Live-in care means a carer lives in your home and is on hand throughout the day (with proper breaks and sleep), a one-to-one alternative to moving into a care home that lets couples and pets stay together.
Key facts
- Indicative UK cost: around £1,200–£1,600 a week for one person (2025).
- Often similar in price to a care home, but one-to-one and in your own home.
- A spare room for the carer is needed.
- Regulated by the CQC in England when arranged through an agency.
What live-in care provides
A live-in carer supports daily life: personal care, medication, cooking, light housekeeping, companionship and help getting out. It suits people who need frequent support, want to stay in a familiar home, or are living with conditions like dementia where routine and one-to-one attention matter.
How much does live-in care cost?
There is no official national average, but live-in care agencies typically quote around £1,200–£1,600 a week for one person, rising for complex needs. Caring for a couple usually adds only a few hundred pounds a week rather than doubling, which can make it good value versus two care-home places.
Compare this with care homes, the UK average is about £1,298 a week for residential and £1,535 for nursing care (self-funder data, late 2025). See the UK Care Costs 2026 report for the full picture.
Paying for live-in care
As with other home-based care, your home’s value isn’t counted in the means test. Councils may contribute after a needs and financial assessment, and Attendance Allowance (£76.70 or £114.60 a week, 2026/27) can help. People with the most complex health needs may qualify for fully-funded NHS Continuing Healthcare. See our funding guide.
Questions to ask a live-in care agency
- Is it fully managed (agency employs the carer) or introductory (you become the employer)?
- What are the carer’s daily break and night-time arrangements?
- What happens when your regular carer takes leave?
- What’s the CQC rating, and what’s included in the weekly fee?
Cost ranges are indicative figures from care providers and change over time, always get written quotes. General information only, not financial or care advice. Last reviewed June 2026.