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Live-in care vs care home

Which care is right for you?

Both give round-the-clock support. The difference is where that support happens, and how much of an ordinary life it leaves intact. Here is what actually changes, day to day.

Side by side

Sixteen things families tell us matter

Live-in care
Care home
Where you live
Their own home, unchanged.
A shared building and a new room.
One-to-one attention
One carer, one person, all day.
Staff shared across many residents.
A familiar face
The same carer, matched to personality.
Rotating shifts and changing staff.
Daily routine
Waking, meals and bedtime stay theirs.
Set by the home's schedule and staffing.
Meals
Their own food, cooked how they like it.
A set menu at set times.
Pets
The dog or cat stays put.
Rarely permitted.
Couples
Partners stay together at home.
Often separated, or charged twice.
Dementia
Familiar rooms and objects aid orientation.
New surroundings can deepen confusion.
Local ties
Same GP, neighbours, shops, place of worship.
Usually a move away from all of it.
Visitors
Family come and go as they please.
Visiting hours and shared lounges.
Independence
It stays their house and their rules.
Living by the home's rules.
Nights
A carer under the same roof.
Night staff covering the whole building.
Getting started
Often within days, with no move.
Waiting on a vacancy, then a move.
Social contact
From the carer and existing friends.
Other residents and daily activities on site, which genuinely helps if loneliness is the main problem.
Equipment
The house may need rails, a hoist or a profiling bed.
Adapted bathrooms and equipment already in place.
The house itself
Bills, repairs and upkeep carry on.
All of that handled for you.

There is no single right answer. A care home can be the better choice where someone is very isolated, where a house cannot practically be adapted, or where keeping a home running is itself the burden. For most families who come to us, though, the question turns out not to be whether care at home is possible, but whether anyone has shown them that it is.

Read more about live-in care
What families say

Families who chose a live-in carer

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What families ask us first

Can live-in care handle complex needs?

Yes. Carers are matched and trained for dementia, Parkinson's, stroke recovery and palliative care, and we work alongside district nurses and specialists where clinical input is needed.

What happens when the live-in carer takes a break?

Carers need a break each day and regular time off. We plan that cover in advance, usually with a second carer the family has already met, so support never stops and nobody is left improvising.

Does the house need to be suitable?

The main requirement is a spare room for the carer. Beyond that most homes need very little. We look at whether rails, a hoist or a profiling bed would help during the free assessment and arrange whatever is needed.

What if needs change over time?

We review the plan regularly and can add hours, bring in a second carer, or move to waking-night support, all without anyone having to move house.

Talk it through with a care manager

A free home visit, with no obligation, to help you weigh up what is right for your family.

Book a free assessmentCall 020 8202 1334