Care options for older people
There comes a time in all our lives when we need a bit of extra support. If you or a loved one are finding it increasingly difficult to live independently at home, you may be considering what different care options are available and what live-in care means for your situation. This may be hard to accept for the individual needing assistance and stressful for their loved ones.
Making decisions about the support you or your loved one needs can be confusing. Gone are the days when the only choice for an older person needing extra help was to be cared for by family or move into a residential care home. There are now many different types of care available, including options that allow people to remain in their own homes while receiving additional support.
If you are new to the world of care, you may be wondering how, for example, live-in care compares with care home support, or what other care options are open to you.
Comparing care options for older people
In this guide, we highlight the different types of care available and compare them to live-in care.
Here is an overview of the different types of care and their main advantages and disadvantages:
Residential care home
A residential care home provides accommodation, meals and personal care in a shared setting. Residents have their own room and can use communal spaces, with care staff available throughout the day and night.
A care home may suit someone who enjoys having other people around and would benefit from living in a setting where care and daily support are provided together.
With live-in care, the person stays in their own home and has support from a carer who lives with them.
Residential nursing home
A nursing home provides accommodation and personal care alongside nursing care for people with more complex health needs. Registered nurses are available to provide clinical support that isn’t usually offered in a standard residential care home.
Nursing homes may be suitable for people whose health needs require regular nursing input. Live-in care can provide support at home for people with a range of care needs, although it isn’t a substitute for nursing care where this is required.
Live-in care at home
Live-in care allows a person to remain in their own home with a carer living with them. The carer provides support during the day, including personal care, household tasks, meals, appointments and companionship, while also having appropriate time to rest.
It can be an option for people who need more consistent support than visiting care can provide but would prefer to remain at home.
To understand the benefits in more detail, see our guide to the benefits of live-in care.
Domiciliary care/visiting care at home
Domiciliary care involves a carer visiting the person’s home for agreed periods, usually at set times during the day. Visits might be arranged once or several times a day, depending on the support needed.
This can work well for someone who needs help with specific tasks but can manage for longer periods between visits. If more consistent support is needed throughout the day, live-in care may be another option to consider.
24-hour care at home
24-hour care provides support at home with dedicated cover during both the day and night. It usually involves more than one carer so that someone can remain awake and available during the night.
This can be suitable for people who need regular waking support overnight. Live-in care is different because the live-in carer needs time to sleep and rest, although they can respond to occasional needs during the night.
Assisted living – residential/semi-independent
Assisted living, also known as extra-care housing, combines independent accommodation with access to care and support. Residents usually have their own flat, with communal facilities and care staff available within the scheme.
It may suit someone who wants to move somewhere with other residents nearby while retaining a degree of independence. Live-in care allows someone to receive support without moving from their existing home.
Live-in care vs domiciliary care
Domiciliary care, also known as visiting or hourly care, involves carers coming to the home for scheduled visits. Someone might have one visit a day or several, depending on their needs.
For example, a morning visit could help with washing, dressing and medication, while an evening visit could provide support with the bedtime routine.
Visiting care can work well when someone needs support at particular times but can manage independently between visits. It may be less suitable when someone needs regular support throughout the day.
With live-in care, a carer stays in the home and can provide support as part of everyday life. This can include personal care, meals, household tasks, shopping, appointments and companionship.
A live-in carer also has more opportunity to get to know the person’s routines, preferences and interests. This continuity can be particularly important for someone who spends a lot of time alone.
Live-in care vs assisted living
Assisted living gives people their own accommodation alongside access to care, support and communal facilities. Depending on the scheme, residents may have access to meals, domestic help and support with personal care.
The main difference is where the person lives. Assisted living involves moving into a dedicated scheme, while live-in care allows them to stay in their existing home.
Costs can also work differently. Assisted living may involve rent or the cost of buying a property, a service charge and separate care charges, alongside household costs such as council tax and energy bills.
Before choosing a scheme, check exactly what is included and whether charges can increase. Ask about any one-off administration or exit fees as well as regular service and care charges.
Live-in care may be an option for someone who needs daily support but wants to remain in their own home and community.
