Home care · Hampshire
Live-in care in Andover
A live-in carer is trained, stays in the person's own home and supports them at any hour. For many families it is the main alternative to a care home. 21 agencies registered with CQC cover Andover. Check with each one that it provides this kind of care.
Updated 27 October 2026 (CQC register) · Prices: Typical 2026 prices across England
In short
- 21 CQC-registered home care agencies have an office within 7 miles of Andover; 11 are rated Good or Outstanding.
- Expect live-in care to cost about around £1,540–£1,610 a week, compared with £1,555 a week for a residential care home (typical 2026 prices across England).
- Ask each agency about live-in care; the CQC register has no record of who provides it.
- Hampshire council must offer a free care needs assessment.
Cite this: The Care Panel, "Live-in care in Andover", analysis of the CQC register, Oct 2026.
How live-in care works day to day
Most live-in carers work a rota with a colleague, staying for a week or two at a stretch before swapping over. Their job covers personal care such as washing and dressing, cooking, medicines, housework, trips out and companionship, all while the person keeps their routine, their pets and their neighbours.
Plan for the carer to have a bedroom of their own, a break of around two hours each day and an unbroken night. Where help is needed on most nights, budgeting for another carer, or a night carer who stays awake, is usually necessary, and the agency should raise this when it assesses.
Managed service or introductory agency?
- Managed live-in service: the carer is employed or supervised by the agency, which is registered with CQC and responsible for the care.
- Introductory agency: introduces a self-employed carer; you arrange and oversee the care; usually not CQC-registered.
Whichever you choose, get answers on holiday and sickness cover and on replacing a carer who is not the right fit.
Comparing live-in care with a care home
Price check for this area: live-in care around £1,540–£1,610 a week, residential care home £1,555 a week. Couples are where live-in care can come out cheaper, with one carer supporting two people instead of two care home places; for one person, the care home often costs less.
It works best for someone determined to stay at home whose needs a single carer can safely meet. If two people are needed to move them at all hours, or loneliness is the bigger problem, a care home may suit better.
Funding live-in care
- Assessment: free from Hampshire council.
- Council contribution: possible if live-in care is agreed as the way to meet eligible needs, after a financial assessment that ignores the value of the home.
- Direct payment: take the council's share as cash and use your chosen agency.
- NHS Continuing Healthcare: pays in full for people with a primary health need.
What the register shows for Andover
In Andover, 90% of agencies support people with dementia (19 of 21); the Hampshire figure is 82%. One rating goes back to August 2018: Beryl Care Services. Ask what has changed since. CQC registered AM Homecare Services Test Valley in September 2025, the newest on this list. Looking at specialisms, 20 of 21 list physical disabilities, 12 of 21 list learning disabilities and 14 of 21 list mental health conditions. Compare Andover's 79% Good or Outstanding with 90% for the rated agencies among the 721 we list in Hampshire. 19% of agencies covering Andover have a CQC rating from the last two years, against 16% across Hampshire. Hampshire has 17 Outstanding agencies in total; covering Andover the figure is 1. Of Andover and the 6 nearest towns we cover, Andover ranks 6th for the share of all listed agencies rated Good or Outstanding (52%); Bulford is highest at 78%.
What live-in care costs in Andover
| Visiting care | around £32–£34 an hour |
|---|---|
| Live-in care | around £1,540–£1,610 a week |
| Residential care home | £1,555 a week |
| Nursing home | £1,830 a week |
What the council pays (Hampshire County Council): £25.90 an hour for home care (2025/26 average paid to agencies); £1,245 a week for residential care (2025/26 average, over-65s); £1,365 a week for nursing care (2025/26 average, over-65s) (source).
Hourly rates vary between agencies more than between regions; ask each agency for its full price list, including weekend and bank holiday rates. According to the Homecare Association, councils across England should pay no less than £34.42 an hour for home care in 2026/27 if it is to be sustainable. Source: Lottie Care Index, Q3 2026. Tools: weekly cost calculator and what would we pay?
Home care agencies serving Andover
Check with each agency that it offers live-in care. Order: CQC rating, then how recent, then distance.
Opportunities for Adults and Children
Est. £30–£37/hr
Nurseplus UK - Andover
Est. £30–£37/hr
Infinity Care Limited
Est. £30–£37/hr
New Pathways Healthcare Limited
Est. £30–£37/hr
Healing Touch Care Limited
Est. £30–£37/hr
Alina Homecare - Andover
Est. £30–£37/hr
Agincare UK Andover
Est. £30–£37/hr
Bluebird Care Andover & Stockbridge
Est. £33–£41/hr
Butterflies In Romsey
Est. £30–£37/hr
Virtuous Health Group
Est. £30–£37/hr
Beryl Care Services
Est. £30–£37/hr
Flamelily Independent Living
Est. £30–£37/hr
Big Hearts Recruitment Ltd
Est. £30–£37/hr
Enham Trust - Care & Support at Home
Est. £30–£37/hr
DarPro Care Services Ltd
Est. £29–£36/hr
AM Homecare Services Test Valley
Est. £29–£36/hr
YourCare Support Ltd
Est. £29–£36/hr
Virstaf Healthcare Ltd
Est. £29–£36/hr
Caremark Test Valley & East Wiltshire
Est. £29–£36/hr
With You Care Ltd
Est. £29–£36/hr
Questions about live-in care in Andover
Which home care agencies offer live-in care in Andover?
Ask each agency: CQC keeps no record of who provides live-in care. Of the 21 registered agencies that have an office within 7 miles of Andover, 11 are rated Good or Outstanding.
How much should I budget for live-in care in Andover?
Typical 2026 prices across England: around around £1,540–£1,610 a week for live-in care, with higher prices usual for couples, complex needs and short placements.
Does live-in care cost less than a care home?
For one person, usually not: a residential care home averages £1,555 a week locally. For a couple, live-in care can be cheaper than two care home places.
Can I get council funding for live-in care?
Possibly. Hampshire council first assesses care needs; if they are eligible and live-in care suits them, it means-tests your finances. Help can go to people with savings below £23,250, and for care at home the house is left out.
How are agencies covering Andover rated?
Of 14 agencies with a CQC rating, 11 (79%) are Good or Outstanding. Dementia is a specialism for 19, and 4 have a rating or inspection from the past two years.
Arranging live-in care in Andover?
Tell us what's needed once. Up to three agencies that take enquiries through us reply to you directly, by email.
Care options in Andover
Live-in care in nearby towns
- Live-in care in Winchester 12.6 mi
- Live-in care in Oakley 13.6 mi
- Live-in care in Newbury 14.7 mi
- Live-in care in Romsey 14.9 mi
- Live-in care in Chandler's Ford 16.1 mi
- Live-in care in Thatcham 16.5 mi
- Live-in care in Salisbury 16.5 mi
- Live-in care in Basingstoke 16.9 mi
Source for provider details: CQC, Oct 2026 (Open Government Licence v3.0). The Care Panel is a comparison site, not a care company.