Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about live-in care with Alvaro Care.
What is live-in care?
Live-in care — sometimes called live-in home care — means a professional carer moves into your home to provide round-the-clock support. This allows you to remain in familiar surroundings while receiving personalised, one-to-one care tailored to your specific needs. It is an alternative to moving into a residential care home.
What does live-in care mean?
Live-in care means having a dedicated, trained carer living in your home full-time. They provide 24-hour support including personal care, companionship, meal preparation and medication management, allowing you to maintain your independence and daily routines.
How much does live-in care cost?
Live-in care typically costs from £1,750 to £2,000 per week depending on the level of care required. This is often comparable to a good care home, and for couples sharing a carer it can be significantly cheaper. 24-hour live-in care for complex needs may cost more.
Is live-in care better than a care home?
Many families prefer live-in care because it offers one-to-one attention, continuity of carer, familiar surroundings, the ability to keep pets, and maintain daily routines. It's particularly beneficial for people with dementia or neurological conditions.
What are the benefits of live-in care?
The key benefits of live-in care include one-to-one dedicated attention, staying in your own home, maintaining independence and routines, keeping pets, continuity with the same carer, personalised care plans, and often comparable costs to residential care homes.
What are the disadvantages of live-in care?
Considerations include providing a spare room for your carer, adjusting to someone living in your home, and carer changeovers during rest periods. However, most families find these are far outweighed by the benefits of remaining at home with dedicated support.
How does live-in care work?
You contact us for a free care assessment. We create a personalised care plan, then carefully match you with a carer based on personality, interests and care needs. Your carer moves in and provides daily support on a rota pattern, with a relief carer during their time off.
How many hours is live-in care?
A live-in carer is present 24 hours a day, providing support throughout the day and being available overnight. They typically have a two-hour break daily and follow a rota pattern (e.g. two weeks on, one week off) with a compatible relief carer covering their breaks.
How quickly can you arrange live-in care?
We can typically arrange live-in care within a few days. This allows us time to carry out a thorough care assessment, build a personalised care plan, and carefully match you with the right carer based on your specific needs and preferences.
What qualifications do your carers have?
All our carers are fully vetted with enhanced DBS checks, verified references, and comprehensive training including specialist areas like dementia care, Parkinson's support, palliative care, medication management and first aid.
Can live-in care help with dementia?
Yes. We have specialist dementia-trained carers who understand the unique challenges of Alzheimer's, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia and other memory conditions. Staying in a familiar environment can significantly reduce confusion and anxiety.
What if I don't get on with my carer?
The carer-client relationship is paramount. If for any reason you're not happy with your carer, we will arrange a replacement as quickly as possible at no extra cost.
Do carers have time off?
Yes. Live-in carers typically work a rota pattern (e.g., 2 weeks on, 1 week off). We arrange a compatible relief carer to provide continuity of care during their time off.
Can live-in care support couples?
Absolutely. One carer can often support a couple with differing care needs, allowing them to stay together in their own home. This is often significantly more affordable than two care home placements.
What is companion care?
Live-in companion care provides friendship, social engagement and light support for those who need company and reassurance more than intensive personal care. It's ideal for people who are lonely, isolated or need help with daily tasks.
Do you provide private live-in care?
Yes. Many families choose private, self-funded live-in care for its flexibility. We also help navigate funding options including NHS Continuing Healthcare, local authority support and Attendance Allowance.
What areas do you cover?
We provide live-in care across London (all boroughs), Berkshire, Sussex, Surrey, Kent, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Suffolk, Wiltshire, Dorset and Somerset. Visit our locations page for a full list.
What does a live-in carer actually do?
A live-in carer provides personal care, meal preparation, medication management, companionship, light housekeeping, accompanied outings, and overnight support. Some carers are trained in specialist areas like dementia, Parkinson's, palliative care or neurological conditions.