Live In Care in Edinburgh That Fits Around Your Life
1st Focus Homecare provides personalised live in care in Edinburgh, helping people receive the support they need while continuing to live in their own homes.
From personal care and meal preparation to companionship and assistance with everyday routines, care is planned around the individual and the way they want to live.
Whether you are considering long-term support for a parent, looking for care for yourself and your partner, or arranging temporary help while a family carer takes a break, our Edinburgh team can explain your options.
What Is Live In Care and How Does It Work?
Live in care is an arrangement in which a professional carer lives in the home of the person receiving support. Care is delivered according to an agreed plan, with time for the carer to rest and take breaks.
It can suit someone whose needs extend beyond scheduled home-care visits but who would prefer to remain in familiar surroundings. Keeping your own bedroom, possessions, garden and connections with neighbours can be an important part of that decision.
Before care begins, we discuss what you can do independently, where you need assistance and what matters to you in daily life. This includes the practical details of sharing your home, family involvement and how support will be covered when the carer is off duty.
Live in care is one of the options offered by our home care team in Edinburgh. If regular visiting care would meet your needs, we can discuss that too.
What Can a Live In Carer Help With?
Your care plan sets out the support you need and how you prefer it to be provided. Depending on the assessment, this may include the following.
Personal Care
Sensitive help with washing, dressing, grooming, using the toilet and agreed continence care, with respect for your privacy and preferred routines.
Meals and Drinks
Preparing food you enjoy and supporting agreed dietary and hydration routines, including assistance with eating where this is required.
Medication Support
Reminders or assistance within the agreed care plan and the carer’s training and responsibilities, with clear arrangements for recording support and reporting concerns.
Mobility and Everyday Movement
Assessed assistance with moving around your home and using suitable equipment. Any need for additional staff or professional guidance must be addressed before the relevant care begins.
Companionship and Activities
Conversation, hobbies and support to maintain contact with others. Appointments, outings and visits to friends can also form part of the arrangement where practical and agreed.
Everyday Household Tasks
Agreed shopping, laundry and light housework connected with your care. Responsibilities are clearly defined rather than assuming the service includes maintaining the entire household.
You remain involved in decisions about your home and routine. The aim is to support what you want to continue doing, as well as provide help with tasks that have become difficult.
Personal care and nursing care are different services. If you need clinical procedures or treatment, the assessment must establish which appropriately qualified healthcare professionals need to be involved.
Live In Care at a Glance
- Stay at home: keep familiar surroundings, routines and connections with your local community.
- Choose the right arrangement: explore long-term support or temporary respite care.
- Plan around individual needs: discuss dementia support, care for couples and assistance following a hospital stay.
- Have local support: care is overseen by our Edinburgh team.
Practical requirements: a live in carer needs a suitable private bedroom, regular breaks and time to sleep. Continuous supervision or frequent overnight assistance requires additional arrangements.
Does Live In Care Mean 24-hour Care?
A carer living in your home does not mean one person works continuously for 24 hours. The assessment must distinguish between help during the day, occasional overnight assistance and a need for someone to remain awake throughout the night.
If you need repeated night-time support or continuous supervision, tell us at the start. Waking-night care, additional carers or a different care arrangement may be needed.
We will discuss what can safely be provided, how breaks and overnight support will be covered, and how these arrangements affect the cost.
Dementia and Alzheimer’s Live In Care at Home
For someone living with dementia, familiar surroundings and consistent routines may be important when planning care. Live in support can help with everyday activities while allowing the person to stay in the place they know.
We discuss the individual’s communication, preferences, personal history and current support needs with them and, where appropriate, their family. Useful details include how they like to be approached, activities they enjoy and situations they find unsettling.
The care plan can include reassurance, assistance with personal care, support at mealtimes and help maintaining familiar routines. It should also address risks such as leaving the home unexpectedly or needing help during the night.
