Every kind of care
Every kind of care in Kent, with what it costs here
Each row is a level of help, with the price carers near Kent charge and how much of it there is locally.
The kinds of care in Kent
From the least help to the most. Each row links to its section below.
- Companionship visitsCompany, outings and errands£19 to £22 an hour25 nearby carers write about it
- Visiting carePersonal care and help at set times£19 to £22 an hour54 carers within about 45 minutes of Kent
- Overnight careA sleeping or waking night£130 to £160 a night30 of the nearest carers do nights
- Live-in careA carer living in, day and night£1,041 to £1,151 a week36 live-in carers within reach
- Care homeA room, meals and care, away from home£1,470 a week233 homes without nursing in Kent
- Nursing homeA care home with nurses on shift£1,535 a week133 nursing homes in Kent
Visit and live-in prices are what carers near Kent charge on PrimeCarers, our fee included, October 2026. Night prices are the range on PrimeCarers. Care home counts are from CQC registrations in Kent. Care home fees are the median of the homes here that publish them.
Help during the day
Help at home during the day in Kent
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.
- 54 carers are based within about 45 minutes of Kent, charging £19 to £22 an hour with our fee included, typically £20.
- 29 of the 48 with a rate on their profile drive, which matters for trips out and for visits outside the towns.
Joan C.Canterbury · 10 years caring“Based in Canterbury, I offer both hourly visiting care and overnight support. More recently I worked in a nursing home, which gave me real depth in one to one care alongside my earlier hospital training in medication administration and cannulation.”£19 an hourProfile →
Oana P.Rochester · 11 years caring“I take pride in creating a supportive and safe environment for my clients, empowering them to maintain their independence and quality of life.”£25 an hourProfile →
Lilian J.Ashford · 11 years caring“Eleven years on, based in Ashford, I offer both hourly visits and live-in care, and I still feel the same steadiness that drew me here in the first place.”£24.10 an hourProfile →
“Always on time and with a lovely smile for my mum. Theresa is kind and sensitive to my mum's needs. So happy that Theresa's part of our caring team.”
Companionship
Visits for company rather than personal care: a conversation, a walk, the shopping or a lift to a club.
- Of the 38 nearest carers with a full profile, 25 write about companionship, conversation or days out in their own profile.
Jennifer C.Ashford · 10 years caring“For me, companionship comes first. I enjoy cooking proper meals with people rather than just for them, chatting over a board game or some music, or heading out for a walk when that is possible.”£19 an hourProfile →
Timothy M.Gravesend · 10 years caring“I think those interests keep me easy company, and companionship is a big part of how I care.”£18.80 an hourProfile →
Christine O.Chatham · 26 years caring“I am a chatty person and enjoy my job. I will travel up to 5 miles.”£20 an hourProfile →
“Mum has been extremely well looked after and has enjoyed Usha’s company, stimulation and care. Usha has prepared meals which my mum has appreciated and the house is immaculately clean. Usha has also come up with some practical suggestions for improving the quality of mum’s life. We are very pleased that Usha has agreed to extend her period of care over the coming months.”
Companionship care explainedCarers who share a hobby in Kent
Personal care
Help with washing, dressing, the toilet and continence, from the same carer each time.
- Of the 38 nearest carers with a full profile, 30 describe personal care in their own words, not just on a checklist.
Omowumi Saidat L.Gravesend · 10 years caring“My day to day skills include medication reminders, help with dressing and toileting, wound dressing and catheter care, cooking, and general administrative tasks.”£19 an hourProfile →
Deborah Jane W.Folkestone · 19 years caring“Dementia, stroke recovery, arthritis, breathing conditions, and end of life care are all areas I am familiar with, along with the everyday practical side of things like washing, dressing, medication reminders, and cooking a proper meal.”£20 an hourProfile →
Mary Sol P.Maidstone · 13 years caring“I'm equally comfortable providing end of life care, hoist and catheter care, or wound dressing, and I keep a close eye on medication, mobility and the small daily routines that make a real difference to how safe and comfortable someone feels.”£21.50 an hourProfile →
“Irene was a very kind and empathetic carer who knew just the right words to say to put a smile on my face. She always had a way of encouraging my independence while assisting me at the same time but most of all she respected my privacy. I would be happy to have her again.”
