Live-In Care vs Care Homes: Costs, Benefits and How to Choose
A detailed comparison of live-in care and care homes in the UK. Weighs up costs, quality, independence, and who each option suits best.
Choosing Between Live-In Care and a Care Home
When someone needs round-the-clock support, families often face a difficult decision: should they stay at home with a live-in carer, or move into a residential care home?
Both options have significant advantages and drawbacks. This guide provides an objective comparison to help you make the right choice for your situation.
Understanding the Options
What Is Live-In Care?
Live-in care means a professional carer moves into the person's home to provide support. The carer typically:
- Lives in a spare room in the home
- Provides care throughout the day
- Is available to respond at night (though not continuously awake)
- Takes breaks during the day (typically 2–3 hours)
- Works on a rota (often 1–2 weeks on, 1–2 weeks off)
Live-in care can be arranged through an introductory agency (you employ the carer directly) or a managed service (the agency employs the carer and manages everything).
What Is Residential Care?
Residential care homes provide accommodation and personal care for people who can no longer live independently. Types include:
| Type | Description | Typical Residents |
|---|---|---|
| Residential care home | Personal care, meals, activities | Older people needing daily support |
| Nursing home | As above, plus qualified nurses on-site 24/7 | People with complex health needs |
| Dementia care home | Specialist environment for memory conditions | People with dementia |
| Dual-registered | Both residential and nursing care | Couples with different needs |
Cost Comparison
Live-In Care Costs (2026)
| Service Type | Weekly Cost | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Introductory agency (you employ carer) | £700–£900 | £36,400–£46,800 |
| Managed live-in care service | £1,200–£1,600 | £62,400–£83,200 |
| Complex or specialist care | £1,500–£2,500+ | £78,000–£130,000+ |
Additional costs to consider:
- Carer's food (typically £30–50 per week)
- Higher utility bills (heating, electricity, water)
- Household maintenance
- Relief carer during holidays
- Agency management fees (for introductory agencies)
Care Home Costs (2026)
| Type | Weekly Cost (Self-Funder) | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Residential care | £800–£1,200 | £41,600–£62,400 |
| Nursing care | £1,000–£1,500 | £52,000–£78,000 |
| Dementia specialist care | £1,100–£1,600 | £57,200–£83,200 |
| Premium care homes | £1,500–£3,000+ | £78,000–£156,000+ |
What's typically included:
- Accommodation and all meals
- Personal care
- Activities and entertainment
- Laundry
- Utilities
Usually extra:
- Hairdressing
- Chiropody
- Newspaper delivery
- Premium room upgrades
- Specialist therapies
Regional Variations
Costs vary significantly by location:
| Region | Residential Care (weekly) | Live-In Care (weekly) |
|---|---|---|
| London & South East | £1,000–£1,600 | £1,300–£1,800 |
| South West | £900–£1,300 | £1,200–£1,500 |
| Midlands | £750–£1,100 | £1,100–£1,400 |
| North of England | £650–£950 | £1,000–£1,300 |
| Wales | £700–£1,000 | £1,000–£1,300 |
| Scotland | £750–£1,100 | £1,100–£1,400 |
Check our Care Prices by location for specific regional data.
Comparing Benefits
Benefits of Live-In Care
Staying at home:
- Familiar surroundings reduce confusion (especially important for dementia)
- Keep beloved pets
- Maintain existing routines
- Stay connected to local community and neighbours
- No need to sort, sell, or store possessions
Personalised attention:
- One-to-one care focused entirely on one person
- Flexible routines—wake and sleep when you want
- Meal choices and preferences easily accommodated
- Consistency of carer builds strong relationships
Independence and control:
- Remain in charge of your own home
- Family can visit freely, stay overnight
- Maintain existing GP, dentist, and other services
- Continue hobbies and interests more easily
For couples:
- Both partners can stay together even with different needs
- One price covers both (though complex needs may cost more)
- Shared care is often more affordable than two care home places
Benefits of Residential Care
Professional environment:
- Purpose-built for accessibility and safety
- Staff available 24/7 (not just one carer)
- Qualified nurses on-site (nursing homes)
- Established emergency procedures
Social opportunities:
- Regular activities and entertainment
- Companionship with other residents
- Reduced isolation and loneliness
- Structured daily programmes
Practical advantages:
- All meals, cleaning, and laundry provided
- No home maintenance worries
- No need to recruit or manage carers
- Holiday and sickness cover built in
For some health conditions:
- Better for complex medical needs requiring multiple staff
- Specialist equipment readily available
- Easier access to visiting healthcare professionals
- Some dementia environments specifically designed to reduce confusion
Comparing Drawbacks
Drawbacks of Live-In Care
Care continuity:
- Carers work rotations—typically 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off
- Finding compatible carers can take time
- Carer sickness or emergency requires backup arrangements
- Managing multiple carers requires coordination
Practical limitations:
- Need a suitable spare room for the carer
- Home may need adaptations (stairlifts, wet rooms)
- Night-time care is responsive, not continuous monitoring
- One carer can't provide moving and handling for some needs