Live in care is not suitable for every person at every stage of dementia. Where someone needs continuous supervision, frequent night-time assistance or more complex support, we assess whether additional staffing or another setting would better meet those needs.
Short-term and Respite Live In Care in Edinburgh
You do not have to be considering a permanent arrangement to ask about live in care. Temporary support may help during a planned family break, a period of illness or a change in existing care arrangements.
Respite for Family Carers
Respite live in care allows a family carer to take time away while their loved one receives agreed support at home. Planning ahead gives everyone time to discuss routines, introduce the arrangement and organise a clear handover.
Before you leave, agree medication responsibilities, emergency contacts, communication preferences and what should happen if care needs change. Tell us the dates you need so we can discuss availability and the minimum placement period for your circumstances.
Support After a Hospital Stay
Returning home after treatment at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital or another hospital may involve changes to mobility, medication or everyday routines. A temporary care arrangement can provide practical assistance during this transition.
Care must be planned around the discharge instructions and assessed needs. Any nursing, therapy or equipment requirements should be coordinated with the relevant healthcare professionals before the arrangement starts.
Speak to Amy About Live In Care
Amy Shikuku, our Business Development Manager, can talk through your family’s circumstances, explain the assessment process and discuss whether live in care could work in your home.
You do not need to have decided on a care arrangement before getting in touch.
How Much Does Live In Care Cost in Edinburgh?
Live in care from £1,950 per week
An individual quotation based on your assessed needs and care arrangements.
The cost can be affected by whether care is for one person or a couple, the level of personal support, night-time needs and whether additional staff are required.
Before agreeing a package, ask for written confirmation of the care hours, break cover, overnight arrangements and any charges outside the quoted fee.
When comparing live in care with a care home, consider the whole household budget. Staying at home means continuing to pay household expenses, such as utilities and food. A useful comparison looks at the total cost of each suitable arrangement.
Can You Get Help With Funding in Scotland?
In Scotland, free personal care is available to adults assessed by their local authority as eligible, regardless of age, income or savings. This does not mean an entire privately arranged live in care package will be paid for.
Other services, including general housework and shopping, may be chargeable. Ask your council what support it has assessed you as needing, what it will arrange or fund and what you would need to pay yourself.
Read the Scottish Government’s guidance on free personal and nursing care.
Self-directed Support
If you are eligible for council-funded support, Self-directed Support offers choices about how your agreed support is organised. These include a direct payment, choosing support managed by another organisation, council-arranged support or a combination.
Discuss your preferred live in care arrangement with the council before making financial commitments. Funding depends on assessed needs and the agreed arrangements.
The City of Edinburgh Council explains the four Self-directed Support options.
Live In Care or a Care Home?
Both options can provide valuable support. The decision depends on your needs, preferences, budget and home environment, including whether a live in arrangement can safely provide the required care.
| Consideration | Live in care | Care home |
|---|---|---|
| Where you live | You remain in your own home. | You move into residential accommodation. |
| Daily routine | Support is planned around your household and agreed care arrangements. | Personal preferences are supported within the home’s staffing and routines. |
| Company | Companionship from your carer, with existing visitors and outings supported where possible. | Opportunities to spend time with other residents and join organised activities. |
| Overnight needs | Night-time support and carer rest must be specifically planned. | Night staff are available; check staffing and the support provided. |
| Couples | May remain together if the assessed arrangement meets both partners’ needs. | Availability of shared or nearby rooms varies. |
| Practical requirements | A suitable home, a carer’s bedroom and ongoing household expenses. | Assess the accommodation, facilities, fees and level of care offered. |
If significant nursing needs or continuous supervision are required, compare options that can provide that level of support. Familiarity matters, but so do safe staffing and access to appropriate professional care.
Preparing Your Home for a Live In Carer
A successful arrangement needs comfortable living conditions for both you and your carer. We discuss the home environment during assessment, including:
- A private bedroom: a suitable bed, storage and space for the carer to rest away from work.
- Bathroom access: practical arrangements that respect everyone’s privacy.
