Every kind of care
Every kind of care in London, with what it costs here
Each row is a level of help, with the price carers near London charge and how much of it there is locally.
The kinds of care in London
From the least help to the most. Each row links to its section below.
- Companionship visitsCompany, outings and errands£19 to £21 an hour30 nearby carers write about it
- Visiting carePersonal care and help at set times£19 to £21 an hour3,060 carers within about 45 minutes of London
- Overnight careA sleeping or waking night£130 to £160 a night26 of the nearest carers do nights
- Live-in careA carer living in, day and night£1,015 to £1,125 a week100 live-in carers within reach
- Care homeA room, meals and care, away from homeabout £1,160 a week496 homes without nursing across the 32 council areas of London
- Nursing homeA care home with nurses on shiftabout £1,410 a week375 nursing homes across the 32 council areas of London
Visit and live-in prices are what carers near London charge on PrimeCarers, our fee included, October 2026. Night prices are the range on PrimeCarers. Care home counts are from CQC registrations across the 32 council areas of London. Care home fees are UK averages, because too few homes here publish theirs.
Help during the day
Help at home during the day in London
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.
- 3,060 carers are based within about 45 minutes of London, charging £19 to £21 an hour with our fee included, typically £20.
- 10 of the 51 with a rate on their profile drive, which matters for trips out and for visits outside the towns.
Rafia B.London · 7 years caring£25 an hour1 reviewProfile →
Isatu K.London · 3 years caring“I'm equally comfortable with someone who simply wants company and conversation as with more hands-on personal care, and I try to fit around each person's routine rather than the other way round.”£18.89 an hourProfile →
Mimi M.City of Westminster · 5 years caring“Day to day, I visit clients in their own homes to help with meals, medication reminders, washing and dressing, and the small household tasks that keep life running smoothly, alongside companionship, conversation and just being good company over a cup of tea.”£21.50 an hourProfile →
“Jeli B is an excellent carer, she is attentive, friendly and helpful. Jeli B makes my mum feel comfortable and relaxed and she is extremely reliable and hardworking. Jeli B is always punctual and attends every scheduled visit. My mum appreciates her kindness and patience and is so grateful to have her. Thank you Jeli B”
“Liliana is a gem. She helped me after an operation and did it in such a classy, thoughtful way. She is responsive, intelligent, thoughtful. You cannot go wrong here. 10/10.”
Companionship
Visits for company rather than personal care: a conversation, a walk, the shopping or a lift to a club.
- Of the 45 nearest carers with a full profile, 30 write about companionship, conversation or days out in their own profile.
Jackline N.London · 22 years caring“What I enjoy most is the companionship side of a visit: a proper chat, cooking something together, or just sitting with someone over a cup of tea and the television.”£22 an hourProfile →
Tigest T.London · 17 years caring“My day-to-day work covers everything from eating and drinking assistance, dressing, bathing and toileting to medication reminders, moving and handling, cooking, laundry and general household tasks, always alongside good conversation and company.”£19 an hourProfile →
John O.London · 15 years caring“Day to day, I offer companionship alongside practical support, whether that's cooking a meal together, chatting over cards or a board game, or simply sitting and talking things through.”£20 an hourProfile →
“The interaction she gives my mother is incredible, singing, dancing, taking her to groups, on plenty of walks which mum always loves. She keeps mum very active in body and mind which is exactly what we wanted to keep the mum we knew before the dementia coming out, we were not sure we would find someone to do that but we have in Joyce. She is caring and gentle with mum and I could not recommend her highly enough!”
“She attended to what I thought was an impossible mess to tackle in my home that had built up after not being able to care for myself for quite some time in just a few hours - a project I thought would take weeks. And she's incredibly accommodating and I just couldn't ask more from a carer. I give Liliana my strongest possible recommendation. I promise, you won't be disappointed!”
Companionship care explainedCarers who share a hobby in London
Personal care
Help with washing, dressing, the toilet and continence, from the same carer each time.
- Of the 45 nearest carers with a full profile, 31 describe personal care in their own words, not just on a checklist.
