Search and connect with self-employed carers

We have connected over 6,000 families and self-employed carers across the UK. Start your search today.

Find a carerCall Us

A live-in carer and a customer talking in the kitchen of her home
  • Personalised 5* support

  • Faster placement

  • Clear and transparent pricing

  • Intelligent carer matching

    A photo of Piotr
    Piotr

    King's Lynn and West Norfolk

    12 years

    Piotr has just started with us and he is already worth his weight in gold- handl...

    A photo of Emily
    Emily

    Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

    22 years

    Emily was very different from Mum's usual carer but Mum seemed perfectly happy w...

    A photo of Andrzej
    Andrzej

    Highland

    9 years

    was great because he was organised, reliable and helpful

    A photo of Annie
    Annie

    Havering

    9 years

    Our Dad has been very happy to have Annie looking after him for the past 2 weeks...

    A photo of Samkeliso
    Samkeliso

    Rotherham

    14 years

    Sam is simply excellent. It is simple as that.

    A photo of Amie
    Amie

    Newham

    16 years

    Amie fitted in really well and it was a smooth handover, she was very positive a...

    A photo of Benedicta
    Benedicta

    South Derbyshire

    9 years

    Excellent carer - Benedicta came at short notice and settled in very quickly. Lo...

    A photo of Janine
    Janine

    County Durham

    7 years

    Janine is an amazing carer in every way and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her...

    A photo of Omolola
    Omolola

    Northumberland

    9 years

    Lola only stayed with my parents in law for a week, as a relief to their usual ...

    A photo of Elisabete
    Elisabete

    Braintree

    10 years

    Elisabete is a fantastic carer in every way. Her care and compassion is amazing....

    A photo of Kristina
    Kristina

    Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

    6 years

    Kristina was chatty, kind, personable and communicated to mum and me and we woul...

    A photo of Rose
    Rose

    Dartford

    21 years

    Rose provided care for an initial short period which then extended into nearly a...

    A photo of Michael
    Michael

    Fife

    24 years

    Michael came at short notice and was an immediate help.

    A photo of Frashier
    Frashier

    Southend-on-Sea

    25 years

    To my understanding my mother really like Frashier . and they got on well toget...

    A photo of Hazel
    Hazel

    Bromley

    16 years

    Hazel's exceptional interpersonal skills, calm and positive approach make her a ...

    A photo of Vera
    Vera

    Castle Point

    8 years

    Vera is a great support to Mum. She has a wonderfully cheery disposition and is ...

    A photo of Charles
    Charles

    Greenwich

    8 years

    Charles was very attentive and caring. Dad enjoyed having him as his carer so al...

    A photo of Naresh
    Naresh

    Leicester

    18 years

    Naresh stepped in with no notice when another carer became unwell and was only w...

    A photo of Eleanor Temitope
    Eleanor Temitope

    Brentwood

    8 years

    Excellent carer

    A photo of Benedicta
    Benedicta

    Croydon

    22 years

    Bennie is a whirlwind cleaner. All my drawers in the kitchen, including the frid...

An illustration of a car driving to a house

To connect and search for carers, we just need a bit more info...

Once you have an Elder account, you'll be able to connect and chat to carers that match your needs.

Time to complete:

2 minutes

Check availability in your areaWhat type of care are you looking for?

What our customers have to say

Elder is there to support you when you need it most.

“Patience is a breath of fresh air! She is lively, cheerful and fun and brings joy to my in-laws' home. Nothing is too much trouble. She makes my mother-in-law feel like a princess.”

Louise Elder Customer

“David has been 400% better than I could ever have imagined. I have seen many carers over the years but David is in a break away Premier league. He is attentive, thoughtful, constantly looking to improve the situation.”

David Elder Customer

“[Our carer] never underestimated mum's sharp intellect and desire to hold on to her independence. She and mum chatted about songs mum had always enjoyed, and she helped to create a special playlist for her."

Jane Elder Customer

“My mother has dementia and Maria quickly gained her trust...Maria cooks her delicious meals from scratch and keeps my mother busy with new card games. I have never seen my mother so happy.”

Alice Elder Customer

“She was a very friendly capable caring lady. My husband thought the world of her and has asked me if he can have her care for him the next time I am away which means a lot to me.”

