Elderly careMerton

Types of elderly care in Merton

An older person in Merton can have care at home, from a visit a week to a carer who lives in, or move into a care home. 2,789 carers are based within about 45 minutes of Merton and 24 care homes in Merton take older people. This page sets out each kind of care, what it costs here and who provides it, with carers and client reviews from nearby.

By James Bowdler, founder of PrimeCarers  ·  Updated October 2026  ·  9 min read · See every kind of care, with local prices

Every kind of care

Every kind of care in Merton, with what it costs here

Each row is a level of help, with the price carers near Merton charge and how much of it there is locally.

Help during the day

Help at home during the day in Merton

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.

  • 2,789 carers are based within about 45 minutes of Merton, charging £19 to £20 an hour with our fee included, typically £20.
  • 29 of the 52 with a rate on their profile drive, which matters for trips out and for visits outside the towns.

“I would have given her 6 stars if I had been able. She is really bubbly and puts you at your ease, which is really important in personal care. Once she finishes the key tasks she just gets on with lots of other work without being asked. She is just one of those people that looks around, sees what needs to be done and does it. She is super professional and I would and probably will, work with her again.”

Denise D., about Sharon R. of Croydon, 2019

“Aman came to support my Dad's care when we were at crisis point. We have really appreciated his calm and professional approach. Without his support we wouldn't have been able to navigate bringing and keeping Dad at home.”

Emma P., about Aman A. of Surbiton, 2021

Hourly care explainedPrivate carers in Merton

Companionship

Visits for company rather than personal care: a conversation, a walk, the shopping or a lift to a club.

  • Of the 43 nearest carers with a full profile, 27 write about companionship, conversation or days out in their own profile.

“My mum's last few months were most definitely a lot easier with Carla there for both my mum and for me; She is an empathetic listener and also gives very sound advice. She cared effortlessly for my mum and often came up with solutions to 'challenges' that I did not know how to manage. I would thoroughly recommend her and also say, that anyone who has the privilege to have Carla caring for them will be very fortunate.”

Jackie D., about Carla A. of Greater London, 2021

“Carla is an exceptional, kind, professional carer. She cared for my mum with Alzheimer’s with endless patience and kindness, always arriving with a smile and a positive attitude, despite having to deal with lots of the the challenging behaviour that Alzheimer’s brings.”

Marie-anne B., about Carla A. of Greater London, 2022

Companionship care explainedCarers who share a hobby in Merton

Personal care

Help with washing, dressing, the toilet and continence, from the same carer each time.

  • Of the 43 nearest carers with a full profile, 31 describe personal care in their own words, not just on a checklist.

“My father was an intelligent man with a good sense of humour and Mario was an amusing and affectionate companion - he for example looked out my father's favourite music music, engaged him in conversation and made sure he was as comfortable as possible. Mario is generous, capable, kind and entirely reliable. He engaged with my father in a warm and thoughtful way. My father was extremely lucky to have him.”

Maggie C., about Mario Da Assuncao N. of Greater London, 2023

“When my step-father was dying and not any longer at home she made sure they spoke on the phone. This effort she made still moves me to tears. She understands Dementia and how it affects human beings-how it can make them. She is endlessly patient. My Mother trusted her and found her absence hard to deal with. She could also be trusted with money.”

Anne R., about Maria Del Mar A. of London, 2023

Personal care at home

Help with a condition

Care for a condition or a change in health in Merton

Dementia care

Care from someone who has looked after people with dementia before and knows how to keep a day calm.

  • Of the 43 nearest carers with a full profile, 27 write about caring for someone with dementia.

“Maria cared for my elderly aunt from 2017 until she passed away in 2020. My aunt had complex care needs having suffered a stroke which left her paralysed down her right side. She also suffered from dementia. Maria was fabulous with my aunt and enabled her to fulfil her wish of remaining in her own home until she passed away. I cannot recommend Maria highly enough.”

Julie R., about Maria Del Mar A. of London, 2023

“Sarah has helped to improve the quality of my mother’s life and increased her self esteem and it is reassuring to know that she is giving my mother the best care.”

Julia G., about Sarah Y. of Morden, 2024

Dementia care at home

Palliative care at home

Support at home for someone who is very ill, alongside the district nurses and the GP.

  • Of the 43 nearest carers with a full profile, 16 write about palliative care or caring for someone who is very ill.

“Carla is exceptionally really and and honestly made my Mum’s last 18 months the best they could possibly be. She was not only an amazing Carer to my mum but also her friend and companion, her supporter and her challenger sometimes but every way making my mum’s life better. She is incredibly efficient and strong and never hesitated when she needed to make a tough decision.”

Alexandra K., about Carla A. of Greater London, 2021

Palliative care at home

Nights and round the clock

Care at night and around the clock in Merton

Overnight care

A carer spends the night in the house, either sleeping and on hand, or awake all night.

  • Of the 43 nearest carers with a full profile, 29 offer overnight care.
  • £130 to £145 for a sleeping night and £150 to £160 for a waking night on PrimeCarers.

Overnight care explained

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 Merton.
  • A week here costs £1,015 to £1,127 with our fee included, typically £1,050.
  • Of the 43 nearest carers with a full profile, 19 also do live-in care as well as visits.

“We cannot speak highly enough of the care that Angelique gave, and would recommend her to anyone else needing a live-in carer. I would add that she was totally trustworthy around the house too, and with my mother's belongings.”

Richard E., about Angelique P. of New Malden, 2025

Live-in care explainedLive-in care in Merton

Care homes

Care homes and nursing homes in Merton

24care homes in Merton take older people
12of them provide nursing
18are registered to care for people with dementia
800beds between them

All 23 with a Care Quality Commission rating are rated good or outstanding, 1 of them outstanding. 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 £1,127 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 Merton 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 Merton

54 home care agencies for older people in Merton

Registered with the Care Quality Commission, and all 41 with a rating are rated good or outstanding. An agency usually charges £28 to £35 an hour and chooses which of its carers comes.

2,789 private carers near Merton

Self-employed carers near Merton charge £19 to £20 an hour on PrimeCarers, our fee included, and you choose who comes.

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 Merton profiles the best-rated private carers nearby.

Paying for care

Help paying for care in Merton

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 Merton sets out each route and who to contact.

Questions

Questions families in Merton ask about the types of care

2,789 carers within about 45 minutes of Merton offer care at home, from companionship visits to live-in care. Away from home, 24 care homes in Merton take older people, 12 of them with nursing and 18 registered to care for people with dementia.

For one person it is usually about the same: a live-in week here is typically £1,050 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 24 care homes in Merton that take older people, 12 provide nursing. 18 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 Merton sets out each route.

Where the nearest carers live

From the profiles of the carers based within about 45 minutes of Merton

Where the nearest carers live, from their profiles. For visits, a short drive makes early and late calls easier to cover.

Home care by town in Merton

Each town page shows the carers who list it as home, with their rates and reviews.

See who could help in Merton

Search the carers near Merton by the kind of care you need, with their photos, experience, rates and reviews. Talking to them is free and nothing is booked until you say so.

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