Companionship careMidlothian

Companionship care in Midlothian

Someone to call in for a cup of tea and a chat, a walk, a game of cards or a trip into town. 10 vetted carers who make visits are based within about an hour of Midlothian, and their profiles say what they enjoy, so you can look for somebody your relative will get on with.

Free · No obligationEnhanced DBSID and right to workInterviewed onlineInsured while they work

10 carers make visits within about an hour of Midlothian

Prefer to talk it through first? Call 0203 369 3624

Interests, ratings and rates are from carers' own profiles.

carers who make visits within about an hour of Midlothian
10
languages spoken between the nearest carers
3
a typical two-hour visit, our fee included
£38

From carers' own profiles, September 2026. Rates are for daytime visits with our fee included.

What companionship is

What a companionship visit in Midlothian looks like

Companionship care is a regular visit from the same person, whose job is to keep your relative company. It suits somebody who is managing at home but spending too many hours alone, perhaps since a partner died, since they stopped driving, or since the family moved away. A companion comes at the same time each week, sits down for a cup of tea and a proper conversation, and then does whatever your relative enjoys, whether that is a walk, the crossword, the garden or a drive to the shops.

Most families start with one to three visits a week, and most visits are two hours long, because an hour goes quickly once the kettle is on. The routine matters as much as the company. A visit on the same afternoon every week gives the days a shape and something to look forward to.

A two-hour afternoon visit

  1. 2:00

    The kettle goes on

    A catch-up on the week: what the post brought, who phoned, whether the doctor rang back. Somebody who comes every week notices when something has changed.

  2. 2:20

    Out for a walk, or into the garden

    Round the park at your relative’s pace, or half an hour among the pots. On a wet day it might be cards, a jigsaw or the old photographs.

  3. 3:15

    Something to eat together

    A sandwich, or a cake made together. Many people eat better with someone at the table.

  4. 3:40

    The small jobs

    The washing-up, a look in the fridge, a reminder about the evening tablets, and the shopping list written for next time.

  5. 4:00

    Goodbye until next week

    Your relative knows who is coming back and when. If you have asked for one, you get a short message about how the afternoon went.

The company

  • Conversation, and time to listen properly
  • Hobbies, games and shared interests
  • Walks, and trips out in the carer’s car
  • Meals made and eaten together
  • Company at church, a club or an appointment

The help around it

  • The washing-up and a tidy round
  • The food shop, together or on their own
  • Reminders to take medication
  • Keeping an eye on how they are managing
  • Keeping the family up to date

Activities to do with a companion has ideas for every level of mobility and energy. The advantages of companionship care sets out what regular company does for somebody's mood and health.

Who could visit

Companions you could meet in Midlothian

Some of the carers based nearest Midlothian, with what they wrote about themselves and the interests they list. Every one has passed our checks before they appear: an enhanced DBS check kept under continuous monitoring, identity, right to work, and an online interview. We check that a carer is caring; their skills and training are for you to check with them.

10 carers make visits within about an hour of Midlothian

Read what they enjoy and how they describe themselves, see who drives and who speaks your relative's language, then message the ones you like. Free, and nothing is booked until you say so.

See companions for Midlothian

What families say

Families in Midlothian on the carers they chose

Reviews written by clients about carers based nearest Midlothian, in their own words. Each one links to the carer it is about, so you can read the rest of their profile.

DementiaPalliative care

Even when mum was at her worst with the dementia Alice showed love care and patience For this we will be forever grateful and consider her part of the family.

Claire M., 2023

Photo of carer Martha Alice B.About Martha Alice B.Carer based in Kilmarnock · 3 reviews
CompanionshipMobility

No task was too much for her and she even took my mother on the dance floor in her wheelchair so that she could join in the dancing.

Helen N., 2026

Photo of carer Katarzyna M.About Katarzyna M.Carer based in Edinburgh · 2 reviews
DementiaPersonal care

My mother benefited from a level of assistance, support, care & love it would be difficult to find elsewhere & for which I am extremely grateful.

Jeremy K., 2020

Photo of carer Precious K.About Precious K.Carer based in Edinburgh · 2 reviews
Companionship

This carer is the most considerate loving and supportive person easily recognises any change in behaviour and addresses it promptly

Janet W., 2025

Photo of carer Valerie W.About Valerie W.Carer based in Hamilton

Reviews are checked before they appear and are never edited. Read more client reviews.

Who it helps

Is companionship care right for your relative?

It is usually the right first step when somebody is safe at home and managing day to day, but the days have gone quiet. These are the situations families in Midlothian tell us about most often.

Living aloneThe house has gone quiet and the days feel long. A visit at the same time each week gives the week a shape.Helping someone who is lonely
After losing a partnerGrief and an empty house are a lot to carry at once. Gentle, reliable company helps a routine come back.What company can do
Family living further awayA companion who lives locally visits in person, notices changes early and can keep you up to date.Finding the right companion
Early memory problemsRoutine, conversation and a familiar face help somebody stay settled and confident at home.Dementia care at home
Not ready for carePlenty of people who would turn down a carer are happy to welcome a visitor for company, which makes it an easier first step.When someone refuses help
Giving a family carer a breakA companion keeps your relative company while you work, rest or go out, knowing somebody is with them.Respite care

Before you start

The questions families ask us first

Each has a short answer here, and a full guide behind it when you want more.

