Live-In Care vs Other Care Options
When someone you love begins to need more support, there are several different care options available. These can include live-in care, visiting care, assisted living and care homes.
Each option works differently, and the right choice will depend on the person's care needs, preferences, home environment, finances and the level of support they require.
The table below provides a simple comparison to help you understand the main differences.
Comparing Your Care Options
| Live-In Care | Visiting Care | Assisted Living | Care Home | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Where do you live? | Stay in your own home with a live-in carer. | Stay in your own home and receive visits from care staff. | Move into specialist accommodation designed for independent living with support available. | Move into a residential care setting. |
| Carer available throughout the day? | A live-in carer is present in the home, with appropriate breaks and rest periods. | Support is provided during scheduled visits. | Support is generally available within the development, depending on the scheme. | Staff are available within the care home, according to the home's staffing arrangements. |
| Overnight support | Intermittent overnight support can be included where agreed. | Usually not, unless additional night visits are arranged. | Varies depending on the accommodation and support available. | Overnight staff are normally available, although the level of support varies between homes. |
| One-to-one support | Care can be focused around one individual and their care plan. | During the scheduled visit. | Varies depending on the service and level of support purchased. | Staff support multiple residents, although individual care plans are in place. |
| Stay in your existing home | Yes. | Yes. | No — you normally move into an assisted-living property. | No — you move into the care home. |
| Maintain your existing routines | Care can be organised around the person's usual routines and preferences. | Within the time available during scheduled visits. | You generally have your own accommodation and can maintain your own routines. | Routines are usually organised around the care home's daily schedule. |
| Personal care | Can include washing, dressing, toileting and other agreed personal care. | Can be provided during scheduled visits. | Varies according to the scheme and care package. | Personal care is available according to assessed needs and the home's services. |
| Companionship | Regular companionship throughout the day as part of the agreed care arrangement. | Companionship can be included within visits. | Social activities and communal areas may provide opportunities to meet other residents. | Communal living and organised activities can provide opportunities for social interaction. |
| Meal preparation | Meals and drinks can be prepared according to the person's preferences and care plan. | Can be included during a visit where agreed. | Varies — some schemes provide communal dining or meal services. | Meals are generally provided by the care home. |
| Household support | Light household tasks connected with the person's care and wellbeing. | Can be included within scheduled visits where agreed. | Varies according to the accommodation and service. | Housekeeping arrangements are generally provided by the care home. |
| Shopping and appointments | A carer can provide support with shopping and accompany the person to appointments where agreed. | Can be provided during an allocated visit where appropriate. | Varies depending on the scheme and individual arrangements. | Transport and accompanying services vary between care homes. |
| Pets | You can remain at home with your pets, subject to suitable arrangements for the carer. | You remain at home with your pets. | Varies according to the accommodation's pet policy. | Varies according to the care home's pet policy. |
| Family involvement | Family can remain closely involved in everyday life and care planning. | Family can remain involved. | Family can visit and remain involved. | Family can visit and remain involved, subject to the home's arrangements. |
| Level of independence | Designed to support independence while providing the assistance needed. | Suitable where someone can manage safely between visits. | Designed for people who want their own accommodation with some support available. | Varies according to the person's needs and the type of care home. |
| Suitable for increasing care needs? | Care arrangements can be reviewed as needs change. | May be suitable where needs can be safely met through scheduled visits. | Varies depending on the scheme and the person's changing needs. | Many care homes can support changing needs, although the type and level of care available varies. |
| Change of home required? | No. | No. | Usually yes. | Yes. |
| Privacy and personal space | Your own home remains your private space, with the carer having their own agreed accommodation. | You have your own home and privacy between visits. | You normally have your own apartment or living space. | You normally have your own bedroom, with communal areas shared with other residents. |
Live-In Care
Live-in care allows someone to remain in their own home while having a carer living with them.
This can provide continuity and regular support with personal care, meals, medication, companionship, household tasks and everyday activities.
The care is arranged around the individual and their agreed care plan.
Live-in care may be particularly suitable for someone who wants to remain at home but needs more support than visiting care can provide.
Visiting Care
Visiting care provides support at agreed times during the day.
Visits can range from short calls to longer visits, depending on the person's needs and the care provider's services.
Visiting care can be suitable for someone who is relatively independent but needs assistance with particular parts of their day, such as personal care, medication, meals or getting ready for bed.
If someone needs significant support between visits or requires someone to be present for much of the day, a different care arrangement may need to be considered.
Assisted Living
Assisted living usually involves moving into specialist accommodation where people have their own living space and can maintain a degree of independence, with support or care available depending on the development.
The services offered vary considerably between schemes. Some may provide communal facilities, activities, meals or on-site staff, while others offer care packages that can be arranged separately.
Assisted living can therefore be an option for someone who wants to move to accommodation specifically designed to support independent living while having access to additional help.
Care Homes
Care homes provide accommodation alongside care and support in a residential setting.
Depending on the type of care home, support may include personal care, meals, activities and assistance throughout the day and night.
Some care homes specialise in particular needs, including dementia care or nursing care.
Moving into a care home means leaving the person's existing home, although residents can bring personal belongings and continue to receive visits from family and friends.
Which Option Could Be Right for You?
There isn't a single care option that suits everyone.
When considering your options, it can help to think about:
- How much care is needed?
- Does the person want to remain at home?
- Would they be safe between visiting-care calls?
- How important is maintaining their existing routine?
- Would they enjoy living around other people?
- Do they need support during the night?
- Would their home be suitable for live-in care?
- What level of family support is available?
- What are the costs of each option and what is included?
- Could their care needs change in the future?
Staying at Home with Live-In Care
For people who want to remain in familiar surroundings but need a greater level of support than visiting care can provide, live-in care can provide an alternative to moving into residential accommodation.
At Live In Care Partners, our live-in care service starts from £1,400 per week, with the final cost depending on the individual's care needs and agreed care arrangements.
We take the time to understand the person, their home, their routines and what matters to them.
If you're unsure which type of care may be suitable, speak to Live In Care Partners. We can talk through your circumstances and explain how live-in care could work in your home.
The information above is intended as general guidance. Services, staffing arrangements and costs can vary between providers and individual circumstances.
Still have questions?
Talk to us about your circumstances and we'll explain how our introduction service works.