged in advance avoids a gap when they get home.
Family live too far away to visit regularly
Distance shouldn't mean a relative is alone in hospital. A carer can be there in person when family can't.
The usual family carer needs a break while their relative is in hospital
A hospital admission doesn't mean the caring stops — it just moves location, and can still be exhausting without support.
What a carer does
How a carer helps in and after hospital
Every care plan is built from these, weighted to whatever matters most in your household.
Companionship on the ward
A familiar, reassuring presence through the long hours of a hospital stay when family can't always be there.
Liaison with hospital staff
Passing on the patient's needs and preferences to busy ward staff, and keeping family informed of what's happening.
Emotional reassurance
Calm, familiar company to ease the confusion and anxiety that unfamiliar hospital surroundings often bring.
Discharge and the journey home
The same carer continuing on discharge day, helping the transition back to a familiar home go smoothly.
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 hospital support includes, and what it doesn't
Being straight about the boundaries saves everyone a difficult conversation later.
Included in the weekly fee
- Companionship and reassurance during a hospital stay
- Help with meals, drinks and small comforts within ward rules
- Passing on preferences and concerns to nursing staff on the patient's behalf
- Continuity of support through discharge and the journey home
- Emotional reassurance to reduce confusion or distress
- Keeping family updated on how things are going
- Light personal comfort tasks permitted on the ward
- Settling the person in at home once discharged
Not included
- Clinical or nursing treatment, which is provided by hospital staff, not our carers
- The carer's own food — the household provides everyday meals once home
- Household bills, rent or council tax on the carer's behalf
- Two-person handling where a hoist requires two carers once home (that is our Advanced plan)
Compared honestly
Recovery 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 hospital 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
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Refiloe
Live-in carer
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Brenda
Live-in carer
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Monica
Live-in carer
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Gladys
Live-in carer
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Patience
Live-in carer
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Vistorine
Live-in carer
How it works
Arranging hospital 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 hospital 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 carer stay with my parent in hospital?
A carer can spend time at the bedside as agreed with the ward. Many hospitals welcome familiar carers, especially for people with dementia, under schemes like John's Campaign.
Can you arrange care for the day my relative leaves hospital?
Yes. We can usually have a live-in carer in place within 24 to 48 hours, ready to meet your relative from hospital and settle them at home.
Will having a carer ready speed up discharge?
Often it does. Discharges are frequently delayed while care is arranged, so telling the ward a live-in carer is ready can help your relative go home sooner.
Is short-term care available after a hospital stay?
Yes. Many families arrange live-in care for a few weeks after discharge while their relative regains strength and confidence.
Can the carer bring things from home to hospital?
Yes. Carers can bring glasses, hearing aids, dentures, clothes and familiar items, which make a big difference to comfort and communication.
Is care after hospital funded?
Short-term reablement may be free after discharge, and people with complex health needs may qualify for NHS Continuing Healthcare. Otherwise it is usually arranged privately.
What is delirium?
A sudden onset of confusion, often caused by illness, infection, medication or an unfamiliar environment. It is common in older people in hospital and usually improves as the cause is treated. Tell ward staff about any sudden change.
What should we pack for a hospital stay?
Glasses, hearing aids, dentures, comfortable clothes, familiar items, a medication list and a summary of routines and communication needs. A hospital passport helps for people with dementia or learning disabilities.
Why do older people lose strength in hospital?
Days spent in bed lead to rapid muscle loss, especially in older people. Getting up and moving as much as it is safe to, and support at home afterwards, helps recovery.
How can we avoid a delayed discharge?
Plan care at home early, ideally before a planned admission. Telling the ward that a live-in carer is ready can help your relative leave hospital as soon as they are medically fit.
Transparent pricing
How much hospital support costs
One weekly fee covering the agreed care plan. No hidden charges for everyday care.
Read next
Guides for families arranging hospital support
Emergency Live-in Care: What Actually Happens
Read guide →
Short-Term Live-in Care
Read guide →
Long-Distance Care: Managing Care from Afar
Read guide →Related care
Care often arranged alongside hospital support
Emergency Home Care
Our emergency live in care 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.
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.
Knee & Hip Replacement Care
Knee and hip replacement surgery are an invasive procedure. The recovery time can take weeks to months, depending on the severity of the injury that necessitates it. Knee and hip replacement patients may need assistance with daily living tasks, including bathing, dressing, and cooking food. This can take a couple of weeks before the patient can start doing things for himself again. If you are working, you can hire live in care direct service to assist you during the day.
Stroke Care
A stroke happens when a blood vessel supplying the brain or an area of the brain is blocked and ruptures. Due to the unavailability of blood to the brain tissue, the cells begin to die. A stroke is a medical emergency. But patients, once recovered from the emergency situation, need constant care and attendance depending upon the severity of the symptoms.
Near you
Hospital support in your area
Local pages cover how care is regulated and funded where your relative lives.
Where we work
Hospital 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.