Live-in care after a hospital stay
A carer at home on the day your loved one is discharged, helping them settle, recover and rebuild their confidence.
Coming home from hospital, safely
Discharge from hospital can happen quickly, and families are often told only a day or two before. It is a stressful time to arrange care.
After a fall, an operation or an illness, many older people are ready to leave hospital but not yet ready to manage alone at home. Without support, there is a real risk of another fall or readmission.
A live-in carer bridges that gap. They can be at home on the day of discharge, help your loved one settle in, and provide one-to-one support while they get their strength back. For some people that is a few weeks; for others, it becomes the long-term answer that lets them stay at home for good.
The sooner you call us, the more we can do. Ring us with the expected discharge date as soon as the ward mentions it, and we will start matching a carer straight away.
How a live-in carer helps after discharge
Ready on the day
A carer at home when your loved one arrives, with the house warm and the fridge stocked.
Rebuilding confidence
Steady support moving about the home, following any advice from the physiotherapist or occupational therapist.
Following the discharge plan
Medication prompts from the discharge letter, help with exercises, and getting to follow-up appointments.
Eating well
Nourishing meals and regular drinks, which help recovery and reduce the risk of infections.
Personal care
Help with washing, dressing and the bathroom until your loved one can manage again.
Spotting warning signs
Noticing if someone is becoming unwell, confused or less mobile, and getting help early.
What hospital discharge care at home looks like
- Day one
- Settling in: unpacking, a proper meal, medication from the discharge letter, and an early night.
- First week
- Gentle routines, help with personal care and exercises, and support at the GP or follow-up appointments.
- Weeks two to six
- Building independence step by step, doing more together and less for them.
- After that
- Some people no longer need a carer. Others decide to keep live-in care as a long-term arrangement.
The carer needs a private bedroom and takes a two-hour break each day. We arrange cover for breaks and holidays.
What a live-in carer can and can't do
Our live-in carers are experienced, trained and checked, but they are carers, not nurses. They provide practical and personal support, and work alongside the GP, district nurses and other professionals who look after the clinical side.
A live-in carer can help with
- Being there on discharge day
- Medication prompts from the discharge letter
- Help with walking and transfers
- Washing, dressing and personal care
- Cooking and shopping
- Encouraging physio exercises
- Accompanying to follow-up appointments
- Keeping the family updated
A live-in carer doesn't
- Wound care, dressings or injections (district nurses provide these)
- Managing catheters or other clinical equipment
- Changing medication
- Working through the night as well as the day
What to ask the ward before discharge
Ask the ward or discharge team for the expected discharge date, a copy of the discharge letter and medication list, and what support has been arranged. Ask whether any equipment, such as a frame, commode or raised toilet seat, will be delivered before your loved one gets home.
In England, people leaving hospital may be offered short-term intermediate care or reablement, which is free for up to six weeks. Live-in care can work alongside this, or take over once it ends.
If your loved one’s needs are mainly health-related, ask whether they should be assessed for NHS Continuing Healthcare. We are also happy to talk to discharge coordinators and social workers directly, with your consent.
Professionals can refer directly too. Discharge teams, social workers and case managers can find out how on our professional referrals page.
How much does live-in hospital discharge care cost?
The exact cost depends on the support needed, including how often the carer is woken at night. We will give you a clear figure on the first call, with no obligation.
Help may be available from your local council, NHS Continuing Healthcare and Attendance Allowance. See the full cost breakdown → Ways to fund live-in care →
Live-in hospital discharge care across the South East
We arrange live-in hospital discharge care across Surrey, Kent, West Sussex and East Sussex. See the map of areas we cover →
Hospital discharge care at home: your questions
How quickly can a carer start after discharge?
Often within 48 hours of your first call, and sometimes the same day for an urgent discharge. Call us as soon as the ward mentions a possible date, even if it isn't confirmed. We'll ask about needs, mobility and equipment, introduce a matched carer, and agree a start that fits the discharge plan. Having care ready can help the hospital discharge your loved one safely and sooner.
Can live-in care be short term?
Yes. Many families arrange live-in care for a few weeks after a hospital stay while their loved one regains strength and confidence, then step down to less support or stop altogether. Short-term live-in care is charged at the same weekly rate as long-term care, and there are no long contracts. We'll review how things are going with you each week and plan the next step together.
Who arranges the equipment we need at home?
Usually the hospital's occupational therapy team or the local community equipment service arranges items such as a hospital bed, commode, frame or raised toilet seat. Ask the ward before discharge so equipment arrives in time. The carer will help your loved one use it safely and tell you if anything isn't working. If needs change after a few days, the GP or community therapists can arrange a review.
Can the carer do wound dressings?
No. Wound care, injections and other clinical tasks are carried out by district nurses, who can visit while the carer provides the day-to-day support. The carer will keep an eye on the wound area for signs such as redness, swelling or pain, keep the dressing clean and dry during washing, and contact the nurses or GP promptly if they're worried.
How much does live-in care after hospital cost?
Live-in care after a hospital stay 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. Short-term care is charged at the same weekly rate, with no long contracts. Free reablement support from the council or NHS funding may also be available for the first few weeks, so ask the discharge team before your loved one leaves hospital. We confirm your exact cost after a free call.
What support does the carer give in the first few days home?
The first few days home are often the hardest. The carer helps your loved one settle in, gets up and dressed with them, prepares nourishing meals and drinks, prompts medication from the discharge letter, and helps with moving around safely. They also keep a note of how your loved one is eating, sleeping and moving, so the family and GP can see how recovery is going and spot problems early.
Are you regulated by the CQC?
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.
Talk to us about hospital discharge care at home
Free, no-obligation advice. Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm.
Not sure yet? Take our 2-minute check →
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.