How live-in care works
Six clear steps from your first call to a matched carer settled at home, and the support that continues afterwards. No jargon, and no obligation until you choose.
From first call to a carer at home
Most families come to us at a stressful time: after a fall, a hospital stay or a worrying change. We keep the process simple and move at the pace you need.
Read the transcript
Hello, I'm Emma. Arranging live-in care takes six clear steps. Call us, and we'll call back the same working day. We get to know your loved one and their routines. We introduce matched, checked carers, and you choose who feels right. We help you prepare for the carer moving in. Then we keep in touch and arrange cover for breaks, so there are no gaps. Ready to talk it through? Request a call back.
- 1Day 1
Call us or request a call back
Tell us a little about your loved one and what is happening. We call back the same working day, explain how live-in care works and give you clear costs, with no obligation.
- 2Day 1 to 2
We get to know your loved one
We talk through health, routines, likes and dislikes, the home itself, and what a good day looks like. If they are in hospital, we can work around the discharge plan.
- 3Often within 48 hours
We match and introduce carers
We select carers with the right experience and personality, all interviewed and checked (enhanced DBS, references, right to work). We introduce them to you with their background.
- 4You decide
You choose your carer
You speak to or meet the carers we introduce and decide who is right. Your family then agrees the arrangement directly with the self-employed carer.
- 5Start date
The carer moves in
We help you prepare: the carer’s room, a short handover of routines, medication and contacts, and a plan for the first few days.
- 6Every week
Ongoing support
We check in regularly, help plan daily breaks and arrange a replacement carer for time off, so there are no gaps. If needs change, we help you review the arrangement.
Who does what
We are an introductory agency. Here is how responsibilities are shared.
| Medicare People | Your family |
|---|---|
| Find, interview and check carers | Choose the carer you want |
| Introduce matched carers with their background | Agree routines and the arrangement with the carer |
| Explain all costs up front | Pay the carer’s fee to the carer, and our agency fee to us |
| Help plan breaks and arrange replacement carers | Provide the carer’s room and food |
| Stay in touch, and help if needs change | Keep us informed about changes |
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.
Compare our current service with the managed service we plan to offer: introductory live-in care and managed live-in care.
Getting ready for the first day
- The carer’s room. A comfortable private bedroom with somewhere to store belongings.
- A short handover. Daily routines, medication and how it is prompted, GP and pharmacy details, emergency contacts, and what your loved one enjoys.
- Practical bits. Keys, Wi-Fi, how the heating and appliances work, and where things are kept.
- The first week. Expect a settling-in period. Families often visit or call more at the start, and we check in too.
Planning time off so care never stops
A live-in carer needs a daily break of around two hours, and proper rest at night. Many families use the daily break for a visit, a trip out together, or a quiet time when the person enjoys a nap or a favourite programme.
For longer breaks and holidays, we arrange a replacement carer, ideally one your loved one has already met. Planning this from the start means there are no gaps.
If your loved one needs help several times a night, a single live-in carer may not be enough on their own. We will be honest about this and talk through the options.
When it isn’t working, or needs change
If the match isn’t right, tell us early. We will talk it through with you and the carer and, if needed, introduce someone else.
If needs increase, for example after a hospital stay or as dementia progresses, we will help you review the arrangement and, if needed, introduce a carer with different experience.
If needs become clinical, live-in carers can’t take on nursing tasks. District nurses and GPs continue to provide this care, and we will help you think through the right options.
See the conditions we support: dementia, Parkinson’s, end of life, hospital discharge and more.
Questions about getting started
How quickly can live-in care start?
Often within 48 hours once you have chosen a carer, and sometimes sooner for hospital discharges. After your first call we talk through your loved one's needs, shortlist and introduce matched carers, and agree a start date that suits the family. Planned starts are usually arranged within one to two weeks, which gives time for a proper handover. We will always be honest about timing, especially if a particular skill or area takes longer to match.
Do we have to sign a long contract?
No. There is no long tie-in. Live-in care can be arranged for a few weeks of respite, a short period after a hospital stay, or for the long term, and you can change the arrangement as needs change. We will explain the notice period, fees and what happens at the end of a placement clearly before anything is agreed, and confirm everything in writing, so the family knows exactly where it stands.
What do we need to provide for the carer?
A private bedroom with a bed and storage, access to a bathroom and the kitchen, Wi-Fi if possible, and food during their stay or a food allowance. The carer also needs a daily break of around two hours. Some families find it helpful to give the carer a key, a list of useful contacts and space in the fridge. We will talk all of this through with you before the carer arrives, so nothing is a surprise on either side.
What happens when the carer takes a break?
Carers need around two hours off each day, usually while your loved one rests or a family member is around, and regular time off between placements. For longer breaks and holidays, we arrange a matched replacement carer, ideally the same relief carer each time, so care continues without a gap. We plan breaks with you in advance and arrange a handover, so the relief carer knows your loved one's routine.
What if it isn’t working?
Tell us as soon as something doesn’t feel right, whether it is a personality clash, a change in your loved one’s needs or a practical problem. We will talk it through with you and the carer, and often a small change sorts it 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.
How much does it cost?
The carer’s fee 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. The exact cost depends on your loved one’s needs, especially at night, and we confirm it before anything is agreed. Funding such as Attendance Allowance may help. See our full cost guide and cost calculator for details.
Ready to talk it through?
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