Every kind of care
Every kind of care in Edinburgh, with what it costs here
Each row is a level of help, with the price carers near Edinburgh charge and how much of it there is locally.
The kinds of care in Edinburgh
From the least help to the most. Each row links to its section below.
- Companionship visitsCompany, outings and errands£19 to £20 an hour20 nearby carers write about it
- Visiting carePersonal care and help at set times£19 to £20 an hour40 carers within about 45 minutes of Edinburgh
- Overnight careA sleeping or waking night£130 to £160 a night25 of the nearest carers do nights
- Live-in careA carer living in, day and night£1,041 to £1,197 a week20 live-in carers within reach
- Care home or nursing homeMoving out of home into careabout £1,160 to £1,410 a weekFees vary by home
Visit and live-in prices are what carers near Edinburgh charge on PrimeCarers, our fee included, September 2026. Night prices are the range on PrimeCarers. Care home fees are UK averages, because too few homes here publish theirs.
Help during the day
Help at home during the day in Edinburgh
Visiting care
A carer comes for an hour or more at the times you agree, such as a morning call to help someone up and washed.
- 40 carers are based within about 45 minutes of Edinburgh, charging £19 to £20 an hour with our fee included, typically £19.
- 13 of the 40 with a rate on their profile drive, which matters for trips out and for visits outside the towns.
Jolly A.Galashiels · 1 years caring“A jigsaw on the table, a cup of tea, a chat about the day, these are the small things I build my visits around in Galashiels.”£18.80 an hourProfile →
Lynn M.Motherwell · 1 years caring“I offer hourly visiting care around Motherwell, and over the past year I've supported people with a wide range of conditions, including dementia, stroke, heart disease, respiratory illness and arthritis, as well as end of life care.”£19 an hourProfile →
Adedoyin O.Cumbernauld · 2 years caring“Day to day, I help with the practical side of care such as washing, dressing, medication reminders, moving and handling, catheter care and cooking, alongside cleaning and laundry to keep things running smoothly at home.”£18.80 an hourProfile →
“Great compassionate person very efficient polite and respectable to my support and needs great motivator and encouraging me to do things with respect and dignity”
Companionship
Visits for company rather than personal care: a conversation, a walk, the shopping or a lift to a club.
- Of the 34 nearest carers with a full profile, 20 write about companionship, conversation or days out in their own profile.
Chloe P.West Lothian · 1 years caring“I believe that great care is not only about supporting physical needs but also about building meaningful relationships, offering companionship, and helping clients feel valued and respected.”£19.20 an hour1 reviewProfile →
Olufemi D.Edinburgh · 1 years caring“I would be glad to meet you or your family for a chat about what support would help most.”£18.80 an hour1 reviewProfile →
Amanda Jane M.East Lothian · 10 years caring“There is no pressure, just a conversation to begin with.”£18.80 an hourProfile →
“This carer is the most considerate loving and supportive person easily recognises any change in behaviour and addresses it promptly has a great work ethic never late and is very accommodating if the situation arises have total faith in her and she is very loyal always contacts myself regarding all things that need to be considered long may she be able to support me.”
“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. Katarzyna also ensured that my mother was reminded when to take her medication. My mother and I would highly recommend her for this type of role in the future. My mother wishes that Katarzyna lived close to our home in England.”
Companionship care explainedCarers who share a hobby in Edinburgh
Personal care
Help with washing, dressing, the toilet and continence, from the same carer each time.
- Of the 34 nearest carers with a full profile, 28 describe personal care in their own words, not just on a checklist.
Itunuayo O.Edinburgh · 2 years caring“I am comfortable with hands on personal care, including bathing, hoist use and catheter care, and I take just as much care over the practical side, cooking meals, keeping the home tidy and managing medication reminders.”£18.50 an hourProfile →
Shona D.Dunfermline · 10 years caring“I am comfortable with hands on personal care such as bathing, hoist assistance, catheter and colostomy care, alongside cooking, laundry and the everyday admin that keeps a household running smoothly.”£18.50 an hourProfile →
Mahesh P.Livingston · 2 years caring“Alongside this I offer hourly, live-in and overnight care, and I am comfortable supporting people with dementia, Parkinson's, stroke, physical disability and a wide range of other conditions, including personal care, medication reminders, mobility support and…”£18.50 an hourProfile →
“My mother benefited from a level of assistance, support, care & love it would be difficult to find elsewhere & for which I am extremely grateful. I am happy to recommend Precious to any potential client & their family, with the highest level of confidence that they would receive the utmost care & attention.”
