Live-in care questions, answered

With our introductory service, the carer’s fee starts from £1,090 a week, paid directly to the carer, plus our weekly agency fee of £250 and a one-off registration fee of £250. Care for a couple starts from £1,350 a week plus the agency fee, and more complex needs, such as advanced dementia, cost a little more. The household provides the carer’s food and a private room. There are no hourly charges and no long contracts, and we confirm your exact cost after a free call. Live-in care costs →

For one person it is often similar to a good residential care home in the South East, and usually cheaper than a nursing home. For couples it is usually much cheaper than two care home places. It also means one-to-one support from a carer who is there day and night, rather than a share of a carer’s time, and the value of the home isn’t counted in the council’s financial assessment when care is at home. Our cost calculator compares the options with your own figures. Live-in care vs care homes →

Possibly. Councils may contribute after a care needs assessment and a financial assessment, usually where savings are below £23,250, and the home your loved one lives in isn’t counted when care is at home. People whose needs are mainly health-related may qualify for NHS Continuing Healthcare, which pays in full and isn’t means-tested. Attendance Allowance, which is also not means-tested, can help with costs too. Many families combine more than one route. Funding live-in care →

No. We explain every cost before anything is agreed, and confirm it in writing. Beyond the carer’s weekly fee, our agency fee and the one-off registration fee, the household provides the carer’s food, or a food allowance, and a private room. We will also talk through any extras that may apply, such as travel for replacement carers or higher rates on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, so there are no surprises later.

Live-in care is a form of 24-hour home care: a carer lives in the home and is there day and night, with a daily break of around two hours and rest at night. It is usually the most affordable way to have someone at home around the clock. If someone needs active help several times every night, a live-in carer alone isn’t enough, and we will talk through adding a night carer. Unlike visiting care, there are no gaps between visits. Home care, live-in care or a care home? →

Every carer is interviewed face to face and has an enhanced DBS check, two verified references, and identity and right to work checks before we introduce them. We also check their care experience and core training, such as moving and handling and safeguarding, and keep their checks up to date while they work with families through us. We share each carer’s profile with you, so you can see their experience before you choose. Our carers →

Yes. We introduce carers matched to your loved one’s needs, personality and interests, and you can speak to or meet them before deciding. You always choose. It helps to ask about anything that matters to your family, such as dementia experience, cooking, driving or pets. If the carer isn’t the right fit once they start, tell us and we will introduce someone else as quickly as we can.

A live-in carer helps with personal care, washing and dressing, cooking and mealtimes, medication prompts, help getting around safely, housework and laundry, appointments and trips out, and, just as importantly, company. They follow your loved one’s routine rather than a rota, and are there day and night to notice changes early and keep the family informed. Clinical tasks stay with the GP and district nurses. What does a live-in carer do? →

No. Live-in carers do not carry out clinical tasks such as injections, wound care, catheter changes or managing feeding tubes. District nurses, GPs and other health professionals continue to provide this care alongside the carer, and visit as usual. The carer can prompt and help with routine medication, notice when something seems wrong, and contact the health team promptly. If needs become mainly clinical, we will help you think through the right options.

Around two hours off each day, usually while your loved one rests or a family member is around, proper rest at night, and regular time off between placements, often after two to six weeks. We help you plan breaks and arrange a matched replacement carer for longer breaks and holidays, ideally the same relief carer each time, so your loved one sees familiar faces and care continues without a gap.

Tell us as soon as something doesn’t feel right. We will talk it through with you and the carer, and often a small change, such as a different routine, sorts things out. If needed, we will introduce a different carer as quickly as we can. A good match matters more than anything, and we would much rather hear early than have your family put up with an arrangement that isn’t right.

Often, yes, when both people’s needs can be met safely by one carer. The care plan is built around each partner, so one may need help with washing, dressing and medication while the other mainly needs company and a break from caring. It keeps a couple together at home, with their routines and pets, and is usually much cheaper than two care home places. If both need a lot of help, we will talk honestly about whether a second carer is needed. Live-in care for couples →

Care for a couple starts from £1,350 a week for the carer’s fee, 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. That is usually much less than two care home places. We will confirm exact costs after talking through both people’s needs, including any help needed at night. Live-in care costs →

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 carers, and the family agrees the day-to-day care with the carer directly. We still carry out right-to-work, DBS and reference checks and interview every carer before any introduction.

With introductory care, we find and introduce a self-employed carer and your family agrees the arrangement directly with them, so the family stays closely involved and usually pays less. With managed care, the agency employs or directs the carer, plans and reviews the care, supervises the carer and is regulated by the CQC for that care, so the family takes on less responsibility, usually at a higher cost. Managed vs introductory care →

We intend to introduce a fully managed live-in care service following CQC registration. Until then, we provide introductory live-in care, and many families start with that so their loved one gets support straight away. If you would like to be told when our managed service launches, let us know when you call or fill in the form, and we will contact you with details and prices. Managed live-in care →