Alternatives to Elder for live-in care

Elder describes itself as an introductory care agency helping families find vetted, self-employed carers for care at home, and says introductory agencies like it do not need to register with the CQC. You engage the carer directly. It says each carer passes identity, right to work and enhanced DBS or PVG checks, that it verifies at least two professional references where possible, and that it runs a situational and character assessment.

Care starts with a two-week trial, then a two-week notice period applies, and Elder introduces cover carers when you need them. We did not find a live-in price on Elder's own pages. On Trustpilot Elder showed 4.8 from 908 reviews on 19 October 2026.

• Country Cousins

  Alternatives to Country CousinsIntroductory

  Says it has introduced live-in carers since 1959 and calls itself the UK's longest-serving introductory live-in care provider. Its carers are self-employed and contracted by you, and it is not CQC registered. Managed care comes from its sister company, Trinity Homecare.

  Published price: Live-in from £1,155 a week (its figure for October 2026), plus a one-off registration fee, an agency fee and the carer's travel.

  Source: country-cousins.co.uk, Country Cousins, introductory vs managed, Country Cousins live-in cost, checked 4 November 2026

• Curam

  Alternatives to CuramBoth

  Describes itself as a home care platform that connects families directly with self-employed carers. It also runs Curam Managed Care, which it says is CQC registered.

  Published price: Average hourly rate £20.50 and £1,200 a week for live-in (Curam's figures for August 2025), with a 12% client fee added to invoices.

  Source: curamcare.com, Curam Managed Care, Curam client information, checked 19 October 2026

• Hometouch

  Alternatives to HometouchBoth

  Runs an introductory model, which it says has operated since 2015 and is not regulated by the CQC, and a separate managed care service that is CQC regulated.

  Published price: Introductory care from £1,400 a week, regulated care from £1,500 a week.

  Source: myhometouch.com, Hometouch pricing, checked 19 October 2026

• Consultus Care & Nursing

  Alternatives to Consultus Care & NursingBoth

  Founded in 1962 and family-owned. It offers an introductory service, where a self-employed carer works for you and you pay them directly, and a fully managed live-in service that it says is regulated by the CQC in England. It also offers live-in nursing.

  Published price: Introductory live-in from £1,092 a week including its weekly agency fee, plus a £250 registration fee; managed live-in from £1,603 a week, subject to assessment.

  Source: consultuscare.com, Consultus live-in costs, checked 4 November 2026

• PrimeCarers

  Alternatives to PrimeCarersIntroductory

  The service that wrote this page. Families search self-employed carers near them, see each carer's own rate and choose who to hire. It is not a care agency and is not CQC registered. Every carer has an ID check, a right to work check, an enhanced DBS (or PVG or Access NI) issued within the last 2 years and an online interview. We do not verify references, qualifications or training.

  Published price: Hourly visits £18 to £25, live-in £1,050 to £1,400 a week, our fee included.

  Source: PrimeCarers pricing, what we check, checked 19 October 2026

• Edyn

  Alternatives to EdynCQC-registered managed agency

  Fully managed live-in care, which it describes as CQC-regulated in England, with one carer in the home supported by a care manager and care coordinator. It says every carer has an enhanced DBS check, three references and at least 12 months of professional care experience.

  Published price: Live-in from £1,395 a week for one person (up to £1,895 for its advanced tier) and from £1,695 when both partners need care, final price after an assessment.

  Source: edyn.care, Edyn pricing, Edyn carers, checked 4 November 2026

• The Good Care Group

  Alternatives to The Good Care GroupCQC-registered managed agency

  Describes itself as a fully managed and regulated home care provider whose live-in carers are employed and trained directly by it. It says it is rated Outstanding by the CQC in all five areas, and the CQC register shows its London location rated Outstanding.

  Source: The Good Care Group, arranging care, CQC register, checked 4 November 2026

• Helping Hands

  Alternatives to Helping HandsCQC-registered managed agency

  Says it directly employs and trains all its carers and is regulated by the CQC and Care Inspectorate Wales. It offers visiting care and live-in care, with local care managers and a team of specialist nurses.

  Published price: Live-in from £1,675 a week for one person and £2,125 for a couple (page reviewed 17 April 2026).

  Source: Helping Hands live-in care, Helping Hands live-in cost, checked 19 October 2026

An introductory service tends to suit a family that wants to choose the carer, can be the person the carer answers to, and wants more of the price to reach the carer. A managed agency tends to suit care that is complex or clinical, a family that cannot be on hand to direct it, or anyone who wants the provider to be responsible for cover. Either way, ask which checks were done on the carer you would get, not on the company in general.