Help with a condition
Care for a condition or a change in health in Edinburgh
Dementia care
Care from someone who has looked after people with dementia before and knows how to keep a day calm.
- Of the 34 nearest carers with a full profile, 28 write about caring for someone with dementia.
Ethel C.Falkirk · 2 years caring“In that time I've supported people with dementia, Parkinson's, stroke, heart disease, arthritis and mobility problems, among many other conditions, and I'm comfortable with the full range of personal care, from bathing and hoist use to medication and cooking.”£19.20 an hourProfile →
Precious O.Bonnyrigg · 6 years caring“Over six years I've built solid experience with conditions including dementia, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis, stroke, respiratory illness, diabetes and spinal injuries, alongside catheter and colostomy care, PEG feeding and end of life support.”£20 an hourProfile →
Somieibi E.Lanark · 5 years caring“My experience covers a wide range of conditions, from dementia and Parkinson's to stroke recovery, diabetes and mobility difficulties, alongside practical skills such as medication reminders, personal care, moving and handling, and catheter or colostomy care.”£19 an hourProfile →
Care for Parkinson's, stroke and other conditions
Carers who have looked after someone with a particular condition, such as Parkinson's, a stroke or MS.
- Of the 34 nearest carers with a full profile, 26 write about Parkinson's, stroke, MS or motor neurone disease.
Roxanne M.Carluke · 4 years caring“Over four years I've supported people with dementia, Parkinson's, stroke and physical disabilities including spinal injury and orthopaedic recovery, as well as sensory impairments such as deafness and visual loss.”£25 an hourProfile →
Tanyalak F.Coatbridge · 3 years caring“I’m an experienced and caring Support Worker with a strong background working with people who have dementia, mental health challenges, or are recovering from a stroke.”£20 an hourProfile →
Jenna H.Motherwell · 7 years caring“Over that time I have supported people living with dementia, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease and stroke, as well as those recovering from orthopaedic injuries or managing conditions like COPD, heart disease and cancer.”£22 an hourProfile →
Care after a hospital stay
A few weeks of extra help at home while strength and confidence come back after a hospital stay.
- Of the 34 nearest carers with a full profile, 12 write about helping someone home from hospital or through a recovery.
Eve Sheba C.Cumbernauld · 2 years caring“Day to day, I support people living with dementia, Parkinson's, stroke, arthritis and declining mobility, as well as those who are bedbound or recovering after surgery.”£19.20 an hour1 reviewProfile →
Valerie W.Hamilton · 9 years caring“That grounding has taken me through a huge range of situations, from supporting people living with dementia, Parkinson's and stroke recovery, to helping with respiratory illness, heart disease, cancer and end of life care.”£19 an hour1 reviewProfile →
Tererai M.Wishaw · 12 years caring“Over twelve years I have worked in live-in support, domiciliary care, hospitals and mental health residences, and I hold an HNC in social care alongside that practical grounding.”£19.50 an hour1 reviewProfile →
Palliative care at home
Support at home for someone who is very ill, alongside the district nurses and the GP.
- Of the 34 nearest carers with a full profile, 14 write about palliative care or caring for someone who is very ill.
Katarzyna M.Edinburgh · 3 years caring“I'm Kasia, based in Edinburgh, and I provide hourly visiting care, working with clients living with dementia, Parkinson's, stroke, arthritis and a range of other conditions, as well as those needing help after surgery or towards the end of life.”£27 an hour2 reviewsProfile →
Christine M.Edinburgh · 23 years caring“I've also supported people through dementia, stroke, Parkinson's, diabetes and many other conditions, and end of life care, always keeping things calm and steady.”£25.30 an hourProfile →
Adaobi A.Edinburgh · 5 years caring“Five years in, I've worked across dementia, Parkinson's, MS and end of life care, among others, and I've learned to adapt to whatever a household needs.”£25 an hourProfile →
Nights and round the clock
Care at night and around the clock in Edinburgh
Overnight care
A carer spends the night in the house, either sleeping and on hand, or awake all night.