Help with a condition
Care for a condition or a change in health in Kent
Dementia care
Care from someone who has looked after people with dementia before and knows how to keep a day calm.
- Of the 38 nearest carers with a full profile, 29 write about caring for someone with dementia.
Carley S.Maidstone · 15 years caring“My approach to caregiving is both empathetic and respectful, as seen in her dedication to a lady with dementia, where she offered comfort simply by listening.”£19.20 an hourProfile →
Kelechi O.Maidstone · 9 years caring“I'm experienced with dementia, Parkinson's, stroke recovery, epilepsy and diabetes, both type 1 and type 2, as well as learning disabilities and autism spectrum conditions.”£22 an hourProfile →
Kodie D.Folkestone · 10 years caring“I offer hourly visiting care and have supported people with dementia, Parkinson's, stroke recovery, mobility difficulties and end of life care, among many other conditions.”£19 an hourProfile →
“Annette is a most compassionate CARER. She listened intently to my description of my mothers needs and her own feedback to me was also most helpful. We asked Annette to do “night duty” twice a week to relieve the 24/7 CARER as my mother was waking throughout the night, sometimes in some state of confusion. Her kindness and patience was exactly what we needed.”
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 38 nearest carers with a full profile, 28 write about Parkinson's, stroke, MS or motor neurone disease.
Edward J.Folkestone · 5 years caring“I offer hourly, live-in and overnight care, and over the years I've supported people with dementia, Parkinson's, heart disease, respiratory illness, arthritis and poor mobility, among many other conditions.”£18.80 an hourProfile →
Silpa K.Gravesend · 20 years caring“I offer hourly, live-in and overnight care in Gravesend, and over two decades I have supported people with dementia, Parkinson's, stroke, diabetes, motor neurone disease and many other conditions, alongside those living with anxiety, depression or learning…”£18.50 an hourProfile →
Ivan S.Gravesend · 16 years caring“I've been caring professionally for 16 years, based in Gravesend, offering hourly visiting care and overnight care to people living with dementia, Parkinson's, stroke, heart disease, respiratory illness, arthritis, poor mobility and end of life needs, among…”£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 38 nearest carers with a full profile, 16 write about helping someone home from hospital or through a recovery.
Donna P.Ashford · 40 years caring“I have supported people with a wide range of conditions, from rheumatoid arthritis and MS to stroke recovery and heart disease, and I never let the practical side crowd out the company itself.”£22.50 an hourProfile →
Cheryl S.Sittingbourne · 20 years caring“I offer hourly and overnight visits around Sittingbourne, and over the years I have built up experience with a huge range of conditions, from dementia, Parkinson's and stroke recovery to diabetes, epilepsy and mental health needs such as anxiety, depression…”£22 an hourProfile →
Kunle Philip O.Chatham · 21 years caring“I've supported people with dementia, Parkinson's, stroke recovery, respiratory illness and physical disabilities, as well as those with learning disabilities, autism and mental health conditions like anxiety and depression.”£22 an hourProfile →
Palliative care at home
Support at home for someone who is very ill, alongside the district nurses and the GP.
- Of the 38 nearest carers with a full profile, 15 write about palliative care or caring for someone who is very ill.
Sharon B.Gillingham · 2 years caring“I've supported people with a wide range of conditions, including dementia, Parkinson's, arthritis, respiratory illness and end of life care, and I'm used to adapting to what each person needs on the day.”£19.20 an hour1 reviewProfile →
Mariam B.Ashford · 15 years caring“I have worked in various care settings, like the NHS, elderly, dementia, Alzheimer’s, learning disability, residential homes, End of life, retirement homes, young adult in care, spinal and brain injury.”£19.50 an hour1 reviewProfile →
Claire M.Ashford · 4 years caring“Based in Ashford, I offer hourly, live-in and overnight care, and in four years I have built up experience across a wide range of conditions, from dementia, stroke and Parkinson's to arthritis, respiratory illness and end of life care.”£19.20 an hourProfile →
“Usha rapidly became 'one of the family' and is sorely missed. Her compassion continued well after the sad passing of our elderly mum and I can say that she went 'over and above' what is expected of a carer.”
