How many hours of care are needed?
Hourly care is booked by the hour, so the right number of hours matters. Here is how to work it out, with typical weekly patterns and the point where live-in care becomes better value.
Start with the day, not the hours
Walk through a normal day and note which parts are hard, or not safe, for your relative to manage alone.
- Morning: getting up, washing, dressing, breakfast and medication
- Midday: lunch, drinks and a check that all is well
- Afternoon: shopping, appointments, a walk or company
- Evening: dinner, medication and getting ready for bed
- Night: how often help is needed after bedtime
The hardest part of the day is usually the best place to start. For many people that is the morning.
Typical weekly patterns
| Help needed | Pattern | Hours a week | Per week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shopping and company | One 2-hour visit a week | 2 | £50 |
| A bath and housework | Two 2-hour visits a week | 4 | £100 |
| Morning help every day | A 2-hour visit, 7 days | 14 | £350 |
| Morning and evening help every day | Two 2-hour visits, 7 days | 28 | £700 |
| Help through most of the day | 44 hours or more | 44+ | Live-in care at £1,100 is likely to be better value |
At £25 an hour with one carer. Two carers cost £60 an hour. More examples in the cost of hourly care.
Why visits are at least 2 hours
With LCH Care, every visit is at least 2 hours. That leaves time to do things properly: personal care, a meal and a tidy-up in one visit, with time to talk, rather than rushing from task to task.
When hourly care stops being enough
- Help is needed at unpredictable times, not just at set times
- Your relative is up several times a night: consider overnight care
- They are at risk of falls or confusion when alone
- Visits add up to more than about 44 hours a week: live-in care at £1,100 a week is likely to be better value
Start, then review
It is fine to start with fewer hours and add more. Keep a simple note of what help was needed and when, and review it with your carer after the first couple of weeks. A free needs assessment from the council can also help you judge how much help is needed.
More guides
Questions
How many hours of care does someone need?
It depends on which parts of the day are hard. Many people start with a 2-hour visit at the busiest time, often the morning, and add more as needed.
What is the shortest visit?
With LCH Care, every visit is at least 2 hours.
Can the hours change later?
Yes. You can agree changes with your carer. Regular days and times make it easier to keep the same carer.
When is live-in care better value than visits?
At about 44 hours a week, hourly care at £25 an hour costs the same as live-in care at £1,100 a week.