What does a live-in carer do?
A live-in carer helps with personal care, daily tasks and companionship, supporting your loved one at home safely and independently.
At Elder, we match families with experienced carers for round-the-clock support.
6,000+ Carers
Select from over 6,000 qualified carers
Fast matching
Care can begin in as little as 24 hours
Across Great Britain
We have organised care in every GB postcode
Cost efficient
Costs on average 35% less than traditional services
Which tasks can live-in carers support with?
Personal care
e.g. help with washing, toileting, and prompting medication
Dressing and grooming
e.g. shaving and hairstyling
Meal preparation
e.g. cooking meals to dietary requirements and tastes
Light housekeeping
e.g. vacuuming, keeping surfaces clean and doing laundry
Running errands
e.g. going to the shops or picking up prescriptions
Companionship
e.g. providing company and encouraging hobbies and interests
Pet care
e.g. feeding and exercising pets
Mobility support
e.g. encouraging gentle and suitable exercise
Light gardening
e.g. watering flowers and keeping pathways clear
Admin support
e.g. keeping on top of post, paperwork, and appointments
Medication prompting
e.g. ensuring medication is taken correctly
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
Stoma care
PEG care
Wound care
Can live-in carers provide specialist care?
Many live-in carers are trained or experienced in condition-specific care, including:
- Dementia and Alzheimer’s
- Parkinson’s
- Stroke aftercare and rehabilitation
- Palliative and end-of-life care.
Specialist carers maintain routines, provide reassurance, reduce anxiety, and support memory, all within the familiar home environment.
Live-in carers for dementia patients
A dementia-trained carer can help maintain day-to-day routines, minimise stress, and provide ongoing reassurance, helping your loved one stay at home safely.
Learn more about dementia care.
Dementia support: Real stories of staying home
When dementia progresses, familiar surroundings can make all the difference. Discover how families have used live-in dementia care to bring reassurance, routine, and peace of mind.
How Sue found relief with live-in dementia care for her mum
Sue shares how dementia care helped her mum stay safe and happy in her own home. This allowed Sue to stop being a carer and become a daughter again, providing her with immense peace of mind.
How live-in Alzheimer's care helped Pat stay safe
Penny discusses her mum's experience with Alzheimer's, highlighting why live-in care was the crucial choice for her safety, happiness, and continued quality of life.
How many hours does a live-in carer work?
Live-in carers generally provide daytime support plus overnight presence, with scheduled breaks:
- Active support (daytime): Typically up to 10 hours per day for personal care, meals, companionship, mobility, errands, and household tasks.
- Overnight presence: Carers reside in the home to assist with bathroom visits, reassurance, or unexpected needs.
- Breaks: Even when living on-site, carers have scheduled rest periods to ensure safe, high-quality care.
- Respite care: If a carer needs time off, a qualified respite carer can step in so care continues uninterrupted.
Types of live-in carers available with Elder
Full-time live-in carers
Daily support with overnight presence.
Short-term live-in carers
Ideal for recovery, respite, post-hospital care, or holiday cover.
Night carers
Focused on overnight reassurance, fall prevention, and late-evening support.
Where our live-in carers work
Our carers are available across the UK, including major cities like London, Manchester, Bristol, Brighton and surrounding areas. Enter your city, town or postcode below to find your ideal carer.
Find your ideal carer
We have connected over 5000 families to carers so far.
Why choose Elder for live-in care
Choose the carer
We shortlist carers based on your loved one's unique requirements and let you speak with them to choose the one you like best.
Quality support
Our support and medical teams make organising the right care easy and are available for you 7 days a week.
Easy to try
14-day trial period. No deposits or joining fees. No bank holiday surcharges. Just a competitive price unlocked by our great technology.
FAQs
Still have questions?
0333 920 3648Yes, live-in carers can provide night-time assistance, usually helping with bathroom visits or reassurance if your loved one wakes.
Typically, carers assist with disturbances up to twice per night, around 15 minutes per occurrence. For more intensive overnight care, arrangements such as waking night carers may be recommended.
If your live-in carer needs time off, Elder can arrange a respite carer to maintain continuity of care. Here’s how it works:
- Discuss the time off – Agree with your primary carer on when they’ll take their break.
- Book the dates – Your carer schedules their time off through ElderHub.
- Advertise the period – The dates are listed on ElderHub so other carers can apply to cover.
- Select a replacement – Review applicants and choose a suitable respite carer via MyElder.
Smooth handover – The primary carer shares your loved one’s care needs with the respite carer to ensure a seamless transition.
Yes, we have dementia-trained carers across the UK. Fill our request form at the top of the page and select the type of care you need. Alternatively, you can speak with one of our care advisors and they will advise you on how to find a dementia-trained carer.
Often within 24-hours, and sometimes sooner for urgent care.
Short-term and temporary placements are available – ideal for respite or recovery. If you need assistance, speak to one of our care advisors.
We match based on skills, personality and care needs. You can meet them before care begins. Learn more about how to find the right live-in carer.
More on live-in care
How much does live-in care cost?
Understand the factors that affect live-in care fees, including level of support needed, location, and type of care provided.
How to find the right live-in carer
Read our tips for choosing a qualified carer who fits your loved one's needs, personality, and lifestyle.
Live-in care vs other types of care
Compare live-in care with home care visits, residential care, and nursing homes to find the best option.
Start your care journey
Ready to explore live-in care for your loved one?
Our expert team is ready to guide you.