Where a Live-In Carer Sleeps and What the Home Needs
Families often worry that the house is not smart enough or big enough for someone to live in. In practice the requirements are modest and most ordinary homes already meet them. This page sets out exactly what a carer needs, what is negotiable and what is not, so you can look round your parent's house and know the answer before you ring anyone.
The carer must have a bedroom of their own that nobody else uses, with a bed, somewhere to hang and store clothes, and a door that closes. A box room is fine. A sofa bed in the lounge, a shared room, or a bed on a landing is not, and no reputable provider will place a carer in those conditions.
Beyond that the bar is low. The room does not need redecorating, does not need a television and does not need an en suite. Clearing it out is usually the only real job before a placement starts.
A private bedroom used by nobody else
A bed, wardrobe or drawers, and a working door
Heating and a window that opens
Somewhere to charge a phone
Bathroom, kitchen and wifi
A shared bathroom is normal and works perfectly well. The carer needs regular access to wash and to use the toilet, and somewhere to keep their toiletries. They also need use of the kitchen, since they are cooking for the household anyway.
Wifi matters more than families expect. A live-in carer is away from their own home for weeks at a time, and being able to video call their family in the evening is a large part of what keeps a placement stable. It is also how care notes, rotas and updates reach the office.
Food, bills and the awkward practical questions
Food is shared from the household shop. There is no separate allowance and no expectation that you cook differently. Most carers do the shop themselves and simply buy for two.
Household bills stay as they are. You do not pay the carer for anything directly, all pay is handled by us as their employer, and you never handle tax, National Insurance or holiday pay. Tips and gifts are not expected.
Food bought on the normal household shop
No separate food allowance, no cash handled between you and the carer
No employer duties for the family: we employ our carers
Utilities and wifi stay in the householder's name as usual
Homes that need a bit of thought
A flat with only one bedroom will not work for live-in care, and it is kinder to say so early. In that situation hourly visiting care, overnight support or a combination is usually the honest recommendation.
Small terraced houses, bungalows with a second bedroom and older properties with narrow stairs are all workable. What matters more than size is whether the layout is safe for the person being cared for, and an occupational therapy referral through the GP can often get grab rails or a stair rail fitted before care starts.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to redecorate the spare room?
No. Clean bedding, a bed that is comfortable and space to put clothes away is genuinely all that is asked. Nobody is inspecting your wallpaper.
Can the carer share a bathroom with my mother?
Yes, that is the normal arrangement in most homes. They simply need reasonable access and a shelf for their own things.
What if the house only has one bedroom?
Live-in care is not possible in a one bedroom home. Hourly visits, overnight sitting or a mix of the two is the realistic option, and we will tell you that rather than take the booking.
Does the carer eat with my father?
Usually yes, and most families find that is one of the better parts of it. Eating alone is one of the reasons appetite falls away in later life.
Are there rules about the carer having visitors?
Guests are not part of the arrangement. The carer is working in someone else's home and we set that expectation clearly with them before a placement starts.
What if the home needs equipment before care can start?
Ask the GP for an occupational therapy assessment. Rails, raised seats, bed levers and similar are often provided at no cost, and we can get started while you wait for them.
