How much does live-in care cost per week?
Hometouch live-in care typically costs £1,200 to £1,500 a week. See what the price includes, what you pay on top and how care can be funded.
Live-in care with Hometouch typically costs £1,200 to £1,500 a week, which is about £170 to £215 a day. That pays for a vetted, self-employed carer who lives in the home and supports the person day and night, and the exact price depends on the person’s needs. Some costs, such as the carer’s food and travel, sit alongside the weekly price, and this page sets out each one.
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Key insights
- Live-in care with Hometouch typically costs £1,200 to £1,500 a week, about £170 to £215 a day, for both the regulated and introductory services
- The carer’s food and travel sit alongside the weekly price. The family provides food or pays a £40 to £50 weekly allowance
- More complex needs can cost more, so a clinical assessment sets the price for your situation
- Funding is never guaranteed. A council needs assessment is the usual first step
Families comparing options are often weighing live-in care against a care home or visiting care, so this page also covers how the price compares and how care can be funded. Hometouch is a doctor-founded provider, and every figure here is a guide. A clinical assessment sets the price for your situation, and it commits you to nothing.
How much does live-in care cost per week?
Hometouch live-in care typically costs between £1,200 and £1,500 a week, which works out at about £170 to £215 a day. Live-in carers charge a daily rather than an hourly rate. Hometouch offers an introductory service and a CQC-regulated service, and both sit in this range. How the two services differ is set out on our pricing page.
Needs that are more complex can cost more. Someone who needs support several times a night, help with moving and handling, or specialist dementia or end-of-life care asks more of a carer, and that is reflected in the price. A clinical assessment looks at what the person needs and how often, and sets out the price for them before anything is agreed.
What does the weekly price include?
The weekly price pays for a vetted, self-employed carer who lives in the home and supports the person day and night, with agreed breaks. What that support looks like depends on the person, from help with washing and dressing to meals, medication prompts and company. Hometouch’s clinical team oversees care, and carers have ongoing training and support from us.
Food
The family provides the carer’s food, or pays a weekly allowance of £40 to £50 instead.
Travel
Travel works differently for each service. For regulated clients, Hometouch helps with the carer’s travel. For introductory clients, the family covers it, and we suggest up to £50 for the carer travelling to the client only. If you ask the carer to drive you to appointments or on outings, the fuel and expenses are paid by the family.
Breaks and time off
Carers take agreed breaks during the day, and families planning a longer placement should ask Hometouch how time off is covered.
What may a typical week of live-in care cost in total?
This example uses only confirmed figures and is illustrative. It assumes the family pays the food allowance rather than providing the carer’s meals.
| Cost | Introductory service | Regulated service |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly price | £1,200 to £1,500 | £1,200 to £1,500 |
| Carer’s food allowance | £40 to £50 | £40 to £50 |
| Carer’s travel | Up to £50 suggested, paid by the family | Hometouch helps with travel |
| Total a week | About £1,240 to £1,600 | About £1,240 to £1,550 |
Fuel and expenses for outings and appointments are extra in both cases, and the price for someone with complex needs may be higher. Your adviser can give you a figure for your situation.
What affects the price of live-in care?
The person’s needs are among the five things that affect the cost of care, and they matter most. Someone who needs support through the night, help with moving around or specialist dementia care may need a different price from someone who needs company and help around the house. Whatever the provider, ask for a full breakdown of what the price includes, because charges such as commission or administration can sit outside the headline figure.
Is live-in care cheaper than home care?
A care home and live-in care answer different needs, so the weekly figures are only part of the comparison. In a care home, the person moves into shared accommodation with rotating staff. With live-in care, one carer gives one-to-one support in the person’s own home, with their routine, belongings and neighbourhood around them.
Age UK puts the average at around £1,100 a week for a residential care home place and £1,450 for nursing care, and notes that fees vary by area and can be much higher in some parts of the country. Live-in care typically costs £1,200 to £1,500 a week, with the carer’s food and travel on top, so for one person the two can sit close together. For a couple, one carer can support both people at home, where a care home means two places and two fees.
Needs matter as much as cost: someone who needs continuous nursing may be better supported in a care home, and the differences between live-in care and a care home for dementia, routine and clinical need are worth weighing alongside the price.
How can you pay for live-in care?
Funding depends on the person’s circumstances, and none of it is guaranteed.
A free council needs assessment is the usual first step, and the council may also look at what the person can contribute.
NHS continuing healthcare is free and does not depend on income or savings, but it is only for people whose assessed needs show a primary health need, and eligibility is judged in two stages.
People over State Pension age may also be able to claim Attendance Allowance. Which routes are open when funding live-in care depends on the person, and the routes outlined above apply to England.
Frequently asked questions
How much does live-in care cost per day?
Live-in care costs approximately £170 to £215 a day with Hometouch, based on a weekly price of £1,200 to £1,500. Live-in carers charge a daily rather than an hourly rate. Food and travel sit on top of this price.
What is not included in the price of live-in care?
Food and travel sit outside the weekly price. Families either provide the carer’s meals or pay a weekly allowance of £40 to £50, and the travel arrangements depend on whether the person has the regulated or introductory service.
Can the council or NHS pay for live-in care?
Possibly, but it is never guaranteed. A council needs assessment shows whether the person qualifies for support, and NHS continuing healthcare is only for people with a primary health need. A professional assessment is the only way to know what applies.
Is live-in care cheaper than a care home?
It depends on the person’s needs and the care home, so compare like for like. Put the care home fee next to the live-in weekly price plus food and travel, and note whether one carer is supporting a couple.
Does the price change for dementia care?
More complex needs, including some stages of dementia, can cost more than standard live-in care. A clinical assessment sets the price for the person.
Live-in care with Hometouch typically costs £1,200 to £1,500 a week, and the carer’s food and travel sit alongside that price. The right figure for your family depends on the person’s needs, which is why a clinical assessment comes before any price is agreed. Funding is never guaranteed, but a council needs assessment is a sensible first step whether you are paying privately or not. If you’re considering live-in care and want to know what it would cost in your situation, you can talk to a care advisor, who will explain the services, the price and what is included before you decide anything.
Related Care Advice
Medically reviewed on Oct 28, 2026
Dr Jamie Wilson is hometouch's founder and Chief Executive Officer. Jamie's creation of hometouch was inspired by his work as a dementia psychiatrist in the NHS, and he has written about healthcare issues in The Times and the Evening Standard.
