Live-In Care: A More Personal Alternative to Residential Care

Choosing care for a loved one is never easy. For many families, moving someone into a residential care home can feel like the only path forward however there is another way – a way that maintains familiarity and dignity within the comfort of your own home.

Live-in care offers that possibility: a way to preserve comfort, independence, and dignity whilst ensuring safety and support.

Home: A Lifetime of Memories

Home is more than a place – it’s where memories live: a favourite armchair, the garden view, family photos telling stories of a lifetime. For someone living with dementia, these familiar sights and smells are anchors in a world that can feel confusing.

• Staying at home means routines remain steady.
• Cherished possessions stay close, reducing anxiety and bringing calm.
• Friends and neighbours can still pop by, and visits to the local café or church remain part of life.

These small connections matter. They fight loneliness, nurture belonging and keep independence alive.

Peggy’s Story – The Comfort of Home, The Confidence of Support

Peggy*, 70, has always found joy in the simple things: her crossword sitting on her coffee table, the photos that tell the story of her life and the companionship of her beloved dog.

So, when she was diagnosed with early onset dementia, her family were understandably worried. Living away, they feared Peggy would have to leave the home she loves and move into a care home

But Peggy’s wish was clear.
She wanted to stay in the place that felt like her, surrounded by her memories, her routines, and the community that knows her by name.

That’s when her family explored live in care.

Today, Peggy is supported by a dedicated Live In Care Professional who she trusts deeply – someone who knows how she likes her tea, laughs with her each morning, and has become a natural extension of the family.

With personalised support, Peggy enjoys the meals she loves, keeps her treasured belongings close, and never misses her gentle walks with her dog. Most importantly, she’s happy. She smiles more. She laughs often. She feels safe, secure, and fully herself – at home.

Peggy’s story is a reminder of what’s possible when care is built around the individual.
With the right support, home can remain the very best place to live well.

Care Designed Around You

In a care home, staff juggle many residents. With live-in care, the focus is on one person – you.

• Your preferences matter: how you like your tea or coffee, your favourite hobbies or what you want to wear.
• This consistency builds trust and companionship, two things that make every day feel brighter.

Supporting the Life You Want to Live

Live-in care isn’t about rules; it’s about choice. Lunch at 2 p.m. rather than midday, a walk in the garden after breakfast or a trip to the local café for coffee. These decisions stay in your hands. Care adapts to your routines, not the other way around.

Transparency and Peace of Mind

Families often worry about costs spiralling out of control. Live-in care offers predictable pricing, giving peace of mind and avoiding unexpected bills.

Living Well, Right Where You Belong

Studies by GOV.UK highlight a strong and consistent trend in later life housing preferences.

Housing priorities highlight being ‘at home’ and centre on the interaction between experiences, emotions and needs with the particulars of the dwelling;

Priorities include maintaining independence and wellbeing in the home, control and choice, safety, a sense of community and belonging, social networks and interactions;

There is a clear preference for home ownership; people who are currently owner occupiers (the large majority of older people) want to continue to own their own home;**

Contact Home Instead Southampton to Find Out More

If you would like to find out more about Live-In Care and how we can help your family, please call Marilyn on 01489 559007 or complete our enquiry form: https://www.homeinstead.co.uk/care-enquiry/

*Name has been changed to protect privacy
**These findings are drawn from What Older People Want, a government commissioned evidence review published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government in November 2024.