24 hour care at home means someone is there around the clock, either one live-in carer who lives in the home or a team of day and waking night carers. The NHS pays for it only when someone qualifies for NHS Continuing Healthcare; otherwise it is funded privately or with council help after a financial assessment. 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 £1,300/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 £1,300/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 are locally based, we can often arrange care quickly; call us to discuss start dates.
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 discuss the assessment, care plan and suitable start dates with you. 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 £1,300/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 - we can often arrange care quickly; call us to discuss start dates.
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.
Does the NHS pay for 24 hour care at home?
Only if the person is assessed as eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare, which is for needs that are mainly health needs. Ask the GP, hospital team or social worker for a CHC checklist.
