Elderly careSouthend-on-Sea

Types of elderly care in Southend-on-Sea

An older person in Southend-on-Sea can have care at home, from a visit a week to a carer who lives in, or move into a care home. 2,220 carers are based within about 45 minutes of Southend-on-Sea and 69 care homes in Southend-on-Sea 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 Southend-on-Sea, with what it costs here

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

Help during the day

Help at home during the day in Southend-on-Sea

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.

  • 2,220 carers are based within about 45 minutes of Southend-on-Sea, charging £19 to £21 an hour with our fee included, typically £20.
  • 28 of the 59 with a rate on their profile drive, which matters for trips out and for visits outside the towns.

“She treated my dad with dignity and patience, and her presence brought real peace of mind to our family during a challenging time. Paula was also a great listener. She took the time to understand not just what needed to be done, but how we wanted things done, and always carried out every task to an excellent standard.”

Steph F., about Paula M. of Barking, 2025

“My mum enjoys his company and looks forward to his arrival which is a good endorsement of his behaviour and level of care he shows her.”

David S., about Michael F. of Chelmsford, 2025

Hourly care explainedPrivate carers in Southend-on-Sea

Companionship

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

  • Of the 50 nearest carers with a full profile, 39 write about companionship, conversation or days out in their own profile.

“I had Lynette V as a carer for my mother. Sadly my mother passed away in October. She was an excellent carer whose care I could not fault. She was always punctual and someone who I could rely on totally. She was always cheerful and looking for ways to stimulate my mother. She became her "friend" and provided best care always. As a senior nursing Sister myself I would recommend as a carer without hesitation.”

Julie G., about Lynette V., 2021

“I literally can't say enough about Nechelle. She is the most amazing professional carer. She cared for my mum for almost 2 years. She was compassionate and caring at all times. At the same time she was extremely efficient and professional. As a family we felt my mum was in such capable caring hands. Whoever has Nechelle as their carer will be extremely fortunate. I recommend her wholeheartedly.”

Karyn O., about Nechelle F. of Chelmsford, 2024

Companionship care explainedCarers who share a hobby in Southend-on-Sea

Personal care

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

  • Of the 50 nearest carers with a full profile, 39 describe personal care in their own words, not just on a checklist.

“Kirsty truly represents the very best of what a “carer” should be. It is not just her job title – she embodies the true meaning of the word. She went above and beyond her duties to care for my mum, always ensuring her welfare and safety. She supported my mum in every way possible and made sure she never went without anything. She carried out all her work with a huge smile and wonderful energy.”

Nikki H., about Kirsty N. of Basildon, 2026

“Nechelle looked after my mum who had dementia, she was kind,caring and had amazing empathy for my mum's situation. Nechelle helped my mum with personal care and often sat and chatted to her.i would recommend Nechelle as a carer.nechelle has a sunny disposition always has a smile on her face.”

Sharon C., about Nechelle F. of Chelmsford, 2024

Personal care at home

Help with a condition

Care for a condition or a change in health in Southend-on-Sea

Dementia care

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

  • Of the 50 nearest carers with a full profile, 44 write about caring for someone with dementia.

“Noami has been looking after my mother since 2022. My mother is unable to walk and suffers from dementia, so can be challenging to deal with.Noami copes with patience. She is a safe pair of hands and her years of experience certainly shine through. She deals with the district nurses who come occasionally to check up on mums health and anything else that’s needed. She is an invaluable part of our family”

Christine O., about Noami B. of Barking, 2025

“Excellent. Highly professional, intelligent, diligent and sensitive with a high level of energy. Would highly recommend Nechelle for clients with dementia. She brought fun and stimulation into mums life.”

Robert G., about Nechelle F. of Chelmsford, 2024

Dementia care at home

Nights and round the clock

Care at night and around the clock in Southend-on-Sea

Care homes

Care homes and nursing homes in Southend-on-Sea

69care homes in Southend-on-Sea take older people
15of them provide nursing
51are registered to care for people with dementia
1,695beds between them

57 of the 65 with a Care Quality Commission rating are rated good or outstanding, 1 of them outstanding, and 8 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 £1,123 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 Southend-on-Sea 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 Southend-on-Sea

64 home care agencies for older people in Southend-on-Sea

Registered with the Care Quality Commission, and 28 of the 33 with a rating are rated good or outstanding. An agency usually charges £28 to £35 an hour and chooses which of its carers comes.

2,220 private carers near Southend-on-Sea

Self-employed carers near Southend-on-Sea charge £19 to £21 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 Southend-on-Sea profiles the best-rated private carers nearby.

Paying for care

Help paying for care in Southend-on-Sea

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 Southend-on-Sea sets out each route and who to contact.

Questions

Questions families in Southend-on-Sea ask about the types of care

2,220 carers within about 45 minutes of Southend-on-Sea offer care at home, from companionship visits to live-in care. Away from home, 69 care homes in Southend-on-Sea take older people, 15 of them with nursing and 51 registered to care for people with dementia.

For one person it is usually about the same: a live-in week here is typically £1,054 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 69 care homes in Southend-on-Sea that take older people, 15 provide nursing. 51 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 Southend-on-Sea sets out each route.

Where the nearest carers live

From the profiles of the carers based within about 45 minutes of Southend-on-Sea

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

See who could help in Southend-on-Sea

Search the carers near Southend-on-Sea 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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