What is Live-in Care?

At Consultus Care and Nursing, we believe that the best place to receive care is in the comfort and familiarity of your own home. Live-in Care is a highly personalised service designed to support you or your loved one right where you feel happiest and most secure. But what exactly is live-in care, and how can it benefit you?

Consultus carer with client

What is Live-in Care?


Live-in Care is when a dedicated, professional carer moves into your home to provide one-to-one care and support. This type of care is ideal for those who need support with the activities and tasks of daily life, care with health or complex conditions that impact a person’s ability to live independently, or simply for someone who needs companionship and social support.


Live-in Care is an attractive option for couples who both need assistance, where one carer can support them both to live well together, avoiding separation from a move to a care home. For a live-in care arrangement to work, you will need to have a comfortable bedroom for your carer and access to WIFI to enable them to complete their administrative tasks.


We offer two live-in care services at Consultus, an introductory live-in care service and a fully managed live-in care service. 

Talk to us


We provide exceptional, high-quality Live-in Care services throughout the UK. Call our friendly care consultants today to learn how Consultus Care & Nursing can support you or a loved one. 


What does a Live-in Carer do?


  • Personal care: Get discreet, sensitive assistance with personal routines such as bathing, dressing and continence care.
  • Medication support: Ensuring medications are taken as directed and managing prescription repeats.
  • Meal preparation and cooking: Plan and cook nutritious meals based on dietary needs and preferences, promoting a healthy lifestyle.
  • Housekeeping: Handle light cleaning, laundry, and household chores to maintain a clean and comfortable living environment.
  • Mobility support: Help with walking, transferring from bed to chair, and performing exercises to enhance mobility and prevent falls.
  • Companionship and emotional support: Provide emotional support, engaging conversations, and participate in hobbies and activities to reduce loneliness.
  • Transportation: Assist with running errands, attending medical appointments, and participating in social activities, ensuring safe and reliable transportation.
  • Monitoring health: Observe and report any changes in health or behaviour, coordinating with healthcare professionals as needed.
  • Emergency assistance: Respond promptly to any urgent situations or medical emergencies, providing peace of mind for both the client and their family.
  • Family support: Communicating regularly with family members, keeping them informed about the individual’s well-being and any concerns that arise.
  • Respite for family members: Providing much-needed respite to family members who may also be involved in caring for their loved one, allowing them to take breaks to rest and recharge.

Benefits of Live-in Care

Here are some of the many benefits of live-in care:

  • Comfort and familiarity: Live-in care allows you to remain in your own home, surrounded by familiar surroundings and connections, providing comfort, especially for those with dementia.

  • One-to-one, personalised care: Live-in care offers tailored, individual support, ensuring daily assistance, medical care, and companionship to meet your specific needs and preferences.

  • Independence and dignity: Live-in care helps maintain your independence by providing support where needed while encouraging you to continue enjoying the activities you love.

  • Companionship: Live-in care provides a trusted companion who offers not just practical help but also meaningful, shared experiences to combat loneliness.

  • Peace of mind for families: Families can rest assured knowing their loved ones receive 24-hour care from a fully managed and CQC-regulated service.

  • Continuity of care: Live-in care ensures consistent, personalised care from a familiar team, building trust and security, particularly important for dementia care.

  • Flexible and adaptable: Live-in care seamlessly adjusts to evolving needs, providing the right level of support without disrupting your life.

  • Stay connected to your friends and community: Live-in care allows you to maintain connections with your community and relationships, contributing to overall well-being.

  • Cost-effective option: Live-in care is often more affordable than residential care, allowing you to keep your home and protect family inheritance.

  • Couples stay together: Live-in care enables couples to remain together in their own home, receiving personalised care from the same caregiver at a lower cost than separate care home accommodations.

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All my mother's carers have been fantastic: kind and extremely caring, conscientious and flexible. They and our care manager are very knowledgeable about her condition and circumstances, and always keep me informed. The Consultus Connect app gives detailed day to day updates and allows me to check her bookings. I am so grateful for the support and would highly recommend the agency.

Hannah, August 2024

From the initial meeting through to commencing care Consultus have been thoroughly professional and caring with great understanding and communication. The carers provided for our father have been nothing short of simply wonderful providing great peace of mind for our father and our family.