What does a companion do on a visit?

Whatever your relative enjoys, at their own pace: conversation, a walk, cards, baking, the garden, music, or a trip to the shops or a café. While they are there a companion can also do small jobs, such as the washing-up, a shopping list or a reminder about tablets.

Can a companion take my relative out?

Yes. A walk, the garden centre, church, a club or an appointment are all ordinary visits, charged at the carer's usual rate. Mileage is added only if you agree it in advance and in writing, and tickets or a meal out are paid at cost, agreed before you go.

How do we find somebody they will get on with?

Start with the profiles, where carers list their interests and the languages they speak and describe themselves in their own words. Shortlist two or three with something in common with your relative, meet them, and try an hour or two together before you book a regular pattern.

Does regular company make a difference?

For many people it does. Loneliness is linked with low mood and poorer health, and older people who are socially isolated have a higher risk of dementia, according to the US National Academies. A familiar face at the same time each week is one of the more direct things a family can arrange.

What if Mum or Dad says they do not want anyone?

This is common, and it is usually about pride or not wanting to be a burden. It helps to present a visit as something that gives you peace of mind, and to let them choose who comes. Many people who would turn down a carer are glad of a visitor for company.

Are there free options to try first?

Yes. Age UK and Re-engage offer free befriending calls and local groups, and a GP can refer somebody to a social prescribing link worker. A companion is for what those cannot provide: the same person, in the home, at a time you can rely on.

How much does companionship care cost?

Near Midlothian most carers advertise £19 to £19 an hour for visits, typically £19, with our fee included, and some charge less for company-only visits. A two-hour visit is about £38. The contract adds nothing for evenings or weekends; bank holidays are charged at one and a half times the carer's rate.

What is a live-in companion?

A carer who lives in your relative's home, with their own room and daily breaks, for company and light help through the day and somebody in the house at night. It suits someone who is anxious on their own, and starts from about £1,050 a week.

Can a carer come on holiday with them?

Yes. Some families book a carer for a week away, so that somebody who could not manage a trip alone can still go. What the carer’s time, travel and room will cost is agreed with them before you book.

Getting out

Getting out and about in Midlothian

For many people a trip out is the best part of the week: the garden centre, a café, the library, the hairdresser, church or a club, or a drive to see an old friend. 6 of the 10 carers nearest Midlothian who advertise a rate have a car, so a companion can take your relative somewhere and bring them home again.

A trip out is charged at the carer's usual rate, the same as a visit at home. Mileage is only chargeable if you agree it in advance and in writing, usually 55p a mile. Tickets, parking or a meal out are paid at cost, and it is worth agreeing who carries the money before you go.

Places to visit with a companion in Midlothian has local ideas. Can carers take you out? explains how outings work, and finding a carer who drives helps if getting about is the main need.

What it costs

What companionship care costs in Midlothian

Near Midlothian most carers advertise £19 to £19 an hour for visits, typically £19, with our fee included, and some charge less for company-only visits. Some companions start from about £15. Each carer sets their own rate, and the figure to plan around is the one on their profile.

An hour£19The shortest visit: a cup of tea and a catch-up, or a lift to an appointment and back.
A two-hour visit£38What most families choose for company, with time for a walk or a trip out as well as the chat.
Two visits a week£76 a weekTwo afternoons of two hours each, on the same days and with the same person.

At the typical rate for carers near Midlothian, our fee included.

The contract adds nothing for evenings or weekends. Bank holidays are charged at one and a half times the carer's rate, and Christmas Day at twice. To cancel a visit you give the carer 48 hours' notice; a visit cancelled inside that is payable, unless the reason is an unplanned hospital stay, illness, or something you and the carer agree. PrimeCarers charges nothing itself to stop or change care.

Councils rarely pay for company on its own, but an assessment can change that when there are other needs, and Pension Age Disability Payment, which is not means-tested, can be spent on a companion if your relative qualifies. What a companion carer costs goes into the detail, the cost of home care in Midlothian covers personal care and nights, and paying for care explains each kind of help.

How to start

From this page to a first visit in Midlothian

The first two steps cost nothing. You choose the companion; we handle the checks, the contract and the payments.

  1. 1

    Search carers for Midlothian

    Free
    Profiles show each carer’s interests, the languages they speak, their reviews, whether they drive, and the travel time from your postcode. Look for common ground with your relative as well as experience.
  2. 2

    Meet two or three

    This week
    Message them through PrimeCarers, say a little about your relative and what they enjoy, and arrange to meet. Many families meet over a cup of tea at home, or on a video call first.
  3. 3

    Try a visit or two

    Week 1
    An hour or two together tells you more than any profile about whether your relative is comfortable. If it does not feel right, say so and try somebody else.
  4. 4

    Settle into a routine

    After that
    The same companion on the same days at the same time. The contract, invoicing and payment are handled on PrimeCarers, and you can add or drop a visit as things change.

