Alternatives to Oxford Aunts for live-in care

Oxford Aunts says it was started in 1967 by two sisters and a friend, and has provided live-in care since 1984. It describes a fully managed and regulated service in which its live-in carers are directly managed by it, and contrasts that with introduction agencies. It offers live-in, couples, hourly, respite and companionship care across Oxfordshire and surrounding counties as far as London, Hampshire and Somerset. The CQC register shows it rated Good.

It says it obtains DBS checks, police checks in the carer's home country and references from the carer's two most recent employers. It does not publish a price: its costs page says the weekly fee is confirmed after an assessment and is inclusive. On Trustpilot it showed 4.7 from 49 reviews on 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

• 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

• 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

• Elder

  Alternatives to ElderIntroductory

  Describes itself as an introductory agency connecting families across Great Britain with vetted, self-employed carers, and says it does not provide regulated care. It offers live-in care, respite stays and, in some cities, visiting care.

  Published price: Live-in from £1,195 a week and respite from £1,595 a week, with its booking fee inside the price.

  Source: Elder, introductory agency, Elder pricing, checked 5 November 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

• TrustonTap

  Alternatives to TrustonTapIntroductory

  Says the CQC defines it as an introductory agency that is not required to register, that all its carers are self-employed and set their own rates, and that it checks identity, right to work and training certificates and takes two references on each carer.

  Published price: £23 to £34 an hour (average £26), live-in from £1,200 a week, plus a client administration fee of 5% plus VAT.

  Source: TrustonTap FAQs, TrustonTap pricing, checked 4 November 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.