Nights and round the clock
Care at night and around the clock in Kent
Overnight care
A carer spends the night in the house, either sleeping and on hand, or awake all night.
- Of the 38 nearest carers with a full profile, 30 offer overnight care.
- £130 to £145 for a sleeping night and £150 to £160 for a waking night on PrimeCarers.
Mfoniso Joseph E.Gillingham · 2 years caringDoes nightsProfile →
Egle A.Gillingham · 16 years caringDoes nightsProfile →
Rashidat Afolake A.Chatham · 15 years caring“My name is Fola, and I have spent 15 years working as a carer, based in Chatham and offering hourly, live-in and overnight support.”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 38 nearest carers with a full profile, 31 do nights or live-in care, which is how most respite is covered.
Collins U.Gravesend · 4 years caring“That same steadiness carries into my work as a carer in Gravesend, where I offer hourly, live-in and overnight support.”£21.60 an hourProfile →
Babatunde L.Rochester · 4 years caring“My working week can look quite different depending on what a family needs, from a few hourly visits, to a run of overnight stays, to moving in for a live-in placement.”£18.50 an hourProfile →
Eunice. O O.Maidstone · 9 years caring“My working week is built around hourly visits and overnight stays, and the part I enjoy most is simply being good company, sharing a meal, having a proper conversation, or just sitting quietly with someone so they feel less alone.”£18 an hourProfile →
“Annette was fantastic, she looked after my mother for 2 weeks. She is incredibly caring and knows exactly what to do to connect with her and help her out.”
Live-in care
One carer lives in the home and is there through the day and night, with a daily break.
- 36 live-in carers are based within about an hour of Kent.
- A week here costs £1,041 to £1,151 with our fee included, typically £1,120.
- Of the 38 nearest carers with a full profile, 11 also do live-in care as well as visits.
Irene N.Gillingham · 3 years caring“I am based in Gillingham and offer hourly, live-in and overnight care, having returned to this work after having my own baby and learning to balance family life with a job I care deeply about.”£160 a day2 reviewsProfile →
Raja S.Folkestone · 13 years caring“Day to day, I offer hourly, live-in and overnight care, and I am comfortable with everything from personal care and medication reminders to cooking, laundry and hoist or catheter care.”£157 a day1 reviewProfile →
Anna S.Sittingbourne · 10 years caring£150 a dayProfile →
Care homes
Care homes and nursing homes in Kent
254 of the 337 with a Care Quality Commission rating are rated good or outstanding, 6 of them outstanding, and 83 are rated requires improvement or inadequate. The homes here that publish their fees charge a median of £1,470 a week for a residential place and £1,535 for nursing. A live-in carer here costs £1,041 to £1,151 a week, so for one person the two cost about the same, and for a couple live-in care costs far less.
Elderly care in Kent 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 Kent
348 home care agencies for older people in Kent
54 private carers near Kent
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 Kent profiles the best-rated private carers nearby.
Paying for care
Help paying for care in Kent
Attendance Allowance is not means tested and can go towards any of these. The council assesses needs for free and contributes once savings fall below £23,250, and NHS Continuing Healthcare pays in full when needs are mainly health needs. Funding home care in Kent sets out each route and who to contact.
Questions
Questions families in Kent ask about the types of care
54 carers within about 45 minutes of Kent offer care at home, from companionship visits to live-in care. Away from home, 366 care homes in Kent take older people, 133 of them with nursing and 229 registered to care for people with dementia.
For one person it is usually about the same: a live-in week here is typically £1,120 with our fee included, against a median of £1,470 for a care home place in Kent. 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.
A nursing home is a care home with registered nurses on shift, for people who need nursing as well as care, such as wound care or complex medication. Of the 366 care homes in Kent that take older people, 133 provide nursing. 229 are registered to care for people with dementia. The difference between a nursing home and a care home explains how to tell which is needed.
Often, yes. Attendance Allowance is not means tested and helps with the cost of care at any level. The council contributes once savings fall below £23,250, and the NHS pays in full when needs are mainly health needs. Funding home care in Kent sets out each route.