24-Hour Care in Richmond upon Thames: Costs, Funding and 25 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 £1,300–£1,800 a week; a waking night £240–£320; a sleeping night £190–£230; a residential care home £1,615 a week.

Help paying for 24-hour care

The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames 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. Requesting an assessment from the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.

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.

What the register shows for Richmond upon Thames

The newest registration is Clarity Homecare Twickenham, registered with CQC in May 2026. 100% of rated agencies covering Richmond upon Thames are Good or Outstanding, compared with 89% of those rated among the 2,452 we list across London. Counting all listed agencies, not only rated ones, Richmond upon Thames (72% Good or Outstanding) is 3rd out of 7 local towns, led by Kingston upon Thames (85%). The oldest current rating dates from November 2019 (Richmond Upon Thames Crossroads Caring for Carers). 22 of the 25 agencies (88%) list dementia as a specialism, against 81% across London. On their CQC registrations, 22 of 25 list physical disabilities, 12 of 25 list learning disabilities and 11 of 25 list mental health conditions.

Paying for 24-hour care in Richmond upon Thames: typical prices

Typical 2026 prices in London
Visiting care	£30–£40 an hour
Sleeping night	£190–£230
Waking night	£240–£320
Live-in care	£1,300–£1,800 a week

What London Borough of Richmond upon Thames pays providers: £22 an hour for home care (2025/26 average paid to agencies); £1,353.50 a week for residential care (2025/26 average, over-65s); £1,304.66 a week for nursing care (2025/26 average, over-65s) (source).

For 2026/27, the Homecare Association says council-funded home care in England is only sustainable at £34.42 an hour or more. Tools: weekly cost calculator and what would we pay?

Questions about 24-hour care in Richmond upon Thames

Where can I find 24-hour care in Richmond upon Thames?

CQC does not record which agencies provide 24-hour care. 25 CQC-registered home care agencies are based in the borough of Richmond upon Thames; 18 are rated Good or Outstanding. Ask each whether it provides 24-hour care.

How much does 24-hour care cost in Richmond upon Thames?

Typical 2026 prices in London: live-in care typically costs £1,300–£1,800 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 the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames'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.

Are home care agencies in Richmond upon Thames well rated?

18 of the 18 rated agencies (100%) are Good or Outstanding; 22 list dementia as a specialism and 5 were inspected or rated in the last two years.

Looking for 24-hour care in Richmond upon Thames?

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Other care in Richmond upon Thames

24-hour care around Richmond upon Thames

24-hour care in Hounslow 2.3 mi
24-hour care in Kingston upon Thames 3.9 mi
24-hour care in Thames Ditton 4.2 mi
24-hour care in Ealing 4.4 mi
24-hour care in Sunbury-on-Thames 4.8 mi
24-hour care in Hammersmith and Fulham 5.3 mi
24-hour care in Esher 5.8 mi
24-hour care in Walton-on-Thames 5.8 mi

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Data: CQC register, Oct 2026, used under the Open Government Licence v3.0. We are an independent directory and do not provide care.

24-hour care in Richmond upon Thames