Live-in care in West Sussex means a trained carer moves into the home and provides support day and night, usually on a rota of one or two weeks at a time. For many families in Worthing, Adur and the surrounding villages it is the one option that keeps a parent at home once they need someone there most of the day.
This guide covers what live-in care West Sussex families pay in 2026, when West Sussex County Council or the NHS may fund it, how it works for couples, and what to look for in live-in carers in Worthing and nearby.
In short: expect around £1,400–£1,700+ a week through an agency. The council can fund live-in care if it meets assessed eligible needs and is a sensible use of the budget, and NHS Continuing Healthcare can pay if needs are mainly health-related.
How live-in care West Sussex services work
A live-in carer lives in your relative’s home and is there for most of the day and night. They help with washing, dressing, meals, medication prompts, housework, getting out and about, and company. They sleep in their own room and are normally there if needed in the night, but they are not expected to be awake all night.
Most families arrange live-in care in one of two ways:
- Fully managed service: the agency employs the carers, is registered with the Care Quality Commission, supervises them, and handles rotas, holidays and cover.
- Introductory agency: the agency introduces a self-employed carer, and your family takes on more of the day-to-day management. It can cost less, but you carry more responsibility. Our guide to introductory agencies versus managed care explains the difference.
If you are still deciding whether live-in care is right, start with what live-in care involves and our comparison of live-in care versus a care home.
How much does live-in care cost in West Sussex?
Indicative agency prices for live-in care in West Sussex in 2026 run from around £1,400 to £1,700 or more a week. Complex needs, such as advanced dementia, frequent night-time help or hoisting, push the price up.
| Type of care | Indicative West Sussex cost (2026) | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Live-in care (one person) | £1,400–£1,700+ a week | One carer living in, with occasional night help |
| Live-in care (couple) | Usually a weekly supplement on top | One carer supporting two people with manageable needs |
| Visiting home care | £28–£38 an hour | Scheduled visits, often 30–60 minutes |
| Sleeping night | £210–£260 a night | Carer sleeps over and can be woken |
| Waking night | Higher than a sleeping night | Carer stays awake all night |
For comparison, the Homecare Association’s minimum price for homecare in England for 2026/27 is £34.42 an hour. Once someone needs many hours of visits a day, live-in care often works out cheaper than hourly care and more personal than a care home. See our home care costs in Worthing guide for a fuller breakdown.
On top of the agency fee, you provide the carer’s own bedroom, their food while on shift, and reasonable household costs. Ask each agency exactly what is included, including travel for handovers and bank holiday rates.
Can the council pay for live-in care?
Yes, West Sussex County Council can pay towards live-in care, but only if a needs assessment shows eligible needs and live-in care is a reasonable, cost-effective way to meet them. The council is not obliged to fund live-in care simply because the family prefers it.
The process usually looks like this:
- Needs assessment. Contact West Sussex adult social care on 01243 642121 or use the council’s online referral form. Our guide to care needs assessments in West Sussex explains what to expect.
- Financial assessment. For care at home, the value of your relative’s home is not counted. If they have more than £23,250 in savings and investments, they pay the full cost. Between £14,250 and £23,250, the council counts £1 a week of income for every £250 (or part of £250). The council sets out the detail on its paying for care at home page.
- Personal budget. If the council funds care, it sets a personal budget. This can be managed by the council or paid as direct payments, which you can use to buy live-in care from a registered provider.
If the personal budget is less than the cost of live-in care, ask the council directly how any difference can be met. Councils often compare live-in care with a mix of visits or a care home place, and fund the option that meets needs at the lowest reasonable cost.
NHS Continuing Healthcare is different. If your relative’s needs are mainly health needs, NHS Surrey and Sussex may fund their full care package at home, including live-in care, and it is not means-tested. Our guide to NHS Continuing Healthcare at home covers the checklist and assessment.
Attendance Allowance is also worth claiming. It pays £76.70 or £114.60 a week in 2026/27, is not means-tested, and your relative can use it towards the cost of care. Our free funding checker shows which help your relative may qualify for.
Live-in care for couples
Live-in care can work well for couples, because one carer can support both people and they stay together in their own home. Agencies usually charge a couple’s supplement rather than double the price, which can make it good value compared with two care home places.
