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.