What’s in this section?
What is live-in care?
Live-in care is a type of care that enables you to stay at home and receive tailored support from a fully trained carer living in your home. They are on hand to assist you with your daily tasks, such as getting up, getting washed and ready for the day, meal preparation, and domestic tasks. They can also provide companionship and emotional support. Live-in carers will take breaks, in which a replacement carer may come in to support you. If you and your partner live at home, you may benefit from arranging couple care. This enables you to receive specialist care while staying in your own home, giving you peace of mind.
A live-in carer can help you maintain a reasonably normal lifestyle by assisting with day-to-day tasks.
A live-in carer can help with:
- Administering medication.
- Personal care such as bathing and changing clothes.
- Accompanying you to medical appointments.
- Cooking and food shopping.
- Laundry and keeping your home clean and tidy.
- Maintaining communication with medical professionals.
They can also provide support to help you recover following a stay in hospital.
What conditions are supported by live-in care?
Live-in care can support a range of conditions, including:
- Dementia, including Alzheimer’s and Vascular Dementia.
- Cancer.
- Stroke Aftercare.
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
- Age-Related Care.
- Palliative and End of Life Support.
What are the different types of live-in care?
There are two types of live-in care, managed live-in care agencies and introductory live-in care agencies – also known as self-managed care.
Fully managed care service:
With ‘managed’ live-in care, an agency will take an active role in all aspects of the care you or your loved one receives. ‘Managed’ services are regulated by the Care Quality Commission. This means they are regularly assessed to ensure their practices, policies, and procedures align with government standards.
Your care management team will usually visit to discuss your requirements and circumstances, in addition to conducting a risk assessment to ensure everyone will be able to reside safely on the property.
Your fully managed service provider will create a custom support plan, and they will provide a selection of profiles to choose from for live-in carers who fit the criteria in terms of the support they can provide. You will be matched with a carer who has similar interests to you.
The agency is responsible for more than just organising and monitoring your care; they also manage interviewing, training, employing, and paying your care assistant.
Self-managed care service:
Self-managed live-in care is also known as ‘introductory live-in care’ because the role of the care agency is to introduce you to a self-employed carer.
With self-managed live-in care, the agency has less involvement than it would with a managed service. The agency will usually conduct a telephone assessment of your needs before starting a vetting process on the self-employed assistants they introduce to you. The agency’s rigorous recruitment process will include an enhanced DBS/CRB certificate, the right to work in the UK, and complete reference checks.
Once an assistant has been matched to your needs and introduced, you will be responsible for arranging any amendments to the care plan with them. You will be responsible for paying them directly, in addition to a fee to the agency for their introductory service. The self-employed live-in carer will arrange their taxes and insurance.
The care management team at the agency will be in regular contact with you and your carer to ensure everyone receives the proper support.
Due to the level of responsibility, introductory live-in care is perhaps best suited to families who would like to be as involved and ‘hands-on’ as possible.
What are the benefits of live-in care?
Benefits of live-in care include:
- Being able to stay in your own home and with your partner.
- Having one-to-one care from your carer.
- More continuous support than with ordinary home care.
- Receiving care and support to enable you to remain independent.
- Enriched quality of life.
- Companionship.
When should I consider help at home from a live-in carer?
It is hard to estimate an exact time in which you should consider live-in care. If you become concerned about living at home on your own, or if you have recently experienced an accident such as a fall or a stroke, it may be time to consider live-in care. While live-in care is your choice, you may choose to talk to your family members about this care and how it can support you at home. If you and your partner are living at home together, a carer can support both you and your partner.
Is live-in care and 24-hour care the same thing?
Both live-in care and 24-hour care are similar in that a professional carer will provide support and live with you in your home, but there are differences. A live-in carer works during the day and is available to be woken up for ad-hoc care needs during the night. Whilst 24-hour care describes care given in the home day and night. These services are best suited for people with more complex needs, or who require round-the-clock care.
Can a family member become a live-in carer?
Rather than hiring a live-in agency or carer, you may want to provide support to your family member yourself. Becoming a live-in carer is a full-time commitment so you should be realistic with your time and energy.
Finding time for you:
While you will want to support your family member, it is still important to take time for yourself. This enables you to de-stress, as well as avoid carer breakdown. You should take regular breaks, to allow you to reset and participate in hobbies and activities.
Researching their condition:
When planning live-in care for a loved one, you should research their conditions, as well as the medication they may be prescribed. This will give you an insight into what to expect, and any side effects that they could experience.
Discussing the level of care they want to receive:
Creating an in-depth care plan is key to live-in care. It is important to sit down together and discuss the level of care your family member wants to receive.
Is live-in care regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC)?
Yes, the Care Quality Commission, also known as the CQC, regulates managed live-in care providers. This means they are regularly assessed to ensure their practices, policies, and procedures align with government standards. When searching for care providers on our website check the CQC score on the left-hand side.
The CQC is the independent regulator of health and social care across England. Care providers based in England must be registered with the CQC and be subjected to inspections to ensure they are keeping adults safe.
How much does live-in care cost?
Just as with residential care, the cost of live-in care can quickly add up depending on the level of support you require. Live-in care pricing typically starts from £1,000 a week for self-managed care and £1,400 for managed care. The live-in care cost can vary depending on the level of personal care you require, and your location.
Points to remember:
The amount of time you’re planning to have live-in care for will decide the cost. The minimum duration for placement is usually two weeks, but different providers may offer other options. The cost of care is traditionally quoted per week, and you will receive regular invoices from this.
Live-in care funding?
Local authorities can arrange for people who need live-in care to receive funding so they can arrange their care – either in their own home or in a care home. Local authority funding for care is means-tested through a financial assessment. It takes into account the value of your property, savings and other assets. Depending on your financial situation, you may be entitled to support from your local authority or the NHS. Read more about funding your care in our article, paying for care.