When families begin to explore private home care options, one of the most common questions is: what exactly is provided and how much does it cost? Private home care can be highly flexible, so the services, structure, and pricing will vary by provider, location, and your specific needs. In this article, we’ll:
Define private home care
Break down the typical services you can expect
Explore common care models (hourly, live-in, overnight)
Examine cost ranges and what influences them
Outline funding options
Explain why many families choose private care
Defining Private Home Care
Private home care, sometimes called domiciliary care or in-home care, is a service arranged and paid for directly by an individual or their family (or via a personal budget). In contrast to public or local authority provision, private home care offers more direct control and customisation over how, when, and by whom care is delivered.
These services are typically provided by agencies that are regulated. For example, in England they must be registered with the Care Quality Commission and deliver care that complies with legal, safety, and safeguarding standards.
Private home care may be required for a limited period, such as post-hospital recovery, or for longer term support depending on the person’s situation.
Services Included in Private Home Care
A well-structured care plan will usually cover a range of services tailored to the individual’s needs. Below are the main categories of care you can expect:
Personal Care and Support with Daily Living
This is the core of many home care packages:
Bathing, showering, washing
Dressing and grooming
Toileting and continence support
Assistance with transfers (getting in and out of bed or chairs)
Mobility support (walking or use of aids)
Skin care and monitoring of pressure areas
Medication Assistance
Many people receiving home care need some support with medication. Services may include:
Reminders to take prescribed medicines
Administration of medicines (by appropriately trained carers)
Liaison with GPs or pharmacies for changes or refills
Assistance with topical treatments
Meals, Nutrition and Hydration
Ensuring the person is eating properly is vital. Home care agencies may provide:
Meal preparation or help with eating
Light food shopping (if required)
Monitoring of nutrition intake and hydration levels
Assistance preparing snacks and drinks during the day
Companionship and Emotional Support
Loneliness and isolation are common among people receiving care. Private home care often includes:
Friendly visits and conversation
Accompanying clients to social activities, appointments or clubs
Support in pursuing hobbies or interests
Emotional reassurance and encouragement
Domestic Tasks and Household Maintenance
Beyond personal care, many care plans include light domestic help:
Cleaning of high-use areas such as kitchens and bathrooms
Washing linen and bedding
Laundry and clothes care
Tidying rooms and clearing hazards
Shopping and errands such as collecting prescriptions
These tasks typically exclude deep cleaning, gardening or heavy DIY, unless specially agreed.
Specialist and Clinical Care
For those with more complex needs, private care providers may include:
Dementia care, including reassurance, structured routines, and behavioural support
Post-operative or rehabilitation support
End-of-life or palliative care
Support for specific neurological conditions such as stroke, Parkinson’s or MS
Assistance with feeding tubes, catheter care or stoma support, where carers are trained and permitted to do so
Whether such services are included depends on the provider, the carers’ training, and any regulatory boundaries. Some clinical tasks must remain the responsibility of qualified professionals.
Types of Private Home Care Arrangements
Understanding how care can be structured helps with planning. The most common models are:
Hourly or Visit-Based Care
Carers visit for specified durations, typically 30 to 60 minutes. For example, morning, lunchtime and evening visits may be scheduled. This model suits those who are relatively independent but need support with certain tasks.
Live-In Care
With live-in care, a carer resides in the client’s home and provides support throughout the day, and often during the night. This approach is particularly useful for people who need regular assistance but want to remain in their own home.
Overnight or Waking Night Care
Some clients require support during the night. In these cases:
Sleeping night means the carer is present and resting, but available if needed
Waking night means the carer remains awake throughout the night and actively monitors or assists the client
This service is often provided in addition to daytime care or as part of a live-in arrangement.
Respite and Short-Term Packages
Many families use private home care for respite, giving primary carers a break. Short-term care may also be arranged following discharge from hospital, when someone needs help during their recovery.
What Does Private Home Care Cost?
Costs can vary significantly depending on the location, level of care required, the provider, and how care is structured.
Hourly or Visit-Based Care
Across the UK, hourly care is typically priced between £26 and £38
Prices may be higher for specialist care or out-of-hours visits
The Homecare Association’s minimum recommended price for 2024–2025 is £28.53 per hour in England
Live-In Care
Daily rates typically range between £120 and £150
Weekly costs often fall between £800 and £1,200
This may be more affordable than residential care, especially for couples
Overnight or Night Cover
Sleeping night rates are generally lower
Waking night care costs more due to the intensity and attentiveness required
What the Fee Usually Covers
Carer wages, insurance, training and supervision
Travel or travel time (where applicable)
Equipment used by the care team
Coordination, care planning and oversight
Documentation, reporting and updates
Always request a full breakdown and check whether additional costs apply, such as:
Mileage
Bank holiday surcharges
Emergency or short-notice care
The need for a second carer
What Influences the Cost?
Several factors affect the total cost of care:
Location: services in London or the South East tend to be more expensive
Care complexity: higher dependency needs require more skilled or longer visits
Duration and frequency: more hours per day or week increases cost
Live-in vs hourly: live-in care has higher upfront cost but can be more efficient
Night care: overnight care adds to total spend, especially for waking nights
Specialist care requirements: e.g. dementia or palliative care
Funding and Financial Support
While most private care is self-funded, some support may be available:
Direct payments or personal budgets from your local authority
Attendance Allowance or PIP can help offset the cost of care
NHS Continuing Healthcare may fund care at home for those with primarily medical needs
(Some insurance policies cover home care services)
Quarry Homecare can support you in understanding available funding and help you liaise with local authorities if needed.
Why Families Choose Private Home Care
There are many reasons why people prefer private home care:
Greater choice and control over the care plan
Ability to build rapport with a regular, trusted carer
Flexibility to adapt care as needs change
Faster access to services
A more holistic approach to wellbeing that includes emotional and social support
Avoiding the stress of residential care
Quarry Homecare offers a fully regulated, responsive and compassionate service that prioritises your comfort, safety, and independence.
To Sum Things Up
Private home care includes a broad range of support services, from personal care and companionship to medication, domestic tasks and specialist needs. It can be delivered through hourly visits, overnight stays or full-time live-in care. Costs vary depending on what you need and where you live, but quality providers will offer clarity and transparency from the start.