Wilo S.London · 5 years caring“My experience includes helping clients with personal care tasks, administering medication, preparing meals or snacks and feeding, assisting with incontinence, shopping, house-work tasks and laundry.”£20 an hourProfile →
Francis M.London · 10 years caring“Day to day, I can help with washing, dressing, moving and handling, hoist use, catheter and wound care, and medication reminders, alongside cooking, laundry and general household tasks.”£20 an hourProfile →
Siham A.London · 4 years caring“My daily work covers the practical side of care: washing, dressing, moving and handling, hoist use, catheter care and toileting, as well as medication reminders and help with eating and drinking.”£19 an hourProfile →
“Nicola is BRILLIANT. Everything is going like clockwork since she started as a carer for me. I am often in a lot of pain and she understands and works accordingly. She is extremely pleasant and extremely clean. I would have no hesitation in recommending her to anyone. Margaret Berry.”
“My Diet Is Balanced And Rich {I Give The Credit To Her For This} She Is Family, She Is Forever Loved And Cherished, A Jewel 💎 That Brings Peace, Joy, Love And Happiness To Your Home💯 May The Almighty ADONAI Bless Her SHALOM”
Help with a condition
Care for a condition or a change in health in London
Dementia care
Care from someone who has looked after people with dementia before and knows how to keep a day calm.
- Of the 45 nearest carers with a full profile, 29 write about caring for someone with dementia.
Jennifer N.London · 15 years caring£21 an hourProfile →
Michael A.10 years caring“I've supported people living with dementia, stroke, Parkinson's, heart disease, cancer, respiratory illness and many other conditions, and I'm equally at home with bathing, hoist use, catheter care, medication reminders and the everyday jobs of cooking and…”£18.80 an hourProfile →
Beverley J.London“I support people with a wide range of conditions, including dementia, Parkinson's, stroke recovery and diabetes, as well as helping with mobility, bathing, dressing and medication reminders.”£19.20 an hourProfile →
“Julia cared for our mum amazingly! Her kind and patient approach ensured mum was supported well in her early stages of being diagnosed with Dementia. She is very trustworthy, and is a true asset to anyone that needs her support.”
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 45 nearest carers with a full profile, 27 write about Parkinson's, stroke, MS or motor neurone disease.
Jeli B.London · 9 years caring“I support people living with dementia, mobility difficulties, diabetes, Parkinson’s, and a wide range of other conditions.”£30 an hour1 reviewProfile →
Valeria R.London · 2 years caring“Over two years I've supported people with a wide range of needs, from learning disabilities and autism to stroke, heart disease and declining mobility, as well as conditions like osteoporosis, arthritis and respiratory illness.”£25 an hour1 reviewProfile →
Ashley.Kip L.London · 10 years caring“Over the years I have supported clients living with anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, type 2 diabetes, deafness, visual impairment, physical disability, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, heart disease, HIV and…”£20 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 45 nearest carers with a full profile, 10 write about helping someone home from hospital or through a recovery.
Safiyo M.London · 15 years caring“Based in London, I offer hourly, live-in and overnight care, and after fifteen years working with elderly and special needs clients across home visits and hospitals, I have learned that good care often starts with simply being good company.”£19.20 an hour1 reviewProfile →
Nicola R.London · 5 years caring“I have been an outreach worker placing young people with learning difficulties in further education and have been volunteering in the Cancer Unit at Guys Hospital, I believe it is important to encourage all clients to engage in conversation in order to…”£22.50 an hour1 reviewProfile →
Helen A.London · 27 years caring“Writing clear and concise records and reports has enabled me implement client recovery model while performing one-on-one support and guidance.”£21 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 45 nearest carers with a full profile, 12 write about palliative care or caring for someone who is very ill.
Joyce C.Greater London · 25 years caring“I've supported people living with dementia, Parkinson's, stroke, diabetes, respiratory illness and heart conditions, among others, as well as those needing end of life care, and I'm comfortable with wound dressing, catheter and colostomy care too.”£20 an hour4 reviewsProfile →
Maryan A.London · 11 years caring“Over eleven years I have supported people with a wide range of needs, including dementia, Parkinson's, stroke, arthritis, respiratory illness and end of life care.”£20.10 an hour1 reviewProfile →
Lucy O.London · 20 years caring“Whether it is a broken bone healing, a longer term illness, or end of life care, I try to bring steadiness, good humour and genuine companionship to every visit.”£18.89 an hour1 reviewProfile →
“I have often referred to Jayne as a godsend, really taking the load off my shoulders. She takes real pride in being a carer and it really shows.”
