Live-in nursing FAQs

Live-in nursing is specialist form of care and support, where a registered nurse resides in your home to provide one-to-one medical care around-the-clock.  Our live-in nursing service means you can avoid a prolonged stay in hospital or a disruptive move to a nursing home or hospice to get the specialist care you need.  Our live-in nurses are qualified and trained to provide support with medical conditions and chronic health concerns, recovery and rehabilitation following surgery, and sensitive and compassionate end-of-life care.

Live-in nursing is suitable for individuals, or couples with complex medical conditions, such as:

• Acute medical needs requiring clinical supervision

• Post-surgical care and rehabilitation

• Chronic illness and disease management

• Neurological conditions, such as dementia and Parkinson’s

• Palliative and end-of-life care

• Recovery support following a hospital stay to transition back into daily life

All our nurses are thoroughly vetted through a rigorous process, including:

• Right-to-Work and an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks

• Registration verification with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)

• Employment reference checks to ensure a minimum or three years post-registration experience in an acute, community or palliative care setting

• Face-to-face interviews to assess suitability, professionalism and compassion.

Whilst we provide you with a couple of nurse profiles to review, our experienced Nurse Consultants will recommend the best match based on your specific needs and preferences.  We have over 60 years’ experience of matching suitable nurses that meet our clients’ needs to ensure they have the right level of nursing care.

A live-in nurse typically works from 8am to 8pm, with a two-hour break during the day.

A live-in nurse can provide up to two-night calls per night, which are chargeable.  If you require more frequent nighttime assistance, your dedicated Nurse Consultant will review your nursing needs, and we may recommend a dedicated night carer, or nurse.

You’ll need to provide a private bedroom with basic amenities, including a bed and somewhere to store their clothes.  They need to have access to a bathroom, but this does not need to be a dedicated bathroom.  Nurses will also need access to WIFI to enable them to communicate and complete administration tasks.  Most families provide food for our nurse, but if this is not possible, we ask for an £8 per day allowance if the nurse needs to make their own provision.

Our live-in nursing service is highly flexible.  Care plans are regularly reviewed by your nurse and dedicated Nurse Consultant to ensure it accurately reflects the clinical support you require working closely with healthcare professionals involved in your care.

Nurses are trained to respond effectively to emergencies, such as contacting emergency services, notifying family members, and following agreed protocols to ensure your safety. Our live-in nursing service is fully managed, so you have around-the-clock emergency support from our office-based nursing team. 

The minimum booking for our live-in nursing service is four days.

Live-in nursing can typically be arranged within 24-48 hours, depending on the complexity of your needs.

Live-in nursing care costs from £2,780 per week, subject to an assessment of you or your loved one’s needs.

When considering funding live-in nursing, it is worth noting that in the UK, healthcare is provided free at the point of delivery.  If you need live-in nursing at home due to an identified health care need, you may be eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare Funding.  This funding is managed and provided by your local Integrated Care Board (ICB), formerly the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).   This funding covers the treatment, management or prevention of diseases, illnesses, injuries or disabilities, as well as aftercare those living with these conditions.  At Consultus Care and Nursing, our Nursing Co-ordinators are here to guide you through your options, so you can make the right choice for you or your loved one.

It starts with a friendly discussion with a member of our experienced Care Advisory team who will talk through your requirements and expectations and guide you as to the suitability of our services.  Should you wish to proceed, a Nurse Co-ordinator will discuss with you, and your family and other healthcare professionals involved in your care, your specific healthcare needs to ensure we match you with the perfect nurse to meet your needs.  Once the contractual paperwork is concluded a service start date is agreed.