Live-in care for Parkinson's at home
One-to-one support from a matched carer who understands Parkinson's: medication on time, steady help moving about, and company through the good days and the harder ones.
Living well at home with Parkinson's
Parkinson's affects everyone differently, and it changes from hour to hour as well as over the years. That is why one-to-one support at home can work so well.
A live-in carer gets to know how Parkinson's affects your loved one: when their medication tends to wear off, which times of day are best for a shower or a walk, and what helps when they 'freeze' in a doorway. That knowledge builds confidence for everyone.
Timing matters with Parkinson's medication. Doses taken late can mean stiffness, slowness and falls. A carer who lives in can prompt every dose at the time it is due, day after day, and notice if something changes so it can be raised with the GP or Parkinson's nurse.
Live-in care also supports the person's partner. Many couples affected by Parkinson's want to stay together at home, and having a carer there can take the pressure off a husband or wife who has been coping alone.
How a live-in carer helps with Parkinson's
Medication on time
Prompts for every dose at the time prescribed, which can help keep symptoms steadier through the day.
Mobility and falls
Steady support getting up, walking and moving around the home, plus help using any walking aids recommended by a physiotherapist.
Personal care
Help with washing, dressing and grooming, giving extra time when movement is slower.
Eating and drinking
Meals prepared to suit any swallowing advice from a speech and language therapist, with time and patience at the table.
Exercise and activity
Encouragement with exercises from the physio, walks, and hobbies that keep body and mind active.
Noticing changes
Keeping an eye on mood, sleep, falls and how medication is working, and letting the family know.
What Parkinson's care at home looks like
- Morning
- Medication first, then time to let it work before help with washing and dressing.
- Daytime
- Exercises, a walk, appointments or time with friends, planned for when symptoms are usually at their best.
- Evening
- A home-cooked meal, medication at the right time, and a relaxed evening together.
- Night
- The carer sleeps in, so help is there if your loved one needs the bathroom or wakes unsettled.
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
- Medication prompts at set times
- Help with walking and transfers
- Washing, dressing and personal care
- Cooking to any texture advice
- Encouraging physio exercises
- Accompanying to appointments
- Housework and shopping
- Company and conversation
A live-in carer doesn't
- Clinical or nursing tasks such as injections or managing pumps
- Changing medication doses
- Physiotherapy itself (they support the exercises you are given)
- Working through the night as well as the day
Part of your loved one's wider Parkinson's team
Most people with Parkinson's are supported by a GP, a neurologist or specialist and often a Parkinson's nurse, physiotherapist, occupational therapist or speech and language therapist. A live-in carer works alongside them, following their advice day to day.
With your permission, the carer can keep a simple diary of how each day went: good spells, falls, sleep and appetite. It is useful information to take to appointments.
Parkinson's UK also offers information and local groups for people with Parkinson's and their families, and we are happy to point you in their direction.
How much does live-in Parkinson's 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 Parkinson's care across the South East
We arrange live-in Parkinson's care across Surrey, Kent, West Sussex and East Sussex. See the map of areas we cover →
Guides and related care
Parkinson's care at home: your questions
Can a live-in carer help with Parkinson's medication?
Yes. Timing matters with Parkinson's medication, and a live-in carer can prompt and help with each dose at the times prescribed, day after day. They keep a simple record and tell you or the Parkinson's nurse if doses are missed or symptoms change. Carers do not change doses or carry out clinical tasks such as injections or apomorphine pumps; those stay with the GP, Parkinson's nurse and specialist team.
Is live-in care suitable for advanced Parkinson's?
Often, yes, as long as needs are not mainly clinical. A live-in carer can help with mobility, transfers, eating and drinking safely, personal care and the 'off' periods when movement is harder. If someone needs nursing care, for example complex equipment or regular clinical procedures, we'll tell you honestly and help you think about the options, such as NHS Continuing Healthcare or a nursing home, rather than promising something that isn't safe.
Can one carer support a couple if one partner has Parkinson's?
Yes. Many couples choose live-in care so they can stay together at home. One carer can support the partner with Parkinson's and help the other partner with lighter tasks, while taking pressure off them as the main family carer. Care for a couple starts from £1,350 a week plus the agency fee. If both partners need a lot of help, we'll talk about whether one carer is enough. See our page on live-in care for couples.
How much does live-in care for Parkinson's cost?
Live-in care for Parkinson's 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 also provides the carer's food and a private room. The exact weekly rate depends on how much help is needed, especially at night, and we confirm it after a free assessment call, with no long contracts. Some people with Parkinson's qualify for Attendance Allowance or NHS Continuing Healthcare. Our cost page and cost calculator show how live-in care compares with a care home.
Can the carer help after a fall?
Carers are trained in moving and handling and follow the falls plan agreed with you and the professionals involved. If your loved one falls and may be hurt, the carer will make them comfortable and call for medical help rather than lifting them, then let the family know. Day to day, the carer reduces the risk of falls by helping with the riskiest moments, such as getting up at night, and keeping walkways clear and well lit.
Can the carer help with swallowing difficulties?
Yes. Many people with Parkinson's develop swallowing difficulties over time. Carers prepare food and drinks to the texture advice given by the speech and language therapist, support your loved one to sit upright and eat slowly, and allow extra time at meals. They'll tell you or the GP straight away if coughing at meals increases or weight drops, so the health team can review.
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 Parkinson's care at home
Free, no-obligation advice. Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm.
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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.