Live-in care at home
One carer lives in your home and gives support day to day, so your relative can stay where they are happiest. Live-in care costs £1,100 a week, with a minimum booking of 2 weeks.
What is live-in care?
A live-in carer moves into your home for an agreed period and is there to help through the day. They have their own bedroom, take a daily break, and sleep at night. A second carer covers breaks or rotations.
Why families choose live-in care
- Your relative stays in their own home, with their routine, belongings and pets
- One-to-one support from one carer, rather than staff shared between residents
- Couples can stay together, often with one carer supporting both
- Someone is in the home if something goes wrong
- A fixed weekly price, which is often less than a care home
When is live-in care right?
Live-in care suits people who need help at several points through the day, would be unsafe or lonely alone for long periods, or are being cared for by family who can no longer cover every day. It is often chosen instead of moving into a care home, after a hospital stay, or as needs increase with a condition such as dementia.
A day with a live-in carer
Every day is agreed between you and your carer, but a typical day might look like this:
- Morning: help getting up, washing and dressing, breakfast and medication prompts
- Late morning: housework, laundry, or a walk or trip to the shops
- Lunch: a home-cooked meal, eaten together if your relative likes the company
- Afternoon: the carer's daily break, then hobbies, visitors or an appointment
- Evening: dinner, a drink, and help getting ready for bed
- Night: the carer sleeps in their own room and is in the home if needed occasionally
Would it work in your home?
A live-in carer needs:
- A private bedroom
- Access to a bathroom and the kitchen
- Wi-Fi if possible
- Food while they work, or a food allowance of £30 a week if food is not provided
- A daily break and proper rest, set out in their agreement
When one carer is not enough
A live-in carer sleeps at night. If your relative needs help several times a night, one carer can't safely cover both days and nights. In that case we would suggest two carers or waking-night cover. Live-in care with two carers costs £1,800 a week.
Would live-in care work in your home?
We'll talk through the room, the nights and the routine with you before you choose a carer.
Before you arrange live-in care
A few things to think through with your family first:
- Space and privacy: the carer needs their own bedroom, and everyone needs some privacy
- Nights: how often help is needed at night decides whether one carer is enough
- Household: pets, smoking, visitors and other people living in the home
- Breaks and changeovers: a second carer covers breaks or rotations, so agree how changeovers work
- Food: whether the household provides the carer's food or pays the £30 weekly allowance
- Length: live-in care is booked for a minimum of 2 weeks
What live-in care costs
A fixed weekly price, paid to LCH Care weekly in advance.
One carer
Minimum booking of 2 weeks.
Two carers
When one carer cannot cover days and nights safely.
Carer's food
Only if the household does not provide the carer's food.
Can one carer look after a couple? Often yes, if both people's needs can be safely met by one carer. Tell us about both people and we'll confirm the price in writing.
LCH Care arranges
- Checks on every carer: identity, right to work in the UK, Enhanced DBS, two references, work history, and relevant training or qualifications
- Profiles of suitable, available carers for you to choose from
- Introductions, and a call or video call with carers before you decide
- The weekly invoice, and passing payment on to your carer
- Other profiles if your carer is ill or you want a change
You and your carer agree
- The duties, routine and preferences
- Breaks, rest and how nights work
- Changes as needs change
- Notice, following the terms in your agreement
Live-in care for different needs
Live-in care can be shaped around the person:
- Dementia: a familiar face and routine at home, which can help reduce confusion
- After a hospital stay: help while your relative recovers their strength and confidence
- End of life care: personal care and company at home, alongside the NHS nursing team
- Couples: one carer can often support two people, if both people's needs can be safely met
- Respite: a live-in carer while the family carer takes a break
Live-in care, a managed agency or a care home?
With LCH Care you choose a self-employed carer and agree the care with them. A managed agency employs and supervises its carers and usually decides who comes. A care home provides a room, meals and care together, with staff shared between residents. Compare introductory and managed care, or compare home care and care homes.
Paying for live-in care
Your council may help after a free needs assessment and a financial assessment. NHS Continuing Healthcare may fund care needed mainly because of health needs, and Attendance Allowance can help with the cost of care for people over State Pension age.
How to arrange live-in care
Talk it through
Tell us about the help needed through the day and night, the home, and preferences.
Choose from profiles
We send profiles of suitable live-in carers who are available.
Speak to carers
Talk by phone or video call before you agree to anything.
The carer moves in
You and your carer agree the routine. LCH Care invoices weekly in advance.
How carers are checked
Before LCH Care introduces a carer, we check their identity, right to work in the UK, Enhanced DBS, two references, work history, and relevant training or qualifications. Carers also hold their own public liability insurance. You then speak to the carer by phone or video call before you agree to anything.
Other types of care
Questions
How does live-in care work with LCH Care?
We send you profiles of suitable carers, you speak to them and choose, and the carer moves in for an agreed period. The carer is self-employed and works directly with you. You pay LCH Care weekly in advance, and LCH Care pays your carer.
What does a live-in carer do?
They help with things like personal care, meals, prompting medication, light housework, shopping, appointments, and company. Exact duties are agreed with you at the start.
Is there a minimum booking for live-in care?
Yes. Live-in care is booked for a minimum of 2 weeks.
Do we provide the carer's food? Do they pay rent?
Typically the household provides food for the carer. If you can't, you pay the carer a food allowance of £30 a week. No rent is charged, because the carer is working in your home.
Does the carer sleep at night?
Yes, they have their own bedroom. If your relative needs help several times a night, one carer can't safely cover both days and nights, so we would suggest two carers or waking-night cover.
Can I have more than one carer?
Yes. A second carer covers breaks or rotations, and if help is needed day and night, live-in care with two carers costs £1,800 a week.
Can a live-in carer manage dietary or medical needs?
Carers can prepare meals to suit dietary needs and can prompt medication. Clinical tasks such as injections need a suitably trained person. Tell us about all needs up front so we introduce carers with the right experience.
Can we choose the carer's gender or other preferences?
Tell us your preferences when you enquire and we'll send profiles that match, where suitable carers are available.
How quickly can live-in care start?
We'll do our best. Urgent starts depend on carers being available in your area.
Can we end or pause live-in care?
You can end the arrangement following the notice terms in your agreement. Tell us early if your plans change.
What happens during the carer's daily break?
Agree with your carer when the break is and whether your relative needs anyone with them then. Some families plan a visit, a phone call or a short time alone if it is safe.
How long does a live-in carer stay?
The length of each stay and how changeovers work are agreed with you and your carers at the start. A second carer covers breaks or rotations.
Can a live-in carer look after a couple?
Often yes, if both people's needs can be safely met by one carer. Tell us about both people and we'll confirm the price in writing.
Can we have pets?
Yes. Tell us about pets when you enquire, so we only send profiles of carers who are happy to live with them.