Safety first

Someone coming into their home? We take that seriously.

Letting a carer into the home of someone you love takes trust. We've built every layer of protection so that trust is earned, not assumed.

See exactly how we vet carers or call 0203 369 3624

Vetting that never stops

Enhanced DBS, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview before a carer appears, then continuous DBS monitoring for as long as they work. We check that a carer is caring; their skills and training are for you to check with them.

Insured and above board

Every visit is insured, contracted and paid securely online after care happens. There is no cash and no informal arrangement to manage.

A real person who knows you

Your own account manager and a UK support team who know you, your carer and your situation, not a call centre script.

Help when plans change

If your carer is unwell or away, our team will always do their best to find you vetted cover at short notice.

A person, not a form

Talk it through before you search

Lee-Ann, care manager at PrimeCarers

Lee-Ann

Care manager for families in Midlothian

Lee-Ann helps families in Midlothian arrange companionship care

Most families start with a call: what your relative needs, what it would cost, whether a few visits for company is the right start, or more help is needed, and what to ask a carer when you speak to them. Lee-Ann has those conversations every day and can tell you which of the carers in Midlothian might suit, though the choice is always yours.

Across the area

Companionship care across Midlothian

A companion who lives nearby can keep the same afternoon every week without a long drive, so the search shows the travel time from your door. These are the places inside Midlothian with their own carers page, and the counties around it.

Where the nearest carers live

From the profiles of the carers based within about an hour of Midlothian

For regular visits a carer's home town matters: a short drive makes it easier to keep the same time every week, and less likely that a visit starts late.

Companionship care by town in Midlothian

Each town page shows the carers who list it as home, with their rates and reviews.

Questions

Questions families in Midlothian ask about companionship care

Most carers based within about an hour of Midlothian advertise between £19 and £19 an hour for visits on PrimeCarers, with our fee included, and the typical rate is £19. Some charge less for visits that are company only, from about £15. Visits are at least an hour and most families choose two, so a visit is typically about £38. Each carer sets their own rate, and the figure to plan around is the one on their profile. What a companion carer costs goes into the detail.

You can see who is available and message them today. Most families are talking to two or three carers within a day or two, and regular visits often start within the week. 10 carers make visits within about an hour of Midlothian, so there is usually somebody free on the afternoons you want. If you need someone in the next day or two, emergency care explains what to do.

Yes. Before a carer appears on PrimeCarers they have passed an enhanced DBS check, an identity check and a right-to-work check, and had an online interview with our team. Their DBS is then kept on the Update Service and monitored continuously for as long as they work. We check that a carer is caring; their skills and training are for you to check with them, and every profile shows their experience and reviews so you can. How we vet carers sets out each step.

Yes. You choose the carer and book them directly, so the person who comes is the one your relative met, rather than whoever is on an agency rota. Many families also get to know a second carer from the same search who can step in for holidays and sickness. The same carer every visit explains how families arrange that.

Visits are at least an hour, booked in half-hour steps, and for company most families choose two hours. The notice is in the contract: 48 hours to cancel a visit, and a visit cancelled inside that is payable unless the reason is an unplanned hospital stay, illness, or something you and the carer agree. PrimeCarers charges nothing itself to stop or change care. More on the minimum visit.

A companionship visit includes small jobs such as the washing-up and reminders to take medication. Washing, dressing, the toilet and continence are personal care. Most of the same carers do personal care too, so you can add it later without changing carer; private carers in Midlothian covers visits that include it. Giving medicines, rather than reminding, needs a carer trained to do it: can home carers give medication?

In the early stages it can help a great deal. Routine, conversation and a familiar face help somebody stay settled and confident at home. 9 of the 10 carers nearest Midlothian list dementia among the conditions they have experience of, which is worth checking with them. What the research says about isolation and dementia, and dementia care at home.

Usually, though the further from a town, the fewer carers are within a sensible drive, so the search shows the travel time from your door beside each carer. Most of the nearest carers have a car (6 of the 10 who advertise a rate). Mileage is only chargeable if you agree it in advance and in writing, usually 55p a mile. Finding a carer who drives helps if getting about is the main need.

Rarely for company on its own. Councils fund care that meets their eligibility criteria, and loneliness without other needs seldom does. A care needs assessment is still worth asking for, because a fall, a diagnosis or a family carer who is struggling can change the answer, and funding can then be paid as a direct payment you spend on a carer you choose. Pension Age Disability Payment is not means-tested and, if your relative qualifies, can be spent on a companion. Paying for care explains each route.

No. PrimeCarers is an introductory service. The carers are self-employed and set their own rates; you choose the carer, and the contract is between you and them. We do the checks before a carer appears and keep their DBS monitored, set up the contract, handle the invoicing and payment, and insure the care while the carer works. Private carers and agency carers goes through the differences.

Ready to meet a companion in Midlothian?

See carers in Midlothian with their photos, interests, reviews and rates, and talk to the ones you like for free. Nothing is booked until you say so.

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