Written and reviewed by the Oath Healthcare care team · CQC-regulated provider · Last reviewed: 11 June 2026
“How much does live-in care actually cost?” If you’ve just typed that into Google, you’re probably also being asked it by your sister, your dad’s GP, and your own partner — and you’ve discovered that no two answers seem to agree. Some sites say £900/week, some say £2,500, some refuse to publish prices at all. The honest answer depends on six things, all of which we’ll walk through here.
This is the plain-English UK 2026 pricing guide. Real numbers — not “from POA” or “let’s discuss.” What live-in care costs by type (standard, dementia, complex, palliative), what 24-hour care adds, what you actually get for the money, and how to spot a provider who’s hiding their pricing because they know it’s not competitive.
Quick answer: UK live-in care costs from £1,100/week for standard live-in, £1,200/week for dementia live-in, £1,300/week for complex live-in, and £1,350/week for palliative live-in. 24-hour care (two carers split-shift, or live-in plus waking night cover) runs £1,800–£2,500/week. NHS Continuing Healthcare can fund 100% for those who qualify. Free no-obligation quote with Oath Healthcare — call 01223 755887.
What live-in care costs in the UK (2026)
| Type of live-in care | From (per week) | What’s included |
|---|---|---|
| Standard live-in care | £1,100/week | One carer, full days & sleep-in nights, all personal care |
| Dementia live-in care | £1,200/week | Dementia-specialist carer, same-carer continuity |
| Complex live-in care | £1,300/week | PEG, stoma, ventilator, MND, spinal injury |
| Palliative live-in care | £1,350/week | End-of-life, symptom management, often NHS-funded |
| Hospital discharge live-in | £1,150/week | Short-term, post-discharge recovery |
| 24-hour two-carer care | £1,800–£2,500/week | Two carers split-shift OR live-in + waking night |
These are Oath Healthcare’s published 2026 rates. Most other UK providers fall in similar bands; some charge 10–25% more, and many refuse to publish at all. If a provider says “we’ll discuss pricing on a call,” that almost always means their rates are higher than published competitors.
What live-in care actually costs — by type
Standard live-in care: from £1,100/week
One trained carer lives in the home full-time, usually on a 1–2 week rotation with a second carer for cover. They handle personal care (washing, dressing, medication, meals), light household help, companionship, and sleep-in nights (with up to 2 wake-ups available). This is the most common type of live-in care and suits the majority of older adults with moderate support needs.
What’s included for £1,100/week: the carer’s fee, their accommodation, their food. What’s not included: anything beyond standard personal care (e.g. waking nights), weekend/bank holiday loadings (typically +10–20%), and any specialist equipment.
Dementia live-in care: from £1,200/week
The £100/week uplift over standard live-in pays for dementia-specialist training, more rigorous carer matching (continuity matters more for dementia clients), and additional handover support. For families navigating early-to-mid stage dementia, this is usually the right starting point. See our full dementia care at home FAQs for what to expect.
Complex live-in care: from £1,300/week
For people with high-acuity needs — PEG feeding, tracheostomy care, ventilator support, motor neurone disease, advanced multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, brain injury. Carers have specialist clinical training with registered nurse oversight. Often 100% funded by NHS Continuing Healthcare. See complex care explained for the full picture.
Palliative live-in care: from £1,350/week
End-of-life care delivered at home. Trained carers, registered nurse clinical oversight, liaison with hospice and district nursing teams. Almost always fully NHS-funded via Fast-Track Continuing Healthcare — typically approved within 48 hours.
How much does 24-hour care cost?
This is one of the most confused pricing questions in UK home care. “24-hour care” can mean two different things, and the cost is very different depending on which one:
- Live-in care alone: One carer in the home, available 24 hours but sleeping at night. Costs £1,100–£1,350/week depending on complexity. This is what “live-in care” usually means, and many providers loosely call it “24-hour care.”
- True 24-hour care (two carers): Either two carers on split-shift (one days, one nights), or a live-in carer plus a separate waking-night carer. Required when night-time needs are too high for a single live-in to safely manage. Costs £1,800–£2,500/week.
When to choose true 24-hour over standard live-in:
- Dementia with frequent wandering or sundowning
- People needing repositioning more than 2x per night to prevent pressure damage
- Active ventilator monitoring overnight
- Frequent seizures or unpredictable medical events
- End-of-life care with ongoing symptom management
For deeper detail, see 24-hour care at home explained.
Live-in care cost vs care home cost — the real comparison
| Live-in care at home | Residential care home | Nursing home | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical UK cost | £1,100–£1,350/week | £1,200–£1,700/week | £1,400–£2,500/week |
| 1-to-1 attention | ✓ Always | ~ 1 staff : 6–8 residents | ~ 1 nurse : 8+ residents |
| Same surroundings | ✓ Own home | ✗ New environment | ✗ New environment |
| Family access | Unlimited | Visiting hours | Visiting hours |
| Personalised routine | ✓ | Limited | Limited |
| Infection risk | Low | Higher | Highest |
The numbers are similar. The difference is quality of life, 1-to-1 attention, and whether the person stays in surroundings they know. For full breakdown, see care home vs home care comparison.
Who pays for live-in care?
1. NHS Continuing Healthcare — the underused route
If the person’s care needs are primarily about healthcare (rather than social care), the NHS funds 100% — regardless of savings. Worth checking even if you don’t think you’d qualify. Around 30% of dementia patients and most people with complex or end-of-life needs are eligible, but uptake is much lower because families don’t know to apply.
Use the free 60-second eligibility checker and see the full CHC checklist for what counts.
2. Local council — means-tested
If savings/assets are below £23,250 in England (2026 threshold), the council contributes after a needs assessment. The contribution is on a sliding scale based on what the person can afford. Importantly, for home care (unlike residential care), the value of the person’s own home is not counted as an asset.
3. Self-funded
Most live-in care for self-funded families costs £1,100–£1,350/week, or £57,200–£70,200 per year. For comparison, a residential care home runs £62,400–£104,000 per year. Many self-funded families find that live-in care is actually cheaper than residential — particularly when the person owns their home (which a residential care home would require liquidating).
4. Direct payments + Attendance Allowance
Attendance Allowance (£72.65 or £108.55/week for over-65s, 2026) is not means-tested and can be put towards care costs. PIP is the under-65 equivalent. For full funding breakdown, see how to pay for home care UK.
What you should expect for £1,100/week
If you’re paying around £1,100/week for standard live-in care, this is what you should expect — and what you should walk away from if it’s missing:
- CQC Rated Good or Outstanding — verify on the CQC website. Anything less, find another provider.
- DBS-checked carer with training appropriate to the needs
- 1–2 carers covering the rotation — not 4+ different faces a month
- Written, person-specific care plan — not a template
- Family communication — daily notes via app or written diary
- Out-of-hours support 24/7 — a named person to call at 11pm
- A named local manager — not a head office two hours away
- Pricing transparency — written quote, no surprise charges, no “we’ll discuss”
What pushes the price up — and what doesn’t
Common reasons a quote comes in higher than the published “from” price:
- Couples care — most providers charge ~30% more for caring for two people in the same home (still much cheaper than two separate placements)
- Waking nights or frequent night calls — pushes you into 24-hour two-carer territory
- Specific clinical training — e.g. PEG, ventilator, advanced dementia behavioural needs
- Remote rural location — travel costs can add £50–£100/week
- Weekend / bank holiday loadings — typically +10–20% industry-wide
- Pets or unusual home setup — adds carer-matching complexity, sometimes a small uplift
What shouldn’t push the price up: needing two carers for short physical assists (most providers include this), needing the carer to drive the client (most providers include this with appropriate insurance), or needing the care plan reviewed mid-placement (standard).
Why some providers won’t publish their prices
If a provider’s website says “prices on application” or “call to discuss,” the most common reasons are:
- Their published rate would be 20%+ above competitors and they need a sales call to justify it
- They want to qualify how much you can afford before quoting
- They’re inflating quotes for clients perceived as wealthier
Pricing transparency is the single clearest signal of provider confidence. The 8-point Oath qualifier — used throughout this site — includes pricing transparency as criterion #8 for a reason.
Frequently asked questions
How much does live-in care cost in the UK?
UK live-in care costs from £1,100/week for standard live-in, £1,200/week for dementia live-in, £1,300/week for complex live-in, and £1,350/week for palliative live-in. Final quote depends on specific needs, location, and any weekend/bank holiday loadings.
How much does 24-hour live-in care cost?
True 24-hour care with two carers (split-shift, or live-in plus waking night) costs £1,800–£2,500/week. Standard live-in care alone — one carer present 24 hours with sleep-in nights — costs £1,100–£1,350/week and is often what providers loosely call “24-hour care.” The choice between them depends on how active night-time needs are.
Is live-in care cheaper than a care home?
Often, yes. Live-in care at £1,100–£1,350/week compares to residential care homes at £1,200–£1,700/week and nursing homes at £1,400–£2,500/week. For self-funded families who own their home (which residential care would require liquidating), live-in care is usually significantly cheaper overall, with the added benefit of 1-to-1 attention rather than 1 carer to 6–8 residents.
Does the NHS pay for live-in care?
Yes, through NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) when the person’s needs are primarily about healthcare rather than social care. CHC funds 100% — regardless of savings. About 30% of dementia patients and most people with complex or end-of-life conditions qualify, but uptake is low because families don’t know to apply.
What does live-in care include for £1,100/week?
Standard £1,100/week live-in care should include: one trained DBS-checked carer in the home full-time, personal care (washing, dressing, meals, medication), light household help, companionship, and sleep-in nights with up to 2 wake-ups. Not included: waking nights, weekend/bank holiday loadings (typically +10–20%), or any specialist clinical training.
How much does live-in dementia care cost?
Live-in dementia care costs from £1,200/week — a £100/week uplift over standard live-in, reflecting dementia-specialist training, more rigorous carer matching for continuity, and additional handover support. For more advanced dementia with frequent night-time needs, 24-hour two-carer dementia care runs £1,800–£2,500/week.
Why do some providers not publish their live-in care prices?
Usually because their published rate would be 20%+ above competitors and they need a sales call to justify it, or because they want to qualify what the family can afford before quoting. Pricing transparency is the single clearest signal of provider confidence — “let’s discuss pricing” is generally a flag.
Get a free written quote
Oath Healthcare provides written, no-obligation quotes within 24 hours of the first call. CQC Rated Good. Prices published up-front. DBS-checked carers with same-carer continuity. Speak to a local care advisor:
- Cambridge: 01223 755887 — covering Cambridgeshire, Ely, Huntingdon, Newmarket, St Neots
- Suffolk: 01223 755887 — covering Bury St Edmunds, Ipswich, Sudbury, Mildenhall
- Redbridge & East London: 020 3949 4333 — covering Ilford, Wanstead, Woodford, Romford
- South Essex: 01268 206550 — covering Basildon, Southend, Canvey Island, Brentwood
- Nottingham: 0115 865 6333 — covering West Bridgford, Beeston, Mansfield, Hucknall