Choosing between live-in care and visiting (hourly) care depends on needs, routines, budget, and the home environment. Here’s a clear comparison to help you decide.
What visiting care offers. Visiting care brings a trained carer at agreed times—anything from one short visit a week to several calls per day, plus night sits where required. It’s flexible and can scale up or down, covering personal care, meal prep, medication prompts, companionship, and domestic tasks to help people stay independent.
What live-in care offers. A live-in carer moves into the home to provide round-the-clock support and continuity. It suits people who need frequent help day and night, close monitoring, or companionship that a rota of short visits can’t provide. It’s also useful for couples where one partner is the main carer and needs consistent respite.
How to weigh the decision.
- Complexity and frequency of need: Multiple daily tasks, night-time support, or fluctuating conditions (e.g., advanced dementia) may point to live-in; predictable routines with fewer touchpoints may suit visiting care.
- Continuity and rapport: Live-in often provides one or two regular carers; visiting care can still achieve consistency with a well-managed team.
- Home set-up: A live-in carer needs suitable space and access to facilities; visiting care has fewer environmental requirements.
- Budget: NHS guidance cites typical visiting-care costs of about £15–£30 per hour (local rates vary). Live-in usually has a weekly fee that can be cost-effective for high-hour packages; request detailed quotes for an apples-to-apples comparison.
Quality and regulation. In England, providers that deliver personal care must be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Ask for registration details and the latest inspection rating (and how quality is monitored between inspections).
Visit length and dignity. For intimate personal care, very short “flying” visits are inappropriate—ensure call durations are long enough to maintain dignity and unhurried support.
Practical tips to decide:
- Map a “typical week” and mark every moment help is needed (including nights).
- List any clinical tasks (catheters, PEG feeds) and ask about staff training.
- Ask providers about continuity, cover for holidays, and digital tools (e.g., e-care plans and family portals) for transparency.
- Consider a trial period and review after 2–4 weeks; care should adapt as needs change.
- Explore a care needs assessment and, if eligible, local authority contributions or NHS funding streams for complex health needs.
Whichever route you choose, the right provider will co-produce a plan with you, build in reviews, and focus on outcomes that matter—safety, comfort, and independence.