Elizabeth Elder Customer

"Marko has taken the trouble to understand Ken's complicated needs, has become a good friend for Ken and is restoring some fun to Ken's life. For that we cannot thank him enough."

Alan Elder Customer

“Josephine has gone above and beyond. Every Wednesday she cooks a big meal and sets the table for Alison, her son Donald and his wife Annette, which is the highlight of the week and something they all really look forward to.”

Kyla Elder Customer

“Katie has made life easier and better for my gran from the moment she arrived. She has fitted in so well with our wee family and makes my gran feel special.”

Angela Elder Customer

MyElder is the only platform you need to arrange and manage care.

Screenshot of arranging care via the Elder app
Screenshot of reviewing carers via the Elder app
Screenshot of reviewing carers via the Elder app

MyElder is the only platform you need to arrange and manage care.

Capture and manage recipient details

Keep healthcare details up-to-date and in one place to ensure safe and sufficient care delivery for your loved one.

  • Easily update details when things change
  • Allow carers to fully understand care needs
  • Clinical team on hand to review

Review and communicate with carers

Review suitable carers interested in providing care for your loved one. Use chat to talk to them, arrange video calls or even meet in person

  • Review previous experience and intro videos
  • Background checks carried out by Elder
  • Communicate directly to Elder and Carers

Manage care around your schedule

Request and edit care placements within the platform at ease. Have consistency of care moving forward with rotations among previous carers if needed.

  • Manage care schedule to request additional care
  • View your loved one’s care schedule easily
  • Invite family to collaborate and view care in place

Get everything in place in 24 hours

01

Share
your care request

Tell us what you’re looking for using our simple request form, and build your care profile to give us a complete picture of the care that’s needed.

02

Select
the right carer

You’ll start receiving profiles of your uniquely matched carers in 24 hours. Chat online to carers you’d like to know better, or arrange a phone or video call.

03

Prepare
for care

Use MyElder to communicate with your chosen carer and the Elder support team, manage your care schedule, and set up secure payment.

Find the right carer with our ElderMatch technology

Ensuring safe care delivery

ElderMatch technology uses the information you provide in your Care Profile to reach out to carers with the exact skills and experience you need.

Start Care Profile

Illustration of a heart

A companion you can count on

The technology recommends local carers, and looks at interests and hobbies to find a strong personality fit too.

Search for carers

Abstract illustration of a cog

Chat to your matches

Once you've reviewed your carers, get to know your favourites even better using our chat feature. Ask questions, or arrange a phone or video call to feel confident in your choice.

Search for carers

Abstract illustration of 2 payment cards

You get to pick and talk to the carer beforehand, so you have someone who is a right fit. The carer gets to ask questions, and you can build a trusted relationship before they even begin care.

Sarah, Elder Customer

The carers have real affection for my parents. They also laugh and joke a lot, which is great especially with my dad…he hasn’t lost his spark even though he is older, and still loves a joke!

Jan, Elder Customer

It has made my own life a lot easier, as I know Jennifer our carer will just sort things out. It’s a nice balance between being consulted about the important decisions, but not having to do it all yourself.

Jill, Elder Customer

We have been very impressed with Elder. They have been really good at finding carers. All the carers have been very very good, kind, organised and helpful. The liaison with Elder has been excellent right from our initial contact.

Margo, Elder Customer

FAQs

Still have questions?

0333 920 3648

Yes. The self-employed carers on Elder’s platform provide personal care, which may include –

  • toileting and continence
  • washing and bathing
  • getting dressed
  • oral care
  • hair care and grooming
  • medication prompting

Some people may feel uncomfortable accepting help with intimate personal care tasks. If this is the case, it’s really important to detail how much support or supervision is needed, and any measures that may make things more comfortable in your Care request and Care Profile This will ensure your self-employed carer has all the information they need to support you / your loved one.

Please note, the self-employed carers on the Elder platform will not be expected to undertake Stoma care, PEG care, Wound care, Ventilation and oxygen support, e.g BiPAP or CPAP Support, Specialist drug administration, including Controlled Drug Administration, Covert Medication Administration, Glucose readings via finger pricks, Injections, Pessaries, Enemas, Suppositories, or Catheterisation

For more information, visit our quick guide for customers.

