Types Of Live-In Care
24 hour care offers continuous, round the clock support at home for people who need help during the day and night. Typically, live-in care involves a team of 2-3 caregivers rotating to provide constant supervision, ensuring safety and support at all times. It promotes independence, safety and comfort in familiar surroundings.
At Certain Care, we tailor support to personal needs so individuals can live well at home with dignity and reassurance. The two primary options for 24 hour care at home are live-in care and hourly (or split-shift) care, allowing flexibility to best suit the needs of your aging loved ones. 24 hour care supports the wellbeing of clients by providing companionship that combats loneliness and boosts mental and emotional health, as loneliness is a common issue for this group.
What Types of Live-in Care Are Available?
Live-in care services range from full care to short term recovery support and emotional companionship. Each type meets different needs, and the right option depends on health, mobility, lifestyle and personal preference. Care plans for live-in care are tailored to accommodate unique needs, fostering trust and comfort for each individual.
Below, we explore each type available at Certain Care with clear advantages and disadvantages.
24 Hour Care
24 hour care provides complete support from a professional carer who lives in the home. Hourly care for 24 hour support typically involves a team of caregivers working in shifts to provide constant, awake supervision, with caregivers expected to remain awake during the night shift to assist the care recipient if needed.
It includes personal care, mobility help, household tasks, medication support and emotional companionship. Home health aides typically provide medical assistance such as bathing, dressing, and medication management, while a companion caregiver focuses on non-medical, social, and emotional support to improve quality of life and reduce social isolation.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Constant support and reassurance | More expensive than lighter care options |
| One to one personalised attention | Requires adjustment to sharing the home |
| Familiar daily routines maintained | May need a spare room for the carer |
Explore our dedicated 24 hour care service page.
Convalescent Care
Convalescent care supports recovery after surgery, illness or injury. A live-in carer helps with mobility, rest, wound care, meals and everyday tasks to reduce strain during healing.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Encourages faster recovery at home | Short term support only |
| Reduces risk of complications or falls | May need follow-on care afterward |
| Provides reassurance and routine | Recovery pace varies by individual |
Intermediate Care
Intermediate care helps people transition safely from hospital to home. It focuses on rebuilding strength, mobility and confidence over a short period.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Helps individuals return home sooner | Limited to a fixed duration |
| Promotes independence and recovery | May require reassessment if needs continue |
| Reduces hospital readmission | Progress can vary |
Respite Care
Respite care temporarily replaces a family carer, ensuring uninterrupted support for the individual while giving loved ones time to rest, recover or take a break.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Protects family carers from burnout | Routine changes may feel disruptive |
| Maintains consistent care quality | Not a long term solution |
| Provides flexibility for families | Short notice breaks may limit planning |
Companionship Care
Companionship care offers emotional support, social interaction and daily help for people who feel isolated or want friendly company. It may include shared hobbies, outings and conversational support.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Reduces loneliness and isolation | Not suitable for advanced medical needs |
| Helps maintain independence | May need combined support for complex conditions |
| Supports wellbeing and routine | Less structured than live-in care |
Learn more about companionship care.
Domiciliary Care
Domiciliary care offers scheduled daily visits rather than 24 hour live-in care. It suits individuals who need help with specific tasks at certain times of the day. Domiciliary care can also be arranged for just a few hours per week, providing flexibility to match the individual’s needs. The cost of homemaker services or companion care services may be less than average median figures depending on your location and the number of hours needed.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Cost effective and flexible | No overnight or continual support |
| Encourages independence | Time gaps between visits |
| Tailored to specific routines | Not suitable for high risk individuals |
Overnight Care
Overnight care provides support during the night for people who are anxious, prone to falls or require monitoring due to a health condition. For patients with dementia, overnight caregivers offer specialised assistance, including medication reminders and help with medications, to ensure safety and wellbeing.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Provides reassurance during night time hours | Only covers overnight needs |
| Reduces fall risks and confusion | Often paired with daytime support |
| Ideal for dementia or mobility issues | Cost varies depending on waking or sleeping nights |
View our overnight care options.
