24-Hour Care in South Shields: Costs, Funding and 110 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 £1,185 a week.

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.

Help paying for 24-hour care

South Tyneside 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. Requesting an assessment from South Tyneside council.

South Shields's agencies in figures

Registered specialisms here: 89 of 110 list physical disabilities, 62 of 110 list learning disabilities and 75 of 110 list mental health conditions. The share registered for dementia is 79% in South Shields (87 of 110) and 78% across South Tyneside. Oldest rating on the list: New Prospects, February 2019. Counting all listed agencies, not only rated ones, South Shields (75% Good or Outstanding) is 3rd out of 7 local towns, led by Whitburn (78%). Compare South Shields's 91% Good or Outstanding with 95% for the rated agencies among the 188 we list in South Tyneside. Most recent to register: Tailored Health Care 4 You Limited (August 2026).

Paying for 24-hour care in South Shields: typical prices

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

South Tyneside Council's own rates: £25.78 an hour for home care (2025/26 average paid to agencies); £914.72 a week for residential care (2025/26 average, over-65s); £1,064.48 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. 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. Estimate the weekly cost or see what you might pay

What families ask about 24-hour care in South Shields

Where can I find 24-hour care in South Shields?

Ask each agency: CQC keeps no record of who provides 24-hour care. Of the 110 registered agencies that have an office within 7 miles of South Shields, 82 are rated Good or Outstanding.

How much does 24-hour care cost in South Shields?

Prices typically seen across England in 2026: 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 South Tyneside 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.

Are home care agencies in South Shields well rated?

82 of the 90 rated agencies (91%) are Good or Outstanding; 87 list dementia as a specialism and 32 were inspected or rated in the last two years.

Looking for 24-hour care in South Shields?

Fill in a single request; featured partners and up to 3 rated agencies that accept our enquiries reply straight to your inbox.

See prices near you

Other care in South Shields

24-hour care around South Shields

See prices near you See agencies

Built from the Care Quality Commission's register (Oct 2026) under Open Government Licence v3.0. The Care Panel lists and compares services but runs none.

24-hour care in South Shields