David, August 2024

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Types of Live-In Care

At Consultus Care and Nursing we offer two types of live in care services;  managed care and introductory care.  Here we explain the difference:

Fully Managed Live-in Care – we handle everything

Our fully managed live-in care service, regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in England, ensures the highest standards of care. We employ, insure, and manage carers directly, providing comprehensive support around-the-clock.

A local Care Consultant will assess your needs and create a personalised care plan, regularly reviewed to adapt to any changes. We offer on-going support to both clients and carers, with our in-house team available 24/7.

Our carers complete award-winning training, endorsed by Skills for Care.  Our comprehensive training covers mandatory modules, but also bespoke courses in specialist conditions, like dementia and palliative care. We ensure our carers are skilled and equipped to provide the care our clients should expect.

This service is ideal for families unable to oversee their loved one's care, offering peace of mind with fully managed, round-the-clock support.

Introductory Live-In Care – we recruit a carer for you

Our introductory live-in care service connects you with a self-employed carer. While we rigorously screen and match carers to your needs, they work independently of us. You will manage and pay the carer directly.

This service requires a local family member or representative to oversee the care arrangement, especially in emergencies. It is unsuitable if the representative lives more than an hour away or if medication administration is needed.

Unlike many competitors, we provide our carers with induction and on-going training. We only recommend this service when families are able to oversee the carer independently, and not for those with complex health concerns.


Talk to us

We provide exceptional, high-quality Live-in Care services throughout the UK. Call our friendly care consultants today to learn how Consultus Care & Nursing can support you or a loved one. 


How does Live-In Care work?

Here is how live-in care with Consultus Care and Nursing typically works if you require our managed care service:

1. Comprehensive assessment

We begin with a thorough assessment of your individual needs and preferences. This helps us understand your daily routines, care and support requirements, and personal interests, ensuring we match you with a carer who can meet all your needs. This assessment will be carried out at your home by our Care Consultant local to you, or in a hospital if you or your loved one is awaiting discharge. 

2. Personalised care plan

Following the assessment we will create a personalised care plan tailored specifically for you. This plan will guide the carer and encompasses all the care and support you need, and how you wish to live your life at home.

3. Dedicated live-in carer

A professional carer, carefully selected to match your needs and preferences will be selected to be your live-in carer.  When the carer takes a break, we will find another suitable carer to cover this.  All our carers are experienced, compassionate, and dedicated to enhancing your quality of life.

4. Continuous support and flexibility

Live-in care offers flexibility. As your needs evolve over time, your care plan will be adjusted to ensure it always meets your needs. Our carers are trained to adapt ensuring you always receive the right level of support.

Here we explain our process for those who feel that an introductory live-in care package is the right choice:

1. Call our friendly Care Advisors

One of our Care Consultants will discuss your support requirements and preferences. We will then complete your registration for our introductory service.


2. Matching the perfect carer

We will then find you a self-employed carer who will best meet your or your loved one’s needs.


3. Assignment booking

Once you are happy that the carer we have proposed will meet your needs, we will book the assignment so they can start providing you with care and support.


Who can benefit From Live-in Care?

Older individuals and couples

As we naturally age, daily tasks and activities can become more difficult. Live-in care from a professional and dedicated carer can help you maintain independence and continue living in your own home, surrounded by familiar comforts and memories.


Support for those living with a disability

Live-in care offers tailored assistance with mobility, personal care, and daily routines, ensuring that those living with disabilities can enjoy a fulfilling and meaningful life. Our carers also provide emotional support and companionship, fostering a sense of inclusion and well-being.


Post operative recovery or rehabilitation

Post-surgery or during recovery from a significant illness, you often need short term but intensive support and rehabilitation. Live-in care provides a seamless transition from hospital to home facilitating a smooth and safe recovery in the comfort of your own home.


Palliative / end-of-life care

For those who need palliative care, live-in carers are trained to deliver compassionate end-of-life care, ensuring comfort and effective management of any pain, whilst providing emotional support to you and your family. By staying at home, you can spend precious time with loved ones in a familiar and comforting environment.


Consultus carer with client

Costs of Live-in Care

The cost of live-in care varies depending on the level of care and support that is required. At Consultus Care & Nursing, we take time to understand which of our live-in care services would best meet you or your loved ones needs.


We can then provide transparent information on the cost of live-in care.  For our managed service our typical weekly fee is £1,575.  For an introduced carer, we can only recommend a fee to pay your self-employed carer. The fee is agreed between you and your carer, and you pay them directly.

Funding Live-in Care