Live-in care at home

How live-in care works

With live-in care, a caregiver moves into the person's home for an agreed period and becomes part of the household's daily rhythm. They help with the things that come up through the day: getting up and washed, meals, medication reminders, moving about safely, company, light housework and outings.

Because someone is in the home, help doesn't have to wait for the next visit. That's the main difference from visiting care, and the main reason families choose it.

A live-in caregiver is not on duty every minute of the day and night. Good live-in care depends on the caregiver being rested, so the care plan sets out:

• daily rest breaks, and who is with the person during them;
• a full night's sleep, with an agreed plan if the person needs help at night;
• regular time off, planned ahead, with cover arranged.

What the home needs

The caregiver needs a private room to sleep in, access to a bathroom, and somewhere to store food and belongings. During the assessment we look at the accommodation with you and talk about household arrangements, such as meals and the use of the kitchen, so expectations are clear on both sides.

Nursing alongside live-in care

Live-in caregivers provide day-to-day support. If the person needs clinical care, such as medicines given by a nurse, injections, wound care or catheter care, a nurse visits as set out in the plan. The caregiver notices changes, keeps simple records and reports concerns to the nurse and to the family members the person has authorised.

Matching and handovers

Living with someone is personal, so matching matters. We think about the person's needs, language, faith, routine, personality and the household, and we introduce the caregiver before care starts wherever we can.

When one caregiver hands over to another, for time off or at the end of a placement, the handover covers the care plan, recent changes and anything the person has said about how they like things done. The aim is that the person notices as little change as possible.

When live-in care suits

Live-in care is often a good fit when:

• help is needed at many different times of the day, not just at predictable moments;
• the person shouldn't be alone at night, for example after falls or because of confusion;
• most of the family lives abroad or works long hours, and nobody can be nearby every day;
• the person would value company as much as practical help.

It may not be the right choice if there's no private space for a caregiver, or if the person strongly prefers to keep their home to themselves. Starting with visits and building up can help some people get used to having support. Our guide to choosing between the two arrangements has questions to help you think it through.

Cost

The cost of live-in care depends on the person's needs, how often a nurse needs to visit, how breaks and time off are covered, and the length of the placement. We give you a written quote after the assessment and before care starts. Our guide to what affects the cost of care at home explains the main factors.