It suits couples where:
- one partner has higher needs and the other needs lighter help, or both have moderate needs;
- night-time needs are occasional rather than constant;
- neither person needs two carers at once for moving and handling.
It is less suitable when both partners need help at the same time, for example both need hoisting or both are awake and unsettled at night. In that case the agency may suggest two live-in carers, or live-in care plus visiting support at busy times. If each partner has a council assessment, make sure both assessments and any financial assessments are joined up, as they are assessed as individuals.
Live-in carers in Worthing: what to look for
When choosing live-in carers in Worthing, Shoreham, Lancing or the villages, look for a CQC-registered provider with a good recent inspection report, experienced carers, and a clear plan for continuity. The best arrangement is usually a small team of two or three regular carers who rotate.
Questions to ask:
- Are you registered with the Care Quality Commission, and what did your last inspection find?
- How do you match carers to clients, and can we meet or speak to them first?
- What training do your carers have in dementia, moving and handling, and medication?
- Who supervises the carer, and how often does a manager visit?
- What happens if the carer is ill or the placement is not working?
- What notice period and cancellation terms are in the contract?
Our guide to choosing a home care agency has a fuller checklist.
How are live-in carers’ breaks covered?
Live-in carers need proper rest, typically a daily break of around two hours plus time off between rotations. A good agency will agree in writing how those breaks are covered before care starts.
Common arrangements include:
- Family cover: a relative sits with your parent during the carer’s daily break.
- Visiting carer: the agency, or another provider, sends an hourly carer during the break. This is charged at hourly rates.
- Safe time alone: if your relative is safe on their own for a couple of hours, the break can be scheduled around a nap or a quiet afternoon.
- Handover cover: when one live-in carer leaves and the next arrives, check there is no gap.
If the carer is regularly disturbed at night, they will need extra rest, and the agency may add a night-time charge or recommend a waking night carer. Be open about night needs from the start, as it avoids problems later.
Is live-in care right for your family?
Live-in care usually works best when your relative wants to stay at home, has a spare bedroom for the carer, and needs someone around for much of the day. It is harder when the home is very small, or when the person needs two carers regularly or waking care every night. For higher needs, read our guide to 24-hour care at home.
If you are caring for a relative yourself and need a break, a short spell of live-in care can also be used as respite. See respite care in Worthing.
Find care near you
Tell us your postcode and what you need help with. We pass your details to one vetted CQC-registered agency in your area — you are told who they are, and that they pay us a fee, before anything is sent.
Frequently asked questions
Does a live-in carer need their own room?
Yes. Agencies expect a private bedroom for the carer, with somewhere to keep their things and a decent bed. Most also ask for access to Wi-Fi and a bathroom they can use. Without a spare room, live-in care is usually not possible.
Is live-in care cheaper than a care home in West Sussex?
It can be, especially for couples, because one live-in carer can support two people. For one person, weekly costs are often similar to a good care home. The right choice depends on needs, the home, and what your relative wants.
Can I use direct payments for live-in care?
Yes, if the council agrees live-in care meets your relative’s assessed needs. Direct payments can be used to buy care from a registered provider. Ask West Sussex County Council how their direct payment rules apply to live-in arrangements.
How quickly can live-in care start?
Some agencies can start within a few days, particularly after a hospital stay, but matching a suitable carer can take longer. It helps to have the carer’s room ready and a list of your relative’s routines, medication and preferences to hand.
Does live-in care include night care?
A live-in carer can help occasionally at night, but they need to sleep. If your relative needs help several times a night, or someone awake all night, you may need a waking night carer as well.
The Care Panel is an independent publication. We are not a care provider and are not regulated by the Care Quality Commission, because we do not deliver care. Always check a provider’s own CQC registration and inspection report before you commit.
Written and fact-checked by The Care Panel. Last updated September 2026. Sources: West Sussex County Council adult social care and charging guidance, Homecare Association, Age UK factsheet on NHS Continuing Healthcare, GOV.UK Attendance Allowance guidance, Carers Support West Sussex. General information, not financial, legal or medical advice — figures are indicative and subject to change.