How care with Elder works

If you or someone you know is considering full-time or short-term live-in care with Elder, this page details step by step how to arrange it. 

Getting started
The day-to-day

More choice

Choose your carer from our 4000+ community, and manage care easily with your MyElder account. 

More control

Whether you need care in 24 hours, or are planning ahead, we can help you take control.

More support

Our support specialists and clinical team are here to listen, guide, and empower 7 days a week.

More value

No surcharges, no hidden costs, and no joining fees– just truly personalised care.

1. Book your free consultation

Book a convenient time to speak to someone from our expert care team. During this no-obligation call, they’ll be able to provide advice on navigating the system, discuss how to put funding in place and help you understand whether live-in, short-term, or daily care is suitable.

Book now

2. Complete a care appraisal

Following the call, it’s time to complete our care appraisal. You can do this by creating a free MyElder account via the button below, or by requesting a freepost form during your call. It covers everything from health requirements and medication, to favourite meals and hobbies.

Create your MyElder account

3. Matching process

From the information you provide, our matching team will combine their care knowhow with our matching technology to find the most suitable available carers from our 4000+ community.  

If you’re facing an emergency, we can help you find a carer in 24 hours.

4. Receive profile & video

Once we’ve helped to find a carer we think is suitable, we’ll send their profile directly to your MyElder account. 

Profiles include work history, skills and qualifications, and feedback from other Elder customers. Each profile features a short video too, where carers discuss what they love about being a carer, and their hobbies and interests. You can also request a call with a carer before making a final decision on who you like best. 

prepare a house for live-in care

5. Carer arrives and trial period begins

We’ll arrange travel with the carer. They’ll arrive between 12pm-2pm on the first day of the care package with plenty of time to get to know you, your family, and the local area. If you’re arranging on-going live-in or daily care The first week is what we call the  ‘trial’ week, during which you can adjust and  ensure it works for you.

6. Manage care with MyElder

MyElder organises all information around care in one, accessible place. From updating payment details and reading carer profiles to planning handover days and, crucially, keeping care information  updated.

Our Care Advisors are here for you seven days a week

Big decisions need bespoke support. So, whether you’re ready to take the next step in arranging care, or are just looking for some advice, give our friendly team a call. 

0333 920 3648

How live-in care works day-to-day

Whether you’re arranging a short period of live-in care or something more long-term, you’ll likely have a lot of questions about how it works, what your carer can support with, and what happens when it’s time for them to take a break. 

A live-in carer’s daily  responsibilities will range depending on the level of care that’s required. However, tasks may include any of the following –

  • Household cleaning
  • Help getting dressed
  • Washing and grooming
  • Toileting
  • medication prompting
  • Preparing meals
  • Emergency response
  • Support with mobility
  • Running errands
  • Companionship
 

A familiar and comfortable routine

We do our best to ensure a service user’s care is as consistent as possible. However, like all jobs, time off is needed. Here’s a typical pattern of care –

  • Week one: The service user’s primary carer starts. They live in, working up to ten hours a day, with two hours of breaks taken intermittently throughout the day. This first week is a trial week. If it doesn’t work out, the service user and family are able to cancel.
  • Week two to three: Provided everything is going well, the carer remains in place, supporting the service user with everything required to make the most of life.
  • Week four: The primary carer takes time off. A substitute, ‘respite’ carer moves in. They’ll take care of the service user until the primary carer returns.
  • Week five to seven: The primary 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.

Download our brochure

It only takes a minute and can be a useful way to start care conversations with your family.

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Read more about arranging care

From caregiver tips to starting difficult conversations, our guides can help you face tough topics with confidence.