What does a live-in carer do? Duties, breaks and hours

Live-in carer duties usually cover personal care, meals, medication support, light housework, companionship and getting out and about, all set out in a written care plan. A live-in carer lives in the person’s home, but they are not on duty 24 hours a day: they need daily breaks and a proper night’s sleep. Carers usually work for a few weeks at a time before a relief carer takes over.

At a glance

• Duties are agreed in a care plan and can include personal care, meals, medication, housework and company.
• Live-in carers are not nurses and don’t do nursing tasks unless trained and delegated.
• Providers commonly allow about two hours’ break a day (around 14 hours a week).
• The carer needs undisturbed sleep; regular night-time help needs extra cover.
• Carers typically rotate every few weeks, with a relief carer covering breaks.

What does a live-in carer do day to day?

Every placement is different, but most live-in carers help with these areas.

Personal care

• help getting up, washing, bathing or showering;
• dressing, grooming, shaving, oral care;
• toileting and continence care;
• skin care and helping to prevent pressure sores;
• help to move around the home safely, using equipment they’re trained on.

Meals and drinks

• planning meals and shopping;
• cooking and serving meals to suit dietary needs and preferences;
• encouraging drinks through the day to prevent dehydration;
• support with eating if needed.

Medication support

Carers give medication support only as the care plan says. NICE guidance describes a spectrum from prompting (reminding someone) to administering (the carer selects and gives the medicine), with every dose recorded on a medicines administration record (NICE NG67). See medication support at home.

Housework linked to the person’s care

• keeping the person’s rooms, kitchen and bathroom clean and tidy;
• laundry, ironing and changing beds;
• keeping the home safe, such as clearing trip hazards.

Companionship and wellbeing

• conversation, hobbies, games and reading;
• walks, trips to the shops, cafés or places of worship;
• helping someone stay in touch with family and friends;
• accompanying them to GP or hospital appointments.

This might mean helping someone use their free bus pass (a Freedom Pass in London) or local bus routes, or getting to a lunch club or day centre.

Keeping the family informed

Most managed providers ask carers to keep daily notes, and many share updates with families. Agree how and when you’d like to hear from the carer.

For an overview of how live-in care works, from matching to funding, see our live-in care guide.

What doesn’t a live-in carer do?

It helps to be clear from the start. A live-in carer usually won’t:

• carry out nursing tasks, such as injections or wound care, unless trained and delegated by a health professional;
• do heavy cleaning, decorating, gardening or DIY;
• care for other household members not in the care plan;
• work through the night on a regular basis;
• give up their agreed breaks or time off;
• make financial decisions or handle large sums of money.

If someone needs nursing care, a district nurse or private nurse can visit alongside the live-in carer.

What hours does a live-in carer work?

Live-in carers are in the home most of the time, but their working day has limits.

Daily breaks

Providers build in a break each day, commonly around two hours. Two large national providers describe 14 hours of breaks a week as their standard. If the person can’t be left alone, you’ll need a family member or a visiting carer to cover the break.

These break patterns are provider practice rather than a legal figure. Separately, GOV.UK says most workers are entitled to a 20-minute break if they work more than 6 hours a day, 11 hours’ rest between working days, and 24 hours’ uninterrupted rest each week (or 48 hours each fortnight). Some of these rules work differently for carers employed directly by a private household, so if you employ a live-in carer yourself, check how they apply to your arrangement.

Nights

The carer should have their own bedroom and an undisturbed night’s sleep. Being woken now and then is usually fine. If the person needs help several times every night, one carer can’t safely do this for long. Options include adding a waking night carer or two carers on rotation. See waking night vs sleep-in carer.

Days off and rotations

Live-in carers usually work a placement of a few weeks, then take time off while a relief carer steps in. One national provider describes placements of five to eight weeks between breaks. Ask your provider how rotations work and how handovers happen, since continuity matters, especially for people living with dementia.

Do you need to pay a live-in carer for sleeping time?

If you use a managed agency, the agency employs the carer and handles pay. If you employ a carer directly, you become the employer and must follow minimum wage rules. GOV.UK guidance says sleep-in workers are only entitled to the minimum wage when they are “awake for the purposes of working”, provided suitable sleeping facilities are provided. Employment law is complex, so take advice. See care agency vs self-employed carer.

How to set up a good working relationship

• Share a detailed profile of routines, likes, dislikes and history.
• Agree the care plan together, including tasks and what’s out of scope.
• Agree house rules on meals, visitors, phone use and quiet times.
• Give the carer their own space and respect their break times.
• Talk early about anything that isn’t working.

Our checklist on preparing your home for a live-in carer covers the room and practical set-up.

What does live-in care cost?

As of 2026, live-in care in England typically costs about £1,540–£1,610 a week for one person. Prices vary by region, and care for a couple, dementia or complex needs costs more. Sources vary, so always get a written quote. If the council is helping to fund care, ask how its personal budget applies. Local guides: live-in care cost in London.

Frequently asked questions

Does a live-in carer do cleaning?

Yes, light housework linked to the person’s care is usually included: keeping their rooms, kitchen and bathroom clean, laundry and changing beds. Heavy cleaning, spring cleans, gardening and DIY are not usually part of the role. Check what your care plan and contract include before care starts.

How many breaks does a live-in carer get?

Most providers build in a daily break, commonly around two hours, and some describe 14 hours of breaks a week as standard. The carer also needs an undisturbed night’s sleep and regular time off between placements. If the person can’t be left alone during breaks, arrange cover from family or a visiting carer.

Can a live-in carer help at night?

Occasionally, yes. A live-in carer can usually help if something happens now and then at night. But they need proper sleep to work safely the next day. If help is needed regularly every night, you’ll need a waking night carer or a second carer on rotation.

Can a live-in carer give medication?

Yes, if the care plan says so and the carer is trained. Support ranges from prompting someone to take their own medicines to administering them, with every dose recorded. Some tasks, such as injections, need specific training and delegation from a health professional such as a district nurse.

How long does a live-in carer stay?

Live-in carers usually work placements of a few weeks before taking time off, when a relief carer takes over. Some providers describe placements of five to eight weeks. Ask how carers are matched, how handovers work, and whether the same carers will return, which helps continuity.

Sources

• NICE NG67: managing medicines for adults receiving social care in the community
• CQC: personal care as a regulated activity
• GOV.UK: working hours for which the minimum wage must be paid (sleep-in shifts)
• GOV.UK: employing staff
• NHS: help at home from a paid carer
• Helping Hands: live-in carer FAQs
• Agincare: what does a live-in carer need? (Oct 2024)
• Steaz Forte: home care costs in London (Aug 2026)
• Lottie: care at home costs (Sep 2026)
• GOV.UK: rest breaks at work

This guide is general information, not financial, legal or medical advice. Last reviewed September 2026.

Reviewed by The Care Panel team on 15 October 2026. This guide is general information about care in England, not legal, medical or financial advice. Rules and rates change; check with your council or an adviser before making decisions.