Live-in care vs 24-hour care
Live-in care and 24-hour care are sometimes used interchangeably, but there’s an important difference in the level of night-time support provided.
With live-in care, a carer lives in the home and provides support during the day. They have time to rest and sleep at night, although they can respond to occasional needs.
24-hour care provides dedicated cover throughout the day and night, usually with separate day and night carers. The night carer remains awake and available throughout their shift.
Both options allow someone to remain at home and maintain their usual routines. However, 24-hour care may be more suitable for someone who needs regular waking support overnight and will usually cost more because of the additional staffing.
For more detail on staffing and costs, see our guide to live-in care vs 24-hour care.
Live-in care in practice
Helping Mary find her feet again
When Mary’s family were considering care after she suffered a hip fracture, they were weighing up the options for supporting her at home.
Mary’s story shows how live-in care can provide one-to-one support while allowing someone to remain in familiar surroundings rather than moving into residential care.
Read Mary’s story and find out how Country Cousins helped her find her feet again.
Mrs N’s story: what one-to-one care looks like day to day
The difference between live-in care and other types of support often comes down to the relationship between the person receiving care and their carer. Mrs N’s story shows what that can look like in practice, years into an ongoing live-in arrangement rather than a series of scheduled visits.
Mrs N came to Country Cousins after a hip replacement, and has been supported ever since by her carer, Shirley. Their relationship became close enough that Shirley helped her secure the WW2 service medal she was entitled to, at the age of 101.
Which type of care could be right for me?
There isn’t one type of care that suits everyone.
When comparing your options, it can help to think about four things:
- Personal care needs: How much support is needed during the day and night? Is occasional help enough, or is more consistent support required?
- Familiarity and comfort: Would staying at home help the person keep familiar routines, maintain relationships, stay with their pets and remain connected to their local community?
- Social preferences: Would they prefer the companionship of a dedicated live-in carer, the social environment of a care setting or the shorter visits provided by domiciliary care?
- Flexibility and continuity: How important is it to have support that can fit around existing routines and changing needs?
Thinking through these questions can help you narrow down the options before discussing your circumstances with a care professional.
Frequently asked questions
What are the different types of care?
- Assisted living (extra-care housing)
- Visiting care (domiciliary care)
- Residential care homes
- Nursing homes
- Live-in care
- 24-hour care
Who can have live-in care?
Live-in care can suit people who need regular support during the day and want to remain at home. This can include people recovering after a hospital stay, adults with disabilities and older people who need help with everyday activities.
The level of support depends on the individual’s needs, and live-in care isn’t suitable where someone requires dedicated waking support throughout the night.
How do I know which care type is for me?
Deciding what type of care support is best is a very personal choice and depends on your circumstances such as your support needs, health, care budget and routines. If you are unsure what type of care is best suited to your needs, get in touch with our expert care team who will be happy to answer all your questions.
What is the difference between live-in care and domiciliary care?
Domiciliary care involves a carer visiting the home for agreed periods, while live-in care involves a carer living in the home and providing support throughout the day, with appropriate breaks and rest. Live-in care may be more suitable when someone needs more consistent support at home.
What is the difference between live-in care and a care home?
With live-in care, the person remains in their own home and has one-to-one support from a live-in carer. In a care home, the person moves into a residential setting where care staff support multiple residents. The right option depends on the person’s needs, routines and circumstances.
Is live-in care the same as 24-hour care?
No. Live-in care and 24-hour care both provide support at home, but they are staffed differently. A live-in carer works during the day and needs time to rest and sleep, while 24-hour care usually involves separate day and night cover so that a carer is awake throughout the night.
Talk to Country Cousins
Choosing the right type of care can take time, particularly when you’re weighing up different options for yourself or a loved one. If you’re still unsure which type of support could work for your circumstances, our team can talk through your needs and answer your questions.
Call Country Cousins on 01293 224 706. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm & Saturday, 10am to 4pm. Alternatively, you can fill in our online enquiry form.
Reviewed by Angela Rodbourne. Tuesday 13th October 2026.
