Discover how live-in care works and if it’s the right choice for you. Explore the benefits, costs, and whether it’s time to consider full-time support in the comfort of your home.
According to the Homecare Association’s 2024 Market Report, more than 10,000 people in England are now benefiting from live-in care.
Valued for its convenience, comfort, and personal service, live-in care has become an attractive option for those with additional needs.
But how does live-in care work? And is it the right choice for you or your loved one?
In this piece, we define what live-in care really involves, from how it works to the benefits and costs, ensuring you have the information you need to decide if it’s the right fit for you.
Live-in care means having a dedicated professional carer living in your home and looking after you full-time. By moving in and living with you, they can provide the compassionate support you need, enabling you to maintain independence within a familiar space.
Besides sharing your space with your live-in carer, there will be no drastic, life-changing alterations. From personal care to managing your medication, preparing your meals, housekeeping or simply giving you some company, live-in care means being there for you day or night.
Adjustable to your daily needs, live-in care is particularly beneficial for people with complex or long-term health issues like dementia, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis or in convalescence after a stroke.
Knowing there is a professional live-in carer dedicated to providing tailored support offers the individual and their loved ones the peace of mind that they’re not alone and cared for around the clock.
Knowing when the time is right for living care can be a sensitive subject for individuals and their families. Before discussing such circumstances, we suggest taking careful measures to ensure the conversation remains as compassionate and empathetic as possible.
Here are some signs to help you be more familiar with when live-in care should be considered:
Despite the challenges for the individual or their family, it’s crucial to be honest about when the time for live-in care is necessary.
Live-in care can offer multiple advantages compared to other care services. It can enable you to:
Beyond the individual, their families, friends and loved ones can gain relief knowing they are constantly comfortable, supported and cared for.
Live-in care works by inviting a professional carer to live with you inside your home, supporting your needs full-time, day and night.
When deciding to choose live-in care, you will have the chance to meet your carer to ensure you like them and feel comfortable in their company. Once happy with your carer, they will move into your home, having their own bedroom and belongings.
After moving in, your live-in carer will perform various responsibilities as part of their service.
When you choose 24-hour in-home care, your carer will fulfil a range of jobs and responsibilities. These live-in care duties and responsibilities include:
Your live-in carer will work a set number of hours each day (10-12) where they can fulfil these duties with breaks in between. However, due to the personal level of full-time support, live-in care will always be on hand for emergencies and nighttime supervision if necessary.
A good way of understanding whether live-in care works for you is to know it works around your lifestyle and preferences. Everyone is different and unique in their needs. Your live-in carer will adopt an approach specific to what you need to keep you comfortable while living a healthy and happy life.
The average price for live-in care in the UK is between £800-£1,600 per week (January 2024), depending on the level of care required, the location and the provider's rates.
In some cases, your live-in care provider may offer flexible packages as part of your individual care plan. At the beginning and throughout your care, the number of hours per day will be established and reviewed throughout the arrangement.
For 30 years, Kemble at Home has provided compassionate personal care for people in their homes. We’re proud that our level of care has been recognised as “outstanding” by the CQC, and we endeavour to continue pushing our standards to not only meet these expectations but exceed them.
Our live-in care services deliver a professional, gentle, and non-intrusive approach, covering Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and the surrounding counties.
For more information about how our live-in care solutions can support you and your family, get in touch today and speak to one of our friendly team members.
