Quality UK home care for your loved one

A home carer provides practical and emotional support to help your loved one live well in the comfort of their own home. Whether it’s a daily check-in or round-the-clock live-in care, they’re there to make everyday life easier and safer.

With Elder, you can even choose a carer who matches their personality, making the experience more comfortable and personal.

When choosing home care, you can hire a private carer, use a managed care agency, or go through an introductory service:

• Private carers offer more choice and flexibility without agency fees, but you’ll be responsible for background checks, contracts, and payments.
• Managed care agencies handle all this for you, providing trained staff and care plans, but at a higher cost and with less flexibility.
• Introductory services like Elder act as a middle ground by pre-screening self-employed carers and managing payments, while you keep control over care arrangements and daily routines.

To help your loved one stay safe and comfortable at home, consider making some simple changes to their living space. This might include rearranging or removing furniture to reduce trip hazards, installing safety features like handrails, ramps, or stairlifts, and adding practical security measures such as automatic cooker shut-offs.

For a detailed look at these options and more, check out our comprehensive guide to home adaptations.

While home care includes essential support with personal care and daily tasks, it typically doesn’t cover medical procedures. The carers on Elder’s platform can help with things like bathing, companionship, and medication reminders, but they’re not trained to carry out clinical tasks. For more information, read this guide.

Yes. At Elder, we encourage all self-employed carers on our platform to have the appropriate insurance. For more details, see our guide to home care and carer insurance.

We know how important it is to feel confident in the carer supporting your loved one. That’s why every self-employed carer on the Elder platform must pass a suitability screening before joining. This includes:

• Professional care experience – Carers must have previous experience in a professional setting, such as a private home, care home, or healthcare facility. We don’t accept personal or family-only care experience.
• Strong communication skills – A good level of written and spoken English is essential.
• Proof of identity – Carers must provide valid photo ID and have the Right to Work in the UK.
• Background checks – All carers must be eligible to pass an enhanced DBS check (England and Wales).
• References – Carers are required to supply at least two verifiable professional references.
• Screening assessments – Each carer completes a series of situational judgment and character assessments to help us understand their approach to care.

Start by creating a free MyElder account – there’s no obligation to proceed. You’ll answer a few questions designed by our clinical team to assess your loved one’s daily living needs and any changes in their health or well-being.

This helps determine if our self-employed carers can provide the right support. If your needs go beyond what our carers offer, we’ll let you know and guide you on the best next steps.

In most cases, in-home care is not free, but there are ways to receive financial assistance. If your loved one needs care, your first step should be to contact their local council for a care needs assessment. If care is recommended, the council will carry out a financial means test to decide whether they’re eligible for help with costs.

Their level of support will depend on their income and assets:

• England: They may qualify for local authority funding if they have savings below £23,250.
• Wales: The savings threshold is £50,000.
• Scotland: They will need savings under £35,000 to be eligible, though some personal care is funded regardless of income.

Even if your loved one is entitled to support, you may still need to contribute to their care costs, especially if your chosen provider charges more than the council’s standard rate. In this case, you or your family would need to cover the difference.

There are a few ways to make care at home more affordable:

• Local council support: Start by requesting a care needs assessment from your loved one’s local council. If your loved one qualifies, they may offer full or partial funding depending on their financial situation. You can also request direct payments to choose your own care provider.
• NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC): If your loved one has ongoing, complex health needs, they may qualify for free NHS-funded care at home. To apply, speak with their GP, district nurse, or hospital discharge team.
• State benefits: Your loved one may also be entitled to benefits such as Attendance Allowance, Pension Credit, Cold Weather Payments, or a reduction in council tax, which can help offset the cost of care.

To explore your options in more detail, visit our Funding your care page for up-to-date information and helpful resources.