How to compare fairly
A care home fee covers care, a room, food, heating and laundry. Live-in care only covers the carer, so add the cost of keeping the home running and feeding the carer. Once you include those, you are comparing like with like.
How this is calculated
Live-in total = agency price + carer’s food + household bills
That total is compared with the care home fee each week and over 52 weeks. The calculator does not include costs you would have either way, such as clothes, toiletries or a phone, or one-off costs like equipment or adaptations at home.
Beyond the price
- Who funds it changes the picture. Councils do not count the home’s value for care at home, but do for a care home after 12 weeks unless someone qualifying still lives there.
- Couples. One live-in carer can often support two people, while a care home charges for each room.
- Night needs. A live-in carer needs to sleep. If care is needed through the night, you may need a waking night carer as well, which costs more.
Common questions
Is live-in care cheaper than a care home?
For one person it is usually more expensive, because you pay for the carer and keep running the house as well. For a couple who both need care, live-in care can cost less than two care home places. Use your own quotes, because prices vary a lot by area and need.
Does the council pay for live-in care?
It can, as part of care at home, if the person is assessed as needing it and passes the financial assessment. For care at home, the value of the home is not counted, which is a big difference from a care home.
What extra costs come with live-in care?
A private bedroom for the carer, their food, the extra energy and water they use, and cover for the carer’s breaks. Agencies may also charge more for weekends, bank holidays or two carers.
Can I keep Attendance Allowance with live-in care?
Yes. Attendance Allowance carries on with care at home, and with a care home if the person pays the full fees themselves. It usually stops after 28 days in a care home that the council helps to pay for.