Nights and round the clock
Care at night and around the clock in London
Overnight care
A carer spends the night in the house, either sleeping and on hand, or awake all night.
- Of the 45 nearest carers with a full profile, 26 offer overnight care.
- £130 to £145 for a sleeping night and £150 to £160 for a waking night on PrimeCarers.
Zenaida C.London · 5 years caring“My week is built around the rhythm of the people I support, whether that means popping in for hourly visits, moving in for a spell of live-in care, or sitting through the night on overnight shifts across London.”Does nights1 reviewProfile →
Amina K.London · 10 years caring“I offer hourly, live-in and overnight care, and I've supported people with a wide range of conditions, including dementia, Parkinson's, stroke recovery, diabetes and arthritis, as well as those who are bedbound or nearing the end of life.”Does nights1 reviewProfile →
Fatuma A.London · 3 years caring“I am based in London and offer hourly, live-in and overnight care, and over the past three years I have supported people with a wide range of conditions including dementia, Parkinson's, stroke, heart disease and arthritis, as well as those needing end of life…”Does nights2 reviewsProfile →
Respite care
Cover so the person who does the caring can stop for a while, from a few visits to a fortnight.
- Of the 45 nearest carers with a full profile, 29 do nights or live-in care, which is how most respite is covered.
Endurance A.Greater London · 10 years caring£20 an hourProfile →
Kara P.London · 5 years caring£19 an hourProfile →
Rugiatu M.15 years caring“I have been working in the care sector for around 15 years,working in the community, care homes and as a private live in carer.”£20 an hourProfile →
“Jayne looked after him, took him out for long walks in the park and helped him to become more confident in a difficult situation. When his mobility became better, she also encouraged him to go out with the Upwalker (Rollator for tall people) to improve his walking. We are very sad that she is no longer able to come to us because she moved out of the area for work reasons.”
Live-in care
One carer lives in the home and is there through the day and night, with a daily break.
- 100 live-in carers are based within about an hour of London.
- A week here costs £1,015 to £1,125 with our fee included, typically £1,045.
- Of the 45 nearest carers with a full profile, 17 also do live-in care as well as visits.
Julia Hazvinei L.London · 10 years caring“Ten years on, that still drives how I work across London, offering hourly visits, overnight support and live-in care depending on what someone needs.”£135 a day4 reviewsProfile →
Sonia Maureen M.18 years caring£200 a day1 reviewProfile →
Pere O.London · 17 years caring“I offer hourly visits, overnight stays and longer live-in care across London, and what I enjoy most is simply being good company for someone.”£160 a day2 reviewsProfile →
“The quality of life that she's given my parents has been priceless. The peace of mind she's given my sisters and I, through a very difficult time, has been invaluable. We can't recommend her highly enough. Thankyou Lili.”
Care homes
Care homes and nursing homes in London
707 of the 797 with a Care Quality Commission rating are rated good or outstanding, 17 of them outstanding, and 90 are rated requires improvement or inadequate. Few homes here publish their fees; across the UK a residential place costs about £1,160 a week and a nursing place about £1,410. A live-in carer here costs £1,015 to £1,125 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 London 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 London
2,076 home care agencies for older people across the 32 council areas of London
3,060 private carers near London
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 London profiles the best-rated private carers nearby.
Paying for care
Help paying for care in London
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 London sets out each route and who to contact.
Questions
Questions families in London ask about the types of care
3,060 carers within about 45 minutes of London offer care at home, from companionship visits to live-in care. Away from home, 871 care homes across the 32 council areas of London take older people, 375 of them with nursing and 573 registered to care for people with dementia.
For one person it is usually about the same: a live-in week here is typically £1,045 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.
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 871 care homes across the 32 council areas of London that take older people, 375 provide nursing. 573 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 London sets out each route.