In-home care services
Live-in care for seniors: one caregiver living in the home
Live-in care places one caregiver in your loved one's home for several days at a time, so help is there day and night without a full roster of shift workers. It is one of the most personal ways to keep someone at home, and one of the most structured, with clear rules about sleep and time off.
How live-in care works
The caregiver has their own bed and a private place to rest, takes a sleep break overnight and has daily time off. Many live-in caregivers work in rotations, with a second caregiver covering days off. In many states the pay rules for live-in work differ from shift work, so the agency should explain how it handles sleep time and breaks.
- Help with bathing, dressing and getting around
- Meals, housekeeping, laundry and errands
- Companionship and supervision day and night
- Help getting up or reassurance during the night, within the agreed plan
- Reporting changes to the family or care manager
Who live-in care fits
It fits someone who needs company and some help at night but sleeps most of the night. If the person is up repeatedly, wanders, or needs help every few hours overnight, 24-hour shift care or overnight care is safer.
What the home needs
A private room for the caregiver, a bathroom they can use, and a family that is comfortable sharing the home. Agree on house rules, meals, visitors and what the caregiver does during time off before the first day.
What live-in care costs
Live-in care is often priced as a flat daily rate rather than an hourly rate, and it can be lower than 24-hour shift care for the same days. The national median for in-home care is about $35 an hour (CareScout 2025), roughly $3,033 a month for 20 hours a week and $6,067 for 40 hours. Ask whether the rate covers a second caregiver on days off. Rates by state are on our cost of care page, and the paying for care guide covers private pay, long-term care insurance, VA benefits and Medicaid waivers.
Find in-home care agencies near you
Enter a city or ZIP code, or browse every state. Each listing shows its public rating and, where the state publishes a roster, the license number and the date we checked it.
Questions about live-in care
Does a live-in caregiver work 24 hours a day?
No. They have a sleep break and daily time off. If your loved one needs help every night, ask about shift-based 24-hour care.
What if the caregiver is sick or on vacation?
A good agency sends a replacement. Ask how fast, and whether the replacement is introduced to your loved one first.
Can the same caregiver stay long term?
Often yes. Ask for the agency's average caregiver tenure and its plan for rotating coverage.