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Have questions about live-in care? Find your answers here.
Get answers to your big questions about live-in care
With live-in care, your loved one gets all the help they need to keep control, choice and independence over their own life, in their own home.
It’s an option chosen by thousands of families across the UK. But, if you’re new to live-in care, it’s likely you have some questions.
How does live-in care work?
Find out more on how arranging care with us works and what live-in carers do.
How much does our service cost?
Take a look at our three pricing plans and get an idea of how much it costs.
How do you pay for live-in care?
With our four-step plan and funding calculator, it’s more affordable than you think.
Who are our live-in carers?
Meet some of our carers, see what motivates them and how we vet them.
What do our customers say?
See how other families have found arranging care with us in these customer stories.
Where can I get my brochure?
Get every detail about live-in care delivered by downloading our 30-page brochure.
Live-in care enables your loved one to grow old around the people, things and routines they love.
As the UK’s leading introductory live-in care agency, we’ll help match your loved one with a self-employed carer based on their individual needs and personality.
They move into the home, doing everything to really help your loved one make the most of later life. To live it where their roots are, where they feel happiest, where they belong – their home.
Live-in care keeps Fred and Jean together after 50 years of marriage.
Live-in care enables Patricia to get out and about in her local community.
Live-in care allowed Peggy to return home after a stay in residential care.
Live-in care keeps 103-year old Dulcie at home, continuing her usual routines.
Live-in care encourages Christine to keep up her passions.
Live-in care has supported Jim’s recovery from a stroke and COVID-19.
There’s a lot at stake. We make sure your carer is someone you can rely on.
It takes a lot to let someone new into your home. We understand they have to be someone your family can trust. That’s why we go to great lengths to ensure all the self-employed carers on our platform are of the highest standard.
12
Is the minimum number of months our professionals have spent as carers.
5
Is the average number of years our carers have spent in the profession.
4%
Is the percentage of those who apply that pass our onboarding process.
We leave nothing to chance. We treat your family’s care with the diligence we’d treat our own.
We take the standard of your carer seriously. From official checks and in-person assessments to the simple, most effective question ‘would I let this person look after my mum?’ With us, you know you’re getting a carer who’s right for the job.
DBS background check
Checking their background to be completely sure you can trust them.
Situational judgement
Testing them to be confident they make the right decisions at the critical moments.
Character assessment
Making sure they have the caring, respectful manner to bring joy to people’s lives.
Care isn’t cheap. But, with the right planning, it’s more affordable than many people think.
We’ll help you get every penny of funding you’re entitled to. That starts with our care funding calculator and continues with expert advice, on-hand at every step.
Remember, with live-in care, property assets are excluded from the local authority means test. It means you’re more likely to get funding and less likely to lose the family home.
NHS personal budgets
NHS Continuing Healthcare is for those with long-term health needs. It pays for your care costs in full. So, you should always check your eligibility for it first.
Council direct payments
Local authority funding is how many people pay for care. Your eligibility is based on your needs and financial circumstances. You can take control of your money with a direct payment.
Assets and savings
If you’re not eligible for state assistance, most families use their savings. Alternatively, you can release equity from your home to cover your care costs.
Get an estimate of the NHS, local authority and private funding you could be entitled to with our calculator.
We’re able to help with a wide range of needs, and can put care in place within 48 hours.
Everyone’s live-in care needs are different. That’s why we work with a variety of specialist care professionals. From intensive dementia care to friendly companionship care, we’ll work with your full family to match you with the most suitable home carer.
✓ Live-in care
Live-in care is our essential package, suitable for a wide range of social care needs.
✓ Dementia care
Dementia care is provided by an expert who has experience and understanding of the condition.
✓ Elderly care
Elderly care is for people in later life and who need a bit of extra support with daily living.
✓ 24-hour care
24-hour care is for people with intense needs who require support every hour of the day.
✓ Stroke care
Stroke care is for stroke survivors who need support with rehabilitation and living well.
✓ Home help
Home help is companionship care for those who want a friendly face around to support them.
Frequently asked questions
Can I meet the carer before they arrive?
We’re unable to arrange for an in-person meeting with the carer before they arrive. This is because the carers we work with come from all corners of the United Kingdom.
However, before you confirm your carer, you’ll receive their full profile and an introductory video so you can get a feel for the type of person they are. Once you’ve confirmed you’re happy with your carer, we’re able to help arrange a call between you and your new carer.
How long does the carer stay at a time?
Typically, carers stay for three to four weeks at a time before taking a break. During the period they’re away, we’ll arrange for a secondary carer to step in. This is usually for a period of one to two weeks.
How quickly can everything be arranged?
Whether your loved one is being discharged from hospital, or your family circumstances have changed quickly, we’re able to respond quickly. Wherever you are in the country, we’re going to be able to put care in place within 48 hours of your call.
However, usually it takes a bit longer. Unless it’s urgent, arranging care isn’t a process you’ll want to rush. We’ll work with you to make sure we get it right.
What facilities will the carer need?
Your home carer will need a spare room and will expect a similar standard of accommodation as if they were renting the room. Before their arrival, you should aim to prepare the spare room so it’s a comfortable space in which your live-in carer can retire to.
Do Elder provide carers with training?
We offer training to all the carers we work with. However, as an introductory agency, we can’t enforce training. Instead, we only work with those who have at least one-year professional care experience. We also undertake a stringently vetted process and in-person assessment to ensure they’re suitable.
Will I need any specialist equipment?
The equipment you require depends completely on your situation. Bear in mind, there is funding available for home adaptations – to make sure you can make it a suitable environment.
However, during a conversation with one of our care planning team, they’ll be able to recommend to point you in the right direction. Read our guide on mobility and independence here.
Do you offer respite care?
Yes, our shortest minimum period of coverage is one week. If you’d like to arrange temporary care, simply the hit the button in the top right-hand corner of the page, and enter your details. One of our team will call you back within 24 hours.
Can I use local authority funding?
Yes, to find out more about the cost of care, read our comprehensive guide to funding here.
Is Elder regulated by the Care Quality Commission?
Elder is defined by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as an Introductory Agency, in line with the Health & Social Care Act 2008. This is a model that falls outside the scope of their regulations.
Our role is to help you find the carer that’s the right for you, but you’re more responsible for managing the carer on a day-to-day basis. A regulated company directly employs carers. The carers we work with are self-employed.
Read more care advice
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Caring for a loved one
Are you looking after a loved one? We’ve used our experience of helping families to produce this detailed guide on best practices forself-employed carer.
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Preparing for care
Yet to decide which care option is best for you? In this guide, we run through the most popular types of care. Comparing live-in care to the care home.
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Living well with dementia
In this guide, Beth Britton – an award-winning dementia campaigner provides you with the essential information and practical tips you need to live well with dementia.
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Staying active and mobile
In this guide, we’ll take a look at the sorts of mobility issues you might expect to arise, explore the importance of diet and how you can improve loved one’s lifestyle right away.
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Getting out and about in later life
A healthier, more fulfilling life begins the moment you step outside. That can be trickier as you get older. Here’s our top advice on making sure you can get out and about.