Complex needs:
- May not be suitable for very high medical needs
- Some conditions require two carers for safe handling
- Limited if the person needs 1:1 supervision 24/7 with no breaks
Employer responsibilities (introductory agencies):
- You become the employer with legal obligations
- Payroll, tax, holiday pay, sick pay to manage
- Employment law compliance required
- Insurance responsibilities
Drawbacks of Care Homes
Loss of independence:
- Living by institutional routines
- Shared mealtimes, set activities
- Less privacy than your own home
- Limited personal space
Leaving home:
- Emotional upheaval of leaving familiar surroundings
- Must reduce possessions to fit one room
- Selling or maintaining the family home
- Distance from local friends and community
Quality concerns:
- Staff caring for multiple residents
- High staff turnover in some homes
- Less individual attention
- Quality varies significantly between homes
Cost and control:
- May feel like poor value compared to a large family home
- Less control over who provides care
- Top-up fees for nicer rooms
- Rising fees (typically 5–8% annually)
Decision Factors: When Each Option Works Best
Live-In Care May Be Better If:
✅ The person strongly wants to stay at home
✅ They have a suitable spare room for a carer
✅ They value personalised, one-to-one attention
✅ They have pets they don't want to leave
✅ There's a couple with different care needs
✅ They have dementia and would benefit from familiar surroundings
✅ They want to maintain existing community connections
✅ Family want easy access for visits and overnight stays
A Care Home May Be Better If:
✅ Complex medical needs require nursing care or multiple staff
✅ The person would benefit from more social interaction
✅ The home isn't suitable for care (no spare room, inaccessible)
✅ There's no family nearby to oversee care arrangements
✅ Night-time needs require continuous waking supervision
✅ The person is at high risk of falls requiring immediate two-person response
✅ Financial situation means council funding (councils rarely fund live-in care)
Quality Indicators to Check
For Live-In Care Agencies
- CQC registration: Required for managed services providing personal care
- Carer recruitment process: DBS checks, references, right to work
- Training provided: Care Certificate, specialist training
- Matching process: How they pair carers with clients
- Backup arrangements: What happens if a carer is ill
- Management and support: How carers are supervised
- Reviews and references: From current and past clients
For Care Homes
- CQC rating: Good or Outstanding preferred (check cqc.org.uk)
- Staff-to-resident ratios: Higher is generally better
- Staff turnover: High turnover affects care quality
- Activities programme: Look for varied, engaging activities
- Food quality: Request a meal during your visit
- Atmosphere: Does it feel welcoming and homely?
- Family feedback: Reviews from relatives
Making the Transition
Transitioning to Live-In Care
- Assess needs: Professional care assessment recommended
- Prepare the home: Ensure spare room is suitable, consider adaptations
- Choose an agency: Research, compare, check CQC registration
- Meet potential carers: Introductions before placement starts
- Trial period: Most agencies offer trial periods
- Regular reviews: Check the arrangement is working for everyone
Transitioning to a Care Home
- Research homes: Visit multiple options, check CQC ratings
- Trial stays: Some homes offer short respite stays
- Understand costs: Get written fee information, understand increases
- Involve the person: Their preferences should guide the decision
- Plan the move: Gradual if possible, bring familiar items
- Stay involved: Regular visits help with adjustment
Hybrid Options
You don't have to choose one or the other permanently:
Respite care: Short care home stays to give family or live-in carers a break
Transitional care: Care home stay while recovering from hospital, then home with live-in care
Escalating care: Start with live-in care, move to care home if needs increase
Mixed arrangements: Live-in care with occasional respite stays
Financial Considerations
Funding Routes
Both options can potentially be funded through:
- NHS Continuing Healthcare: Fully funded if eligible (rare for standard live-in care)
- Local authority funding: Means-tested; councils rarely fund live-in care
- Self-funding: Using savings, property equity, or other assets
- Deferred Payment Agreements: For care home fees (secured against property)
Long-Term Costs
Consider:
- Care home fees typically increase 5–8% annually
- Live-in care costs also rise, but may be more negotiable
- Property can continue to grow in value with live-in care
- Care home means potential property sale (unless rented or family occupies)
Use our Care Rate Calculator to understand the components of care costs.
Summary
There's no universally "better" option—the right choice depends on individual circumstances, preferences, and needs.
Key considerations:
- What does the person themselves prefer?
- What are the actual care needs, now and likely future?
- Is the home suitable for care?
- What can be afforded, and how is care funded?
- What support is available from family?
Both live-in care and care homes can provide excellent support. The best choice is the one that meets the individual's needs while respecting their wishes and maintaining their quality of life.
Last updated: January 2026. Costs and availability vary—always get current quotes and visit services before deciding.