- Safe movement: access, stairs, lighting, trip hazards and any assessed equipment needs.
- Household arrangements: meals, food budgets, laundry, internet access and keys.
- Care information: an agreed care plan, medication arrangements and emergency contacts.
- Time off: how breaks, planned leave and replacement care will be managed.
A short household guide can also help a new carer settle in. Include useful details such as appliance instructions, favourite meals and how you prefer visitors to be welcomed.
Why Consider 1st Focus Homecare?
1st Focus Homecare is a Care Inspectorate-registered provider with an Edinburgh office at 26 Castlebrae Business Centre, Peffer Place, EH16 4BB. Our founder, Scott Falconer, brings a background as a paramedic to the business.
homecare.co.uk Review Score
10/10
Our published homecare.co.uk review score reflects feedback from people using our care services and their families.
Care Inspectorate Grades
5 — Very Good
The published inspection results dated 2 July 2026 show Grade 5 — Very Good in all four assessed areas.
The four assessed areas cover people’s wellbeing, leadership, the staff team, and how care and support are planned. These inspection grades and the homecare.co.uk review score relate to our care service overall.
Ratings checked on 17 October 2026. Review scores can change as new feedback is published.
Personalised Care With Local Support
When you contact us, we discuss the care you need, the suitability of your home and the practical arrangements that would make support work. Carer matching takes account of care requirements alongside routines, communication and personal preferences.
Our local team remains involved as needs change. Before starting, we explain how to raise a concern, request a review or discuss a change to the care plan.
Live In Care Across Edinburgh
We support families across Edinburgh, including areas such as Morningside, Stockbridge, Corstorphine, Leith and Portobello. Contact us about your address and proposed dates, including enquiries from Midlothian and East Lothian, so we can confirm coverage and availability.
You can meet our team and read feedback from people who have used our care services.
How to Arrange Live In Care
1. Tell Us What You Need
Speak with Amy or our Edinburgh office about the current situation, preferred dates and any urgent concerns.
2. Arrange an Assessment
We discuss care needs, home suitability, preferences and the support already in place.
3. Review the Proposed Arrangement
Agree the care plan, quote, carer accommodation, breaks, overnight support and communication.
4. Confirm the Start and Review Process
Care begins once the necessary arrangements are in place, with reviews as needs develop.
Need care urgently? Please call. We will explain what may be possible following assessment and subject to suitable carer availability.
Frequently Asked Questions About Live In Care
Can a Couple Receive Live In Care Together?
Yes, where the assessment shows the proposed arrangement can safely meet both partners’ needs. One carer will not be suitable for every couple. The quote should reflect the support required by each person and any additional staffing.
What Happens When My Carer Takes a Break or Is Away?
Break cover, planned leave and unexpected absence should be agreed before care starts. If you cannot safely be left alone, the plan must explain who will provide support during those periods. Ask which arrangements are included in your quote.
Can I Have Live In Care Without a Spare Bedroom?
A live in carer needs a suitable private bedroom. If this is not available, contact us to discuss other options, such as visiting care or separately arranged overnight support.
Can I Keep My Pets and Continue My Usual Activities?
Remaining at home can allow you to keep familiar routines, possessions and pets. Tell us about animals, outings and hobbies during assessment so we can consider practical support, carer suitability and any responsibilities that need to be agreed.
Can Temporary Live In Care Become a Longer-term Arrangement?
It may be possible following a review of your needs, preferences and staffing availability. A temporary placement does not commit you to a permanent arrangement; any extension should be discussed and agreed.
How Quickly Can Live In Care Start?
Timing depends on assessment, suitable carers, home preparations and any equipment or healthcare arrangements. Call with your circumstances and preferred start date so we can give you a realistic answer.
Discuss Live In Care in Edinburgh With Amy
If you want to understand whether live in care could work for you or a loved one, speak to Amy Shikuku at 1st Focus Homecare. We can explain the next steps, discuss costs and help you prepare for an assessment.
