Elderly careWest Sussex

Types of elderly care in West Sussex

An older person in West Sussex can have care at home, from a visit a week to a carer who lives in, or move into a care home. 1,072 carers are based within about 45 minutes of West Sussex and 277 care homes in West Sussex 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 September 2026  ·  9 min read · See every kind of care, with local prices

Every kind of care

Every kind of care in West Sussex, with what it costs here

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

Help during the day

Help at home during the day in West Sussex

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.

  • 1,072 carers are based within about 45 minutes of West Sussex, charging £19 to £22 an hour with our fee included, typically £20.
  • 38 of the 57 with a rate on their profile drive, which matters for trips out and for visits outside the towns.

“The care Sally gave to Mum and Dad was second to none, nothing was ever too much trouble whether within the timeframe allocated or out of hours. She was a very trusted and valued friend to Mum and Dad while also giving them the professional care and support for their care needs. Our family were so grateful for Sally's support.”

Carole E., about Sally Ann M. of Crawley, 2024

Hourly care explainedPrivate carers in West Sussex

Companionship

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

  • Of the 47 nearest carers with a full profile, 38 write about companionship, conversation or days out in their own profile.

“She got straight down on my dad's lounge floor at my dad's level and spoke to him with a tone that was reassuring but not at all patronizing - and I knew that was exactly what my dad needed to feel more in control of his life again. Cath exuded confidence and compassion. It was immediately obvious that she was very knowledgeable about catheters and lots of other areas of nursing too.”

Bob E., about Julie H. of East Grinstead, 2023

“Veronica (Ronnie) is amazing! She is so very kind and patient with my 92 year old mother in law. She helps in every which way she can from cooking, washing, accompanying to GP appointments and just being an ear! She has made such a difference to our lives! Thanks Ronnie! 😊”

Andrea P., about Veronica Joan B. of Chichester, 2024

Companionship care explainedCarers who share a hobby in West Sussex

Help with a condition

Care for a condition or a change in health in West Sussex

Nights and round the clock

Care at night and around the clock in West Sussex

Overnight care

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

  • Of the 47 nearest carers with a full profile, 33 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.

  • 28 live-in carers are based within about an hour of West Sussex.
  • A week here costs £1,050 to £1,120 with our fee included, typically £1,085.
  • Of the 47 nearest carers with a full profile, 19 also do live-in care as well as visits.

“Ivanka was always cheerful and happy, she was brilliant promoting Elizabeth’s autonomy and choices even though Elizabeth is barely able to speak now. Ivanka was a good advocate for Elizabeth and communicated well with health professionals involved in her care. Ivanka had a good relationship with us (Elizabeth’s sister and her brother Ron) and kept us informed at all times. I have no hesitation in recommending Ivanka.”

Sara J., about Ivanka Z. of Leatherhead, 2024

Live-in care explainedLive-in care in West Sussex

Care homes

Care homes and nursing homes in West Sussex

277care homes in West Sussex take older people
117of them provide nursing
179are registered to care for people with dementia
10,338beds between them

216 of the 256 with a Care Quality Commission rating are rated good or outstanding, 10 of them outstanding, and 40 are rated requires improvement or inadequate. The homes here that publish their fees charge a median of £1,458 a week for a residential place and £1,813 for nursing. A live-in carer here costs £1,050 to £1,120 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 West Sussex 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 West Sussex

181 home care agencies for older people in West Sussex

Registered with the Care Quality Commission, and 120 of the 128 with a rating are rated good or outstanding. An agency usually charges £28 to £35 an hour and chooses which of its carers comes.

1,072 private carers near West Sussex

Self-employed carers near West Sussex charge £19 to £22 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 West Sussex profiles the best-rated private carers nearby.

Paying for care

Help paying for care in West Sussex

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 West Sussex sets out each route and who to contact.

Questions

Questions families in West Sussex ask about the types of care

1,072 carers within about 45 minutes of West Sussex offer care at home, from companionship visits to live-in care. Away from home, 277 care homes in West Sussex take older people, 117 of them with nursing and 179 registered to care for people with dementia.

For one person it is usually about the same: a live-in week here is typically £1,085 with our fee included, against a median of £1,458 for a care home place in West Sussex. 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 277 care homes in West Sussex that take older people, 117 provide nursing. 179 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 West Sussex sets out each route.

Where the nearest carers live

From the profiles of the carers based within about 45 minutes of West Sussex

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 West Sussex

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

See who could help in West Sussex

Search the carers near West Sussex 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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