24-hour home care means a carer is awake and available around the clock in your own home — typically delivered as two carers working 12-hour shifts, or one live-in carer with night-waking support. It's the highest-intensity form of home care and an alternative to a nursing home for people who need constant supervision.
24-hour home care provides a continuous carer presence in your home, day and night. Unlike standard live-in care (where the carer sleeps and is on-call), 24-hour care means someone is awake and actively supporting you at all times. Reedsfield Care delivers this as a two-carer shift rota or as live-in plus a waking-night carer, depending on what's clinically required.
Most families choose 24-hour care after a hospital discharge, a fall, a dementia diagnosis with night-time wandering, or for end-of-life support at home.
Awake carer presence 24/7 — not just on-call
Two-carer shift model or live-in plus night-waking carer
Personal care, medication, mobility, meals, companionship
Standard live-in care suits people who are stable overnight and need a carer on hand for occasional help. 24-hour care is for people who need active support at night — repositioning, frequent toileting, dementia wandering, oxygen monitoring, or end-of-life symptom management.
If you're sleeping through the night and just need someone there for reassurance, live-in care (from £1,150/week) is usually right. If you're up multiple times a night or need clinical observation, a two-carer 24-hour rota is the safer choice. We'll quote both in writing so you can compare.
How much does 24-hour home care cost in 2026?
24-hour cover is priced per assessment because the right model (two-carer awake rota vs. live-in plus a waking-night carer) depends on clinical need. Live-in care starts at £1,150/week; a waking 24-hour presence sits higher. We'll give you an itemised written quote before you commit.
NHS Continuing Healthcare can cover 100% of the cost when needs are primarily health-related. We help families apply.
Two-carer awake 24-hour rota: quoted per assessment
Live-in + waking-night carer: quoted per assessment
End-of-life / fast-track NHS CHC: usually 100% funded when eligible
No setup fees, no agency fees, one week's notice to stop
Areas we cover for 24-hour care
We provide 24-hour home care across our six core towns: Egham, Staines, Ashford, Sunbury, Shepperton and Virginia Water. Because we're family-run and locally based, we can usually start care within 24–48 hours of your first call.
How to arrange 24-hour care fast
Call 01784 740078 or WhatsApp 07403 862037. A care manager will call you back, arrange a free home assessment, and aim to have a written care plan and matched carer in place within 24–48 hours. Hospital discharge, end-of-life and post-fall situations are prioritised.
Frequently asked questions
Is 24-hour care the same as live-in care?
No. Live-in care means one carer lives in your home and sleeps at night (with on-call support). 24-hour care means a carer is awake and active at all times — usually two carers on 12-hour shifts, or live-in plus a waking-night carer.
How much does 24-hour home care cost per week?
It's priced per assessment. Live-in care starts at £1,150/week; a waking 24-hour presence sits higher, depending on complexity. NHS Continuing Healthcare can fully fund care when needs are primarily clinical.
Can 24-hour care start the same week?
Yes — for hospital discharges, end-of-life and post-fall situations we routinely start within 24–48 hours of your first call.
Is 24-hour home care cheaper than a nursing home?
For one person the two are often broadly comparable. The advantage is staying in your own home with one consistent carer and no admission/waiting list. For couples, one 24-hour package covers both partners, which is usually far cheaper than two care-home places.
Will the NHS pay for 24-hour care at home?
Yes — through NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) if your needs are primarily health-related. There's no means test. We help families apply.
What conditions need 24-hour home care?
Most commonly: advanced dementia with night wandering, end-of-life cancer care, post-stroke recovery, Parkinson's with significant mobility loss, PEG feeding, ventilator/tracheostomy care, and complex MS.