Of course. Live-in carers move into your loved one's home to offer 24-hour care – even if that means getting up occasionally in the middle of the night.

They'll help create routines around bedtime, ensuring better quality sleep for improved wellbeing. They might also get your loved one to the toilet if they need it, or put their mind at ease if they're confused.

If you begin to need more regular or intensive night-time support, you may benefit from a dedicated night carer, to ensure your day time live-in carer is getting enough rest.

A carer who moves into your loved one's home with them will need their own space in which to sleep and spend time when they are not actually providing care. Most commonly, a carer will have a bedroom of their own, but if this is not practical, you could adapt a reception room or study for them to use – as long as it's a private space i.e not a thoroughfare to another room or in regular use by other family members during the day.

The live-in carer will not need a bathroom of their own, although this would be preferable. They will need clean and functional bathroom facilities that they can use, and if sharing a bathroom, there should be somewhere for them to store toiletries.

We also recommend setting up a WiFi connection if you don't have one already. The internet is useful for many things, including keeping in touch with Elder, which can be even more important if you live in a rural location with poor phone signal.

Once you've got in touch and told us your care requirements, We'll review this information carefully and uniquely match you to a selection of carers we think would be a great fit for you.

You'll have time to review a detailed profile for each carer you're matched with in your MyElder account, as well as an introductory video where they'll talk about what they enjoy about being a carer and their experience, as well as their hobbies and interests. Then you simply need to confirm which carer you like best. You can also speak directly to them using the chat feature within MyElder, or arrange a phone call.

When someone new moves into the home, it can take a bit of time to settle in and build a routine that you're all comfortable with. With Elder, your needs will always shape your care schedule so that it's personal to you.

Usually, your carer will stay with you for around four weeks (although this is flexible depending on your needs), before taking their first week off to rest and recharge. We'll work with you to help you secure a temporary carer you're happy with, who can move in and provide respite care while your main carer is away. They'll arrive between 12-2pm on their first day for a handover with your main carer.

When your main carer returns, they'll typically be in place for another three to four weeks. This working pattern will usually then continue, so everyone can get into a comfortable and familiar routine.

With Elder you'll be set up with your own MyElder online account. As well as being where you can tell us all about your care requirements, you can also use your account to -

  • Add other family members to get them involved in the arrangements
  • Review carer profiles and select your carer
  • View your schedule and plan handover days when your carer takes a break
  • Read updates from your carer with the Care logs feature
  • Keep care information updated and update any changes to your care needs
  • Easily update payment information and track your invoices

Yes, we give you the choice if you'd prefer a male or female carer, simply let us know if you or your loved one has a preference.

Yes. Every carer we work with must have a good level of written and spoken English.

If you'd prefer a carer who also speaks a second language, simply let us know.

With Elder you'll be set up with your own MyElder online account. As well as being where you can tell us all about your care requirements, you can also use your account to -

  • Add other family members to get them involved in the arrangements
  • Review carer profiles and select your carer
  • View your schedule and plan handover days when your carer takes a break
  • Read updates from your carer with the Care logs feature
  • Keep care information updated and update any changes to your care needs
  • Easily update payment information and track your invoices

With Elder you'll be set up with your own MyElder online account. As well as being where you can tell us all about your care requirements, you can also use your account to -

  • Add other family members to get them involved in the arrangements
  • Review carer profiles and select your carer
  • View your schedule and plan handover days when your carer takes a break
  • Read updates from your carer with the Care logs feature
  • Keep care information updated and update any changes to your care needs
  • Easily update payment information and track your invoices

With Elder you'll be set up with your own MyElder online account. As well as being where you can tell us all about your care requirements, you can also use your account to -

  • Add other family members to get them involved in the arrangements
  • Review carer profiles and select your carer
  • View your schedule and plan handover days when your carer takes a break
  • Read updates from your carer with the Care logs feature
  • Keep care information updated and update any changes to your care needs
  • Easily update payment information and track your invoices

Together with your carer you can book flexible breaks and rotations within your MyElder account. During break periods, we'll arrange for a respite carer to step in, who has the right skills and experience to continue to provide a high standard of care, until your primary carer returns.