Home care · Gloucestershire
Live-in care in Cheltenham
Instead of moving into a care home, some people have a trained carer living with them, providing help by day and by night: that is live-in care. None has confirmed it to us yet, so ask the 61 CQC-registered agencies covering Cheltenham directly.
Agency data: CQC register · Updated 27 October 2026 · Prices: Prices typically seen across England in 2026
In short
- 61 home care agencies registered with CQC have an office within 7 miles of Cheltenham, and 40 of them hold a Good or Outstanding rating.
- CQC does not record which agencies provide live-in care, so ask each agency directly.
- Typical live-in cost: around £1,540–£1,610 a week, against £1,445 a week for a residential home (prices typically seen across England in 2026).
- Ask Gloucestershire council for a care needs assessment, which is free.
Reference this page as: The Care Panel, "Live-in care in Cheltenham", Oct 2026, based on the CQC register.
What live-in care involves
A live-in carer moves in, usually for one or two weeks at a time on a rota with a second carer. They help with washing and dressing, meals, medication, housework, getting out and company. The person stays in their own home, with their own routine, pets and neighbours.
The carer needs their own bedroom, about two hours off during the day and a proper night's sleep. If someone needs help most nights, plan for a second carer or a waking night carer as well; agencies should tell you this at the assessment.
Check the agency type first
Ask one question early: is this a managed service or an introductory one? A managed agency is CQC-registered, employs or supervises its carers and is accountable for the care. An introductory agency usually is not registered; it puts you in touch with a self-employed carer, and the responsibility for organising and supervising care passes to you. Also ask about cover for sickness and holidays, and what you can do if the carer turns out not to suit.
Live-in care or a care home?
Here, a residential care home typically costs £1,445 a week and live-in care around £1,540–£1,610 a week. A single person will often pay less in a care home, but a couple may pay less for live-in care than for two care home places, since one carer can look after both.
Live-in care suits people who want to stay at home and whose needs one carer can meet safely. A care home may be better when two people are needed for moving and handling around the clock, or when someone is lonely at home.
Who pays for live-in care?
NHS Continuing Healthcare pays the whole cost for people whose primary need is a health need. Otherwise, ask Gloucestershire council for its free care needs assessment: if live-in care is accepted as the right way to meet eligible needs, the council can contribute after a means test, and the home is not counted when care is provided there. A direct payment lets you spend that contribution with the agency you pick. How to ask Gloucestershire council for an assessment.
Agencies covering Cheltenham: the data
Registered specialisms here: 46 of 61 list physical disabilities, 32 of 61 list learning disabilities and 31 of 61 list mental health conditions. CQC registered SureCare Cheltenham & The Cotswolds in September 2026, the newest on this list. One rating goes back to February 2018: Your Lifestyle Nationwide Limited. Ask what has changed since. In Cheltenham, 77% of agencies support people with dementia (47 of 61); the Gloucestershire figure is 71%. Counting all listed agencies, not only rated ones, Cheltenham (66% Good or Outstanding) is 4th out of 7 local towns, led by Chalford (89%). Gloucestershire has 9 Outstanding agencies in total; covering Cheltenham the figure is 2. Two-year-old ratings or newer: 25% covering Cheltenham, 18% across Gloucestershire. 91% of rated agencies covering Cheltenham are Good or Outstanding, compared with 87% of those rated among the 175 we list across Gloucestershire.
Paying for live-in care in Cheltenham: typical prices
| Visiting care | around £32–£34 an hour |
|---|---|
| Live-in care | around £1,540–£1,610 a week |
| Residential care home | £1,445 a week |
| Nursing home | £1,690 a week |
Gloucestershire County Council's own rates: £28.64 an hour for home care (2025/26 average paid to agencies); £922.89 a week for residential care (2025/26 average, over-65s); £873.66 a week for nursing care (2025/26 average, over-65s) (source).
The gap between agencies is bigger than the gap between regions. Ask for prices in writing, and check what weekends and bank holidays cost. Homecare Association figure for 2026/27: a sustainable council rate for home care in England starts at £34.42 an hour. Source: Lottie Care Index, Q3 2026. Check what you would pay · Weekly cost calculator
Home care agencies covering Cheltenham
Not confirmed for live-in care, so ask. Listed by CQC rating and rating date, then distance.
Raynsford Domiciliary Care
Est. £30–£37/hr
Your Life (Cheltenham)
Est. £30–£37/hr
Merit Care Ltd
Est. £30–£37/hr
Accolade Support and Care Ltd
Est. £30–£37/hr
Windrush Care
Est. £30–£37/hr
Brighter Home Care
Est. £30–£37/hr
Adelfi Care Services
Est. £30–£37/hr
Bramble Home Care Limited
Est. £30–£37/hr
Caremark Cheltenham and Tewkesbury
Est. £30–£37/hr
Helping Hands Gloucester
Est. £29–£35/hr
Ultimate Independence Care Ltd
Est. £30–£37/hr
Global Caring Gloucester
Est. £30–£37/hr
Mega Resources Nursing & Care - Gloucestershire
Est. £30–£37/hr
Helping Hands Cheltenham
Est. £29–£35/hr
Retain Healthcare Limited - Cheltenham
Est. £30–£37/hr
Hope Care Service Agency
Est. £30–£37/hr
Safehands Recruitment Ltd
Est. £30–£37/hr
Alina Homecare Cheltenham & Cotswolds
Est. £30–£37/hr
First Thought Care Services
Est. £30–£37/hr
Karva Care Services Limited
Est. £30–£37/hr
Live-in care in Cheltenham: common questions
Which home care agencies offer live-in care in Cheltenham?
61 agencies on the CQC register have an office within 7 miles of Cheltenham, and 40 hold a Good or Outstanding rating. Which of them provide live-in care is not recorded by CQC: ask them.
How much does live-in care cost in Cheltenham?
Typically around £1,540–£1,610 a week (prices typically seen across England in 2026). Expect more for a couple, for complex needs or for a short placement.
Live-in care or a care home: which costs less?
It depends who needs care. Alone: the care home, at about £1,445 a week locally, is often cheaper. As a couple: live-in care can cost less than two care home places.
Does the council pay for live-in care?
Yes, where an assessment of care needs shows eligible needs and accepts live-in care as a suitable way to meet them. A financial assessment by Gloucestershire council follows, the home is not counted for care at home, and savings under £23,250 can qualify for help.
How are agencies covering Cheltenham rated?
Of 44 agencies with a CQC rating, 40 (91%) are Good or Outstanding. Dementia is a specialism for 47, and 16 have a rating or inspection from the past two years.
Looking for live-in care in Cheltenham?
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Other care in Cheltenham
Live-in care around Cheltenham
- Live-in care in Winchcombe 6.5 mi
- Live-in care in Tewkesbury 6.5 mi
- Live-in care in Gloucester 7.1 mi
- Live-in care in Chalford 12.1 mi
- Live-in care in Stroud 12.2 mi
- Live-in care in Nailsworth 15.1 mi
Source for provider details: CQC, Oct 2026 (Open Government Licence v3.0). The Care Panel is a comparison site, not a care company.