- Of the 34 nearest carers with a full profile, 25 offer overnight care.
- £130 to £145 for a sleeping night and £150 to £160 for a waking night on PrimeCarers.
John A.Alloa · 9 years caring“I’m available for day, evening, weekend, and overnight support across Clackmannanshire and surrounding areas, and I’m happy to travel further when needed.”Does nights9 reviewsProfile →
Ron P.Wishaw · 16 years caringDoes nights1 reviewProfile →
Shona R.Dunfermline · 15 years caring“Fifteen years of home visits and overnight shifts around Dunfermline have taught me that good care is mostly about paying attention, noticing when someone's a bit more breathless than usual, or quieter than usual, and responding before things escalate.”Does nightsProfile →
Respite care
Cover so the person who does the caring can stop for a while, from a few visits to a fortnight.
- Of the 34 nearest carers with a full profile, 26 do nights or live-in care, which is how most respite is covered.
Lesley R.Dunfermline · 4 years caring£19.20 an hourProfile →
Neil B.Edinburgh · 7 years caring“Some days are a few hours of visiting care, others stretch into overnight or live-in support.”£20 an hourProfile →
Grace B.Edinburgh · 3 years caring“Day to day, I offer hourly, live-in and overnight care, and I'm comfortable supporting people with dementia, Parkinson's, stroke recovery, heart disease and respiratory illness, as well as those who are bedbound or recovering from surgery or a fall.”£18.80 an hourProfile →
Live-in care
One carer lives in the home and is there through the day and night, with a daily break.
- 20 live-in carers are based within about an hour of Edinburgh.
- A week here costs £1,041 to £1,197 with our fee included, typically £1,085.
- Of the 34 nearest carers with a full profile, 15 also do live-in care as well as visits.
Deborah Rose Hart M.Carluke · 21 years caring“I've worked full-time in care for over 21 years, based in Carluke, offering hourly, live-in and overnight support.”£174 a dayProfile →
Rosemary Grace A.Glasgow · 6 years caring“My work in Glasgow takes different shapes through the week, from hourly visits to overnight stays and longer live-in periods, and what I enjoy most is the steady, everyday kind of care: sitting down for a proper chat, sharing a meal, helping someone keep hold…”£185 a dayProfile →
Sylvia N.City of Edinburgh · 10 years caring“I offer hourly, live-in and overnight care across the City of Edinburgh, with ten years of experience behind me.”£148 a dayProfile →
Care homes
Care homes and nursing homes in Edinburgh
Care homes in Edinburgh are inspected by the Care Inspectorate, and each home publishes its inspection reports. Across the UK a residential place costs about £1,160 a week and a nursing place about £1,410, while a live-in carer here costs £1,041 to £1,197 a week.
Elderly care in Edinburgh helps you weigh care at home against a care home, and care at home or a care home goes through what to ask a home before choosing it.
Agencies or private carers
Home care agencies and private carers in Edinburgh
Home care agencies
40 private carers near Edinburgh
Every carer on PrimeCarers has passed an enhanced DBS, identity and right-to-work check and an online interview before they appear (how we check carers). Agency or private carer compares the two, and the best home carers in Edinburgh profiles the best-rated private carers nearby.
Paying for care
Help paying for care in Edinburgh
Attendance Allowance is not means tested and can go towards any of these. The council assesses needs for free and can contribute after a financial assessment, and NHS Continuing Healthcare pays in full when needs are mainly health needs. Funding care sets out each route and who to contact.
Questions
Questions families in Edinburgh ask about the types of care
40 carers within about 45 minutes of Edinburgh offer care at home, from companionship visits to live-in care. Away from home, care homes and nursing homes.
For one person it is usually about the same: a live-in week here is typically £1,085 with our fee included, against about £1,160 for a care home place. For a couple, one live-in carer costs about £1,350 a week, far less than two care home places. Care at home or a care home goes through the decision.
Often, yes. Attendance Allowance is not means tested and helps with the cost of care at any level. The council can contribute after an assessment, and the NHS pays in full when needs are mainly health needs. Funding care sets out each route.