Live-in home care offers seniors nearly continuous support from caregivers who reside in the home, providing both comfort and safety. This option promotes independence through personalized medical and/or nonmedical care. Unlike 24/7 home care, which uses rotating caregivers to provide coverage around the clock, live-in care ensures consistency and familiarity. Costs vary by location, care needs, and provider, with the national median at about $34 per hour. Families can pay privately or use other funding sources, and many choose to work with home care agencies that manage hiring, payroll, and legal responsibilities.
Can you afford home care?
Let our free assessment guide you to the best senior living options, tailored to your budget.
Live-in home care services may be medical and/or nonmedical, and commonly include:
Although they sound similar, live-in home care and 24/7 home care are different.
In the past, “live-in caregivers would alternate after three to five days of 24-hour care,” says Vicki Demirozu, a home care expert and owner of Giving Care with Grace, a home care training consultancy. The more common model now is for three to five caregivers to take five-to-eight-hour shifts, she notes.
“A family could choose to have fewer caregivers,” Demirozu says. “But if they do, labor laws require them to pay a premium.”
Can you afford home care?
Let our free assessment guide you to the best senior living options, tailored to your budget.
Depending on a senior’s needs, a live-in caregiver may be a home care aide, who’s trained to provide homemaker services, or a licensed health care professional, such as a certified nursing assistant (CNA), a licensed practical nurse (LPN), or a registered nurse (RN).
Professional live-in caregivers may work for a home care agency or directly for families themselves. Home care agencies handle background checks, training, scheduling, and payroll, making them a popular choice for families seeking reliability and oversight. Hiring an independent caregiver, while sometimes less expensive, requires families to manage taxes, scheduling, and arrange for their own coverage in case a regular caregiver is absent.
Yes, in some cases, a family member can earn money as a live-in caregiver for a relative. Certain state Medicaid programs or veterans benefits may compensate family members who provide live-in care for a loved one. Payment eligibility varies by state and program, so families should check with their local Medicaid office or the Veteran-Directed Care program to explore options.
Regulations for live-in care differ by state. Licensed home care agencies must meet state training, supervision, and employment standards.
Independent caregivers aren’t regulated in the same way home care agencies are, so families hiring privately should create a contract for live-in care services, perform background checks, and confirm references.
“Whether a family hires a live-in caregiver directly or works through an agency, the federal Fair Labor Standards Act applies,” says Demirozu. Among other considerations, this law defines:
According to the 2025 Activated Insights Benchmarking Report, the median daily cost of live-in home care in the U.S. is $225.[01] While traditional home care schedules are billed by the hour, live-in home care is typically billed as a flat daily rate.
Costs for live-in home care vary based on location, agency rates, and level of care required. For example, an experienced RN who provides specialized nursing care, such as medication infusions or wound management will cost more than a CNA whose health care services are limited to taking vitals and medication reminders.
Depending on the situation, there are several ways to pay for home care. Some families pay out-of-pocket for live-in home care, while others use:
Expert advice for affordable home care
Tell us your care needs to receive options tailored to your budget.
Live-in home care works best for older adults who:
Demirozu recommends asking the following questions when considering whether live-in home care is the right option for your loved one:
In-home care can be especially helpful for seniors who have mobility issues, mild cognitive decline, or chronic conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).[02]
Finding the right live-in caregiver starts with understanding your loved one’s needs. Once you know what services your loved one needs, decide whether you’ll hire someone yourself or hire through a home care agency. If you decide to work with an agency, A Place for Mom’s Senior Living Advisors can connect you with trusted home care providers who match your budget, location, and care needs.
Activated Insights. (2025, July 1). 2025 Activated Insights Benchmarking Report for Home Care, Home Health, and Hospice.
Landers, S., Madigan, E., Leff, B., Rosati, R. J., McCann, B. A., Hornbake, R., MacMillan, R., Jones, K., Bowles, K., Dowding, D., Lee, T., Moorhead, T., Rodriguez, S., & Breese, E. (2016, Oct. 5). The future of home health care: A strategic framework for optimizing value. Home Health Care Management & Practice.
The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical, legal or financial advice or create a professional relationship between A Place for Mom and the reader. Always seek the advice of your health care provider, attorney or financial advisor with respect to any particular matter, and do not act or refrain from acting on the basis of anything you have read on this site. Links to third-party websites are only for the convenience of the reader; A Place for Mom does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites.