Live-in companionship care

Companionship care focuses on company, help around the home and getting out and about, rather than mainly on personal care. Ours is a live-in service, so the companion is there day and night: sharing meals, chatting, going for walks, helping with shopping, appointments and hobbies, and keeping the house running. It suits people who are lonely, a little unsteady or losing confidence, and families who worry about a loved one living alone.

Yes. Our live-in carers can help with washing, dressing, continence and medication prompts if needs change, without you needing to find a new carer. Many families start with companionship and find the same carer can gradually do more as their loved one's needs grow. We'll review the arrangement with you if needs change, and adjust the weekly rate only if the level of support changes significantly.

No. We only arrange live-in care, where the carer lives in the home. If you're looking for short visits of an hour or two, your local council or the CQC website can point you to visiting home care providers in your area. Live-in companionship usually makes sense when someone would benefit from company across the whole day, or when visits alone wouldn't feel safe.

Live-in companionship care starts from £1,090 a week paid to the carer, plus our weekly agency fee of £250, and a one-off registration fee of £250. The household provides the carer's food and a private room. Because the carer lives in, the weekly cost can compare well with many hours of visiting care, and you get company day and night. We confirm the exact cost after a free call.

Yes. A live-in carer needs a private bedroom with a bed, storage and ideally Wi-Fi, plus use of a bathroom and the kitchen. The household provides the carer's food or a small food allowance. Carers also take a daily break of around two hours, usually while your loved one rests or a family member is around, and we help you plan for it. When the carer has time off, we arrange a matched relief carer so care continues without a gap.

We start with personality and interests: whether your loved one would enjoy a chatty companion or a quieter one, someone who loves gardening, walking, cooking or the crossword, and whether a driver would help. We also consider practical needs and any pets in the home. You meet the carers we suggest and you choose. If the match isn't right after the first few days, we'll find someone else.

Medicare People currently provides introductory live-in care services. We have submitted our application to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and intend to introduce a fully managed live-in care service following registration. As an introductory agency, we find, check and introduce self-employed live-in carers, and the family agrees the day-to-day care with the carer directly. Before any introduction we carry out right-to-work, DBS and reference checks and interview every carer. Our team stays in touch after the carer starts, arranges relief cover for breaks and holidays, and finds a replacement carer if the match isn't working.