Choosing care
Live-in or visiting care: questions to help you choose
There isn't a right answer for everyone. These questions help you think about what the person actually needs through a whole day and night, not just at the obvious moments.
Families often start by asking "how many hours of care do we need?" It's a good question, but the answer is easier to find if you first think about when help is needed, and what happens in between.
Two arrangements in brief
| At a glance | Visiting care | Live-in care |
|---|---|---|
| Who comes | A caregiver or nurse, for agreed visits | A caregiver who lives in the home, with nurse visits if needed |
| When help is available | At planned times | Through the day, with agreed rest breaks |
| Between visits | The person is alone or with family | Someone is in the home |
| Space needed | None | A private room for the caregiver to sleep |
| Typical reasons | Predictable needs: mornings, evenings, a nursing task | Help at varied times, risk at night, need for company |
Eight questions to ask yourselves
1. What happens at night?
If the person sleeps through, can get to the toilet safely and isn't distressed when they wake, visits may be enough. If they wake confused, try to go out, or have fallen at night, someone in the home is likely to be safer.
2. How often does the person need help, and is it predictable?
Help that happens at set times (getting up, meals, bedtime, a dressing change) fits well into visits. Help that's needed "whenever it's needed", such as reassurance, prompting or help to the toilet several times a day, is harder to plan around visits.
3. Is the person safe on their own between visits?
Think about cooking, medicines, answering the door, getting up from a chair, and what they would do if they felt unwell. If you're worried about the hours in between, say so during the assessment.
4. Who else is around?
Family members living in the house or nearby can share care with visiting caregivers. If most of the family lives abroad or works long hours, live-in care can give everyone more certainty.
5. Is there space for a live-in caregiver?
A live-in caregiver needs a private room to sleep in and a place to keep their belongings. They also need daily rest breaks and time off, which are planned in the care plan.
6. How does the person feel about someone living with them?
Some people welcome the company. Others find it hard to share their home. Their views matter, and a gradual start with visits can help some people get used to support.
7. Does the person need nursing care?
Both arrangements can include nursing tasks. With live-in care, a nurse visits for clinical tasks according to the plan; the live-in caregiver handles daily support.
8. What is sustainable?
Think about the next six months, not just the next week. A family carer who is exhausted, or relatives travelling back and forth from abroad, are signs that the current arrangement may not last. Respite care can also help.
How the assessment helps you decide
During the home care assessment we look at the person's day and night, their home and their health, and talk to you about the family's situation. We'll tell you what we think would work, and why. You don't have to decide on the spot, and you can start with one arrangement and change later as needs change.
This guide is general information, not medical advice for a particular person. Talk to the person's doctor about their health, treatment and medicines.