Organising care can be overwhelming. We're here to help.
Find a 5-star local carer for the support you want, when you need it.
Used by 6,000+ families across Great Britain
Welcome to Elder:
Need care quickly? Choose one of these options to get started
We've helped 6,000 families with questions like:
- What type of care is best?
- How do I find the right person for the job?
- What happens if my situation changes?
Our friendly care advisors will explain all your options and help you make an informed decision.
Find top-rated, local visiting carers
We’ll help you pick a self-employed carer with the skills and experience you’re looking for.
- Provide 2+ verifiable references
- Have a minimum of 6 months experience
- Have a clean enhanced DBS/PVG
90% of our customers are very satisfied with the first carer they select.
“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, Manchester
“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.”
Matthew, Liverpool
“[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, Newcastle
“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, Bolton
"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, London
“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, Lancaster
“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, Sheffield
“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, Birmingham
Choose the visiting support you need
Use your online account to share your care needs. You can shape your visits to match your invidiual needs.
Why choose Elder for Visiting care?
We are the highest-rated UK care company on Trustpilot with 4.8 stars.
You can book as little as a single hour to make sure it’s the right fit.
Strong relationships are key to quality care. So we keep the number of carers you work with to a minimum.
Carers can start within 24 hours, and sometimes even on the same day.
Cost of visiting care
Families pay between £20 and £27 per hour, depending on the carer’s experience.
You might be eligible for funding – find information from local carers’ groups, your GP, social worker or health visitor.
- If you need care for extended periods of time, there are discounts.
- You can book as little as 1 hour.
When is visiting care suitable?
- If you've recently been discharged from hospital
- If you're living with dementia, loneliness or forgetfulness
- If you have limited mobility
Still unsure? We’ll advise you on the most suitable solution for your personal situation.
We are the highest-rated UK care company on Trustpilot
FAQ's
Visiting care can be confusing, and sometimes difficult to talk
about. We’ve answered some common questions below.
Every carer must pass our interview process and provide:
– At least 2 verifiable references
– Examples of at least 6 months’ experience
– An enhanced DBS certificate
As an introductory provider, we are unable to provide bespoke training. However, through our carer loyalty programme, carers who actively find work through our platform have access to a third-party online learning platform, where they can enhance their skills.
We match based on the skills and experience you tell us you need, for example, if your loved one has dementia, we’ll only match you to self-employed carers with experience of looking after someone with the condition. We consistently reevaluate which carers we work with based on feedback from families.
We’ll always send you an introductory video of each carer you’re matched with – where they’ll tell you about their background, what they enjoy about being a carer, and their hobbies and interests.
Once you’ve chosen your carer, we’re happy to set up a virtual meeting too, such as a Zoom call so that you can get to know them better before they arrive.
We have a large nationwide network of 6000+ independent care professionals, and have connected families to carers in 123 of 124 postcode areas in Great Britain. This means we can usually get care in place within 24 to 48 hours if your needs are urgent.
Yes if the medications are non-controlled. However carers can prompt and remind, but aren’t allowed to administer controlled drugs and injections. If this is a hard requirement, it might make financial sense for you to have a nurse visit in addition to the main carer, rather than hiring a clinically-trained carer.
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.
No. We do our best to keep the number of carers that visit you to a minimum as we recognise the importance of routine and consistency to the elderly. Plus it allows them to do a better job, and they take pride in that.
Yes, many of our customers use funding from their local authority to cover all or part of their care costs. Often customers choose to receive their funding as a direct payment, so that they’re free to choose their own the carer provider, rather than the council picking one for them.
If you’ve not started the process of applying for local authority funding, we have mapped out the full process here.
If you or a loved one is living with an on-going health condition, it’s worth applying for NHS Continuing Healthcare too. If you meet the criteria, this form of funding will cover every penny of your care costs. However, bear in mind that this funding is reserved for complex conditions which may fall out of the scope of what a self-employed carer can provide.
No, you can book as little as 1 hour. However if you require a large number of hours, we offer live-in care which might suit you better. Our care advisors can explain it all, just give us a call if you’re unsure.
Elder is an introductory agency so we’re not CQC regulated. We’re here to help match and introduce you to a self-employed care professional, and help the ongoing relationship run smoothly. You can learn more about our status here.
Not having the status allows us to keep our prices affordable, and we still go to great lengths to ensure the quality of carers – as described above, as well as in our safety and trust guide.