Stroke Care
Stroke care supports rehabilitation at home, helping individuals regain mobility, confidence and independence. Carers assist with exercises, medication and daily routines.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Familiar environment reduces stress | Recovery progress varies |
| Personalised routines support recovery | May require specialist input over time |
| Helps maintain consistency and safety | Changing needs require ongoing review |
Complex Care
Complex care is designed for people with advanced medical or neurological conditions. When care needs become more complex, a higher level of support may be required, often involving medical professionals such as registered nurses or other trained healthcare workers to deliver specialised medical care. Carers are trained to handle equipment, medication, and bespoke support plans.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Allows individuals to remain at home safely | Can involve multiple professionals |
| Tailored to specific medical needs | Requires detailed care planning |
| Reduces hospital visits | More intensive than standard 24 hour home care |
Emergency Home Care
Emergency home care is arranged quickly for sudden illness, unexpected hospital discharge or carer breakdown. Agencies can quickly arrange emergency home care and manage logistics for families in urgent situations, ensuring a rapid response and coordinated support. Support is put in place rapidly to stabilise the situation.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Immediate support when needed most | Limited preparation time initially |
| Prevents accidents or deterioration | Care plan may evolve rapidly |
| Reduces stress for families | Short term until reviewed |
Personal Care
Personal care supports daily hygiene and dignity with tasks such as bathing, washing, dressing, grooming, toileting and mobility.
Personal care in 24 hour care includes assistance with bathing, grooming, dressing, toileting, feeding, and mobility assistance.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Maintains comfort, confidence and wellbeing | Not enough alone for complex needs |
| Encourages independence | May require combined support |
| Supports a consistent daily routine | Does not replace full 24 hour care |
How Does Live-in Care Compare to Care Homes?
Live-in care allows people to stay at home, surrounded by memories, personal belongings and a familiar routine. Care homes and other living facilities provide support for residents, but may not offer the same personalised attention as live-in care. Care homes offer communal living and structured timetables. Many families prefer live-in care because it ensures one-to-one attention and a lifestyle tailored to the individual, rather than daily group schedules.
Care homes can offer social activities and regular supervision for their residents, but they cannot match the personalised nature of 24 hour care provided at home. Live-in care also reduces upheaval, particularly for those living with dementia or anxiety.
What Do Live-in Carers Do Each Day?
Live-in carers have a range of duties, supporting personal care, housekeeping, household tasks, medication management, medication prompts, mobility, meal preparation, and meaningful social interaction. Their presence reduces risks, provides companionship and ensures someone is available whenever support is needed. Companionship in live-in care includes conversation, games, and activities to combat loneliness. This continuity is particularly valuable for those requiring 24 hour care, as it removes the stress of shift changes or unfamiliar faces.
What Financial Help Is Available for 24 Hour Care?
Funding live-in care can feel overwhelming, but there are several clear routes to make support at home affordable. Costs vary depending on the level of help needed, and many people start by exploring local authority funding, which is based on both a care needs assessment and a financial assessment. Depending on your savings, you may receive full funding, partial support, or be classed as a self-funder. Direct Payments or Personal Budgets allow you to manage this funding yourself and top it up if you choose.
You may also be eligible for grants for home health care, including NHS Continuing Healthcare for those with complex medical needs, as well as condition-specific charity grants. Benefits such as Attendance Allowance or PIP can also contribute to care costs.
For those who do not qualify for public support, private options like savings, pensions, equity release, or care annuities can help cover long-term care. Combining different funding methods often provides the most flexible and cost-effective solution.
At Certain Care, we guide you through every available option so you can confidently choose the most suitable and sustainable way to fund live-in care.
Explore the Types of Live-in Care with Certain Care
Live-in care is a flexible, personal and empowering way to stay independent at home. Our experts at Certain Care manage the logistics and care plans for each of our clients. Whether you are seeking 24 hour care, emotional support, overnight reassurance or help recovering from illness or injury, we ensure every service is tailored around each individual person and their unique needs.
To learn more or discuss the right type of care for your needs, speak to our team today and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have, as well as arrange a consultation for you and your loved ones.
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Testimonials
Certain Care provided us with a live in carer for respite cover for my aunt whilst we were out of the country and the carer they supplied us with made a great impression her (quite a feat if you knew her!) I will be using their services again in the near future. Highly recommended.
This service was excellent in every way providing effective, efficient and empathetic home care. The manager arranges everything and liaises with the local hospital about discharge and maintains good contact with the cared for, the relatives and the carers. The carers are excellent and manage to offer top quality care whilst establishing and maintaining a good, not patronising relationship with their client. I was pleasantly surprised at how cost effective this was compared to a good quality care home and it allowed my father to spent his final weeks in familiar surroundings. In 5 plus years of caring for my parents I have never felt so supported and wish that I had known about it sooner .
Certain Care provided care for a family friend who has Alzheimers and other health conditions. The staff were friendly and helpful and very dedicated even when she was a ‘bad day’. A very comforting and reassuring service. P.
My search for a care package that met a budget, was able to accommodate a terminal parent and a critically disabled parent at the same time, with the target of keeping them in their own home, at first sight looked to be a very difficult one. However, with Certain Care, it was possible not only to get a very professional live in Carer, who had all the expected respect and compassion for an aging couple’s personal needs, but also managed their ongoing medical issues and changing OT requirements with an outstanding degree of professionalism. The Carer was able to work effectively with the already installed care team, and as that team’s requirement altered, was able to adjust to the changing routines, suggesting improvements in comfort for my parents along the way. I would like to thank Certain Care for its understanding and ability to deal with a very difficult period of our lives in an effective and caring way. I would very much recommend this company to families who find themselves in these kinds of difficult circumstances, and are looking for the best possible solution to their needs. Warm regards, G Langham. Ashford, Kent.
We received a wonderful live-in carer to help my elderly disabled mother continue living in her own home. The carer was experienced and able to provide a service that was personalised to Mum’s needs and preferences. Both carer and client received excellent support from the Certain Care Manager, who was easy to contact and who offered helpful solutions to difficulties as they arose. Certain Care Limited have created a "joined-up, working together" type environment, which allowed my mother to receive the highest standards of care at a fraction of the cost of the local nursing homes.
My mum isn’t the easiest to get along with. Certain Care provided 2 carers that she got on with – a first !. Always professional, reasonable rates and great carers – thank you very much !
My sister and I have been very happy with Certain Care for our father’s needs over the past 5 months. the care worker’s unfailing patience, consideration and kind attention has made a huge difference to our father’s well being. Staff have been punctual, efficient, and accommodating. They have chosen places of interest when taking our father out and about in his wheelchair and have been totally reliable – we have never worried when our father was in their care, whether inside or outside the house. One member of staff was the first live-in attendant we have had, and their friendly and polite manner made it easy for us to live alongside them. This member of staff has voluntarily helped with odd jobs in the house, and has been particularly helpful in taming the garden. We would not hesitate to recommend Certain Care to anyone needing their services. Thank you so very much, we are glad we found you.
I used Certain Care to look after my aunt, who is a blind elderly lady. I cannot recommend the care and attention we received enough. I was kept informed of all her needs and there were always carers available to assist when change over of carers was needed. As I live overseas, I received frequent phone calls and emails about my aunt’s condition. We were made feel as if we were the only people using the service. I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Certain Care for all of the above reasons. Well done to all the team.
We were new clients of Certain Care, but, can really recommend the care and attention to detail provided. If we did not have the team looking after the best interests of my mum, she would not be able to remain in her own home.
