24-Hour Care in Swanley: Costs, Funding and 235 Local Agencies (Oct 2026)

Live-in care or waking nights?

Live-in care is usually the most affordable way to have someone there day and night: one carer lives in, but needs about two hours off each day and an unbroken night's sleep. Waking nights put a carer in the home who stays awake all night; combined with daytime visits, that covers all 24 hours. If help is needed most nights, one live-in carer is not enough: add waking nights or a second carer.

Typical local prices: live-in care around £1,540–£1,610 a week; a residential care home £1,555 a week.

Help paying for 24-hour care

Kent council must offer a free care needs assessment; if it finds eligible needs by day and night, care at home can be part of a council care plan, and the value of the home is not counted for care at home. Attendance Allowance pays its higher rate of £114.60 a week to people over State Pension age who need help both day and night, whatever their savings. When the main need is a health need, NHS Continuing Healthcare may pay in full. Asking Kent council for an assessment.

When 24-hour care is needed

Families usually look for it after a hospital stay, when dementia means someone cannot be left alone or wanders at night, after repeated falls, or at the end of life. A care home is the alternative to compare: for one person it often costs less than staffing every hour at home, but many people want to stay in their own home.

Swanley's agencies in figures

78% of rated agencies covering Swanley are Good or Outstanding, compared with 80% of those rated among the 831 we list across Kent. Two-year-old ratings or newer: 11% covering Swanley, 9% across Kent. 1 is rated Outstanding here, out of 11 across Kent. Counting all listed agencies, not only rated ones, Swanley (40% Good or Outstanding) is 2nd out of 7 local towns, led by Bromley (57%). 182 of the 235 agencies (77%) list dementia as a specialism, against 77% across Kent. The oldest current rating dates from February 2018 (London & South East Domiciliary Care Branch (Mental Health)). The newest registration is STC House, registered with CQC in August 2026. Registered specialisms here: 191 of 235 list physical disabilities, 125 of 235 list learning disabilities and 136 of 235 list mental health conditions.

Paying for 24-hour care in Swanley: typical prices

Usual 2026 prices across England
Visiting care	around £32–£34 an hour
Live-in care	around £1,540–£1,610 a week

Kent County Council's own rates: £28.05 an hour for home care (2025/26 average paid to agencies); £1,186.81 a week for residential care (2025/26 average, over-65s); £1,378 a week for nursing care (2025/26 average, over-65s) (source).

Ask every agency for a full list of charges, with weekend and bank holiday rates: hourly rates vary more between agencies than between regions. The Homecare Association puts the minimum sustainable price for council-funded home care in England at £34.42 an hour for 2026/27. Source: Lottie Care Index, Q3 2026. Estimate the weekly cost or see what you might pay

Home care agencies covering Swanley

Not confirmed for 24-hour care, so ask. Listed by CQC rating and rating date, then distance.

All 235 home care agencies covering Swanley →

What families ask about 24-hour care in Swanley

Which agencies provide 24-hour care in Swanley?

The CQC register does not show who offers 24-hour care. There are 235 registered agencies that have an office within 7 miles of Swanley, 95 of them rated Good or Outstanding, so ask each one.

How much does 24-hour care cost in Swanley?

Usual 2026 prices across England: live-in care typically costs around £1,540–£1,610 a week. Covering every hour with separate day and night carers costs much more, because each hour is paid.

Is 24-hour care the same as live-in care?

Not quite. A live-in carer is there day and night but needs a daily break and a full night's sleep. If help is needed through the night most nights, true 24-hour care means adding waking nights or a second carer.

Can the council pay for 24-hour care at home?

It can, if Kent council's care needs assessment finds eligible needs by day and night and care at home is a suitable way to meet them. A financial assessment follows; for care at home the home is not counted. NHS Continuing Healthcare pays in full when the main need is a health need.

What CQC ratings do agencies covering Swanley have?

CQC rates 95 of 122 as Good or Outstanding, or 78%. Recent evidence: 30 rated or inspected in two years. Dementia specialists: 182.

24-hour care in Swanley

Live-in care or waking nights?

Help paying for 24-hour care

When 24-hour care is needed

Swanley's agencies in figures

Paying for 24-hour care in Swanley: typical prices

Home care agencies covering Swanley

What families ask about 24-hour care in Swanley

Looking for 24-hour care in Swanley?

Other care in Swanley

